How Stardew Valley Tackles Alcoholism

gamerant.com:

There's a common conception in some communities that video games are mostly irreverent, violent, and inherently harmful. When some people think of games, they think of ultra-aggressive gunfights and graphic gore with little to no narrative reason behind it. Although there are some games that could be described like that, there are also vast swathes of the medium that are far more insightful, poignant, and mature than they're often given credit for. Stardew Valley is on the surface a farming RPG with a charming 16-bit design like the one seen in developer ConcernedApe's upcoming Haunted Chocolatier. The game sees players developing their plot of land and ingratiating themselves with the locals, but it's also so much more than that.

Stardew Valley is, at its heart, a game about community. As many players will know, communities are far from straightforward, even ones as small as Pelican Town. Even the tiniest of towns can come with their own ups and downs, long-standing issues, and petty grudges. There are troubled neighbors and family tragedies, as well as wholesome relationships and supportive friends. Alongside Stardew Valley's delightfully bucolic focus that sees players navigate country living, there are darker elements that reflect a more realistic setting, like the game's examination of alcoholism.

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For any players that haven't delved deeply into the game, or who might not have played the unexpectedly popular farming simulation before, it's easy to think of Stardew Valley as just a cute game with adorable animals and colorful aesthetics that show off small-town rural living as the seasons revolve. While itdoes feature elements of farming, animal