Stardew Valley Set the Bar for AAA Farming Sims

gamerant.com:

Though there have been plenty of games in the genre, many of which have seen critical and commercial success at the highest level, farming simulators became truly mainstream with the release of Stardew Valley in 2016. Developed by just one man, ConcernedApe, the game took inspiration from the likes of Harvest Moon but refined the edges in a way that felt truly special. By knowing what makes the genre great and bringing out its best qualities, it sets the bar frightfully high for any new title, and has become the go-to game for farming fans everywhere.

The development cycle of Stardew Valley was largely different from others in the genre, but while it's an indie game by design, the depth of its mechanics and the quality of its writing could fool players into thinking it was made by a AAA studio. The visuals are the only real giveaway, yet the gorgeous pixel art makes for a far more inviting presentation than the half-baked aesthetics of Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town, for example. The latter was developed by industry titan and farming sim familiar, Marvelous, and yet it's Stardew Valley that reigns supreme in the ever-evolving genre.

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While implementing social aspects and interesting dialogue with NPCs has been done before in other farming simulator games, it was perfected when players began learning about the residents of Pelican Town. After meeting the kooky cast of eclectic characters, it soon becomes apparent that a city-raised man or woman moving to the countryside is far from the weirdest thing that's happened in the area. The townsfolk are accompanied by a litany of strange races that make the backdrop of Stardew Valley feel truly unique, even