Stardew Valley has managed to turn me into a full-time farmer, part-time fisherman, and occasional mine warrior — and honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way. I came here expecting a peaceful little farming simulator, but suddenly, I’m deep in a cave at midnight, battling blobs with a rusty sword for reasons I can’t remember. Meanwhile, my crops are probably screaming for water, and my chicken named “Nugget” is wondering if I’ll ever come back.

The village is packed with characters who each have their quirks. I spend more time trying to figure out what gifts these villagers like than I ever did for real-life birthdays. My friendships are at an all-time high… which is saying something, because I’m not even sure my real friends know I still exist at this point.

And the farming? Let’s just say I’ve become the Jeff Bezos of parsnips. I started with a small plot and a few seeds, but now I’m running an agricultural empire and planning expansions like it’s a Wall Street takeover. Every season, I’m researching crop yields like my life depends on it, all while my dog “Bark Twain” wanders around, probably judging me.

Stardew Valley has managed to turn me into a full-time farmer, part-time fisherman, and occasional mine warrior — and honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way. I came here expecting a peaceful little farming simulator, but suddenly, I’m deep in a cave at midnight, battling blobs with a rusty sword for reasons I can’t remember. Meanwhile, my crops are probably screaming for water, and my chicken named “Nugget” is wondering if I’ll ever come back. The village is packed with characters who each have their quirks. I spend more time trying to figure out what gifts these villagers like than I ever did for real-life birthdays. My friendships are at an all-time high… which is saying something, because I’m not even sure my real friends know I still exist at this point. And the farming? Let’s just say I’ve become the Jeff Bezos of parsnips. I started with a small plot and a few seeds, but now I’m running an agricultural empire and planning expansions like it’s a Wall Street takeover. Every season, I’m researching crop yields like my life depends on it, all while my dog “Bark Twain” wanders around, probably judging me.