As written by others Stardew Valley is Harvest Moon spiritual heir, but much more complete and complex. The thing surprised me more is the dept and immersiveness it offers despite the simplicity of the game; the dev put a lot of attention to details, you can notice this every now and then, but many times you doesn't even notice it as it feels so natural. Stardew Valley helped me a lot during pandemic lockdown in 2020, because it had been an open window to an entire new world, where I could meet people, stay outside, adventure in the cave, fish, enjoy the wilderness, while in real life I had to stay at home every day and nothing ever happened. NPCs are simple (no AI or complex interactions), but they are somehow welcoming, and as you improve your relationship with them you come to know more pieces of their life and character. The game offers you many challenges you cannot accomplish in one year, without making you feel overwhelmed; they give you a goal, and you can feel a constant progress as you live your simple and peaceful game life: you simply want to play more. Stardew Valley succeds in giving me a serene and brightful experience, something other same-genre games fails at, and this is for me the most important thing.
