4 Things Stardew Valley Taught Me About Life

In my whole life, there have only been two video games I’ve gravitated towards: Minecraft, and Stardew Valley, the latter of which I only started playing last April. I had previously heard about it through social media, with players raving about its greatness and arguing over their favorite bachelors/bachelorettes to marry (Harvey and Haley are popular ones…with good reason!). People love the relaxing tasks, the ability to form relationships of all kinds, the soundtrack, and the comforting sentiments it offers the player. It’s an escape from the often harsh reality of our world, a chance to live and thrive in a small-town, inconsequential community. 

In my experience, Stardew Valley isn’t just a time killer––it offers lessons that can be applied to the real world. When digging deeper into the game’s themes, one can appreciate that this is far more than a cozy pixelated utopia. Here are my takeaways from nearly a year of my Stardew journey:

1.

Having a community is essential.

It may sound cliche, but it takes a village––literally. While certain things are most effective when done solo, depending on the person, things are often easier and more fulfilling when done with others. Not just that, but having a community to lean on can be a matter of survival. The world of Stardew Valley encourages teamwork between the farmer and the valley’s inhabitants. It’s not possible to play the game any other way. Everyone has a role, from the farmer to the carpenter, the fisherman to the store owner, the doctor to the bus driver. Without having people to fill these roles, the town couldn’t properly function. In our real lives, it’s important to have people to rely on and be one of those people in return.

2.

You don’t have to work 24/7.

The game encourages taking time away from everyday responsibilities to breathe. So often we’re in hustle mode, constantly on the move, constantly doing, but it’s important to take a step back sometimes and find joy in the smaller things. There are crops to grow in spring, summer, and fall, and money to be made, while there is minimum farming to be done in the winter. You have time to talk to people and give them gifts, go fishing, decorate your home, and simply enjoy the atmosphere. In a way, it forces you to slow down, even if just by a bit. We all need to take time for ourselves and do the things we get pleasure from, rather than feeling the need to work, work, work. After all, in a perfect world, we should work to live, rather than live to work, as capitalism expects from us. 

3.

Empathize with others.

If you pay attention to the villagers’ dialogue, you can tell that each one has their own story––their backgrounds, their families (or lack of one), and what they want their futures to look like. Sebastian dreams of moving to the city, tethered by the lack of opportunities in his town. Shane struggles with alcoholism and a lack of purpose. Penny’s rocky relationship with her mother drives her to want to move out and find a family of her own. Everyone deals with their own issues and insecurities within the confines of a tiny town. Similarly, in real life, we all walk around with our own stories and points of view. We should be able to acknowledge and appreciate what we each go through as individuals, as recognizing this leads to us being kinder and more understanding.

4.

The world doesn’t revolve around you.

This is similar to #3, but I felt this was important to include. Life in Stardew Valley didn’t begin when you start playing––it’s an old town with a history and preexisting cast of characters. Your presence doesn’t change other people until your actions affect them, directly or indirectly. And someday, if/when you leave the town, life will go on for the inhabitants. It will certainly be different depending on the respective relationships, but it will go on nonetheless. Pierre (or Jojamart, depending on the path you choose) will sell goods. Gunther will be in charge of the museum. Linus will live in his little tent near the river. Either way, while you may greatly impact people’s lives, you don’t dictate their existence. You’re one person in a game––a world––of others. 

There’s a reason why Stardew Valley is one of the most popular games of all time. Gamers have fallen in love with its characters, visuals, sounds, and what it represents: a simple world. But beyond all that, at the heart of the game, are reminders that should resonate with all of us and carry over beyond the computer screen. 

You can buy Stardew Valley on Steam’s website, as well as buy it on the App Store.