Day 124: All Work and No Farm Make Zach a Dull Boy

There was a popular game for the original Nintendo called Harvest Moon. You were a farmer. Day in and day out, you planted seeds, watered the crops, milked cows, and collected eggs from chickens. You collected money from everything you produced and you built up your farm. There was rain and snow and natural disasters to add some help or challenge to the game. Eventually, you could marry and have a child. There are also some side adventures you can do to help you out in the game. The game went on day after day, month after month, through the seasons (winter got BORING), and year after year.

Despite the game's simplicity (or maybe because of it), the game was and is highly addicting. It has been many years since I played it and I have not sought it out since. The time that I spend playing video games has decreased by 200% in the past few years of my life. It is a good thing, but I still enjoy them on occasion.

Recently, I discovered a game that is almost identical to Harvest Moon. It is called Stardew Valley. You can get it on PS4, but I play it on my computer. It is the same concept and gameplay of Harvest Moon, but I don’t think there are any cows or chickens. I have not progressed far into the game. I may be a virtual week into it. But I am hooked and I need to farm.

I accidentally discovered the game by reading an article about games that are therapeutic and increase the grey matter in the brain. Stardew Valley was on that list. It was only $15, so I decided to give it a try.

So far, I am highly impressed. It brings back that simplistic feeling of just achieving as much as you can in a day and going to bed. In real life, we tend to get bored with the mundane. Not here. For some reason, it is calming yet exciting. Additionally, I was able to decide which kind of terrain I get to farm on. I chose the woods because I am me and because there is an abundance of resources to collect (e.g. wood, rocks, metals). You can also fish in this game! I don’t remember everything about Harvest Moon, but I think Stardew Valley is shaping up to top it.

So, goodbye for now. The vast land of the valley calls my name. The turnips and potatoes need watering and apparently I need to learn how to make a sprinkler.

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Author's Note #1: If there are typos in this article, I don't care. Farmers don't care about grammar.

Author's Note #2: Who am I kidding? I had to edit it.

Author's Note #3: If you need tips on the game, contact T-Roy