Skyrimis one of the most timeless games out there, though this is partially because Bethesda continues to rerelease the game onto each platform possible. Still, having released in 2011, many gamers still playSkyrimto this day. At the time of its release, games weren’t regularly as expansive or crammed with so much content asSkyrimwas, not to mention that it’s easily one of the most loved games of its generation. Thanks to mods and thenewly polishedAnniversary Edition,Skyrimstill sees success and attention in the modern day, and the same could be said aboutStardew Valleyin a few years.
Stardew Valleywas developed by just one person, Eric “ConcernedApe” Barone, who’s now focusing on his next gameHaunted Chocolatier. While this doesn’t mean thatStardew Valley’s development is finished, he’s said that it’s in “a very good place as it is,” so there’s little need to add more to the current version other than possible bug fixes. On one hand,Stardew Valleyhas turned into a massive game with hundreds of hours of content, but on the other hand, some players have already 100% completedStardew Valley, but that doesn’t mean they’re through with playing ConcernedApe’s game. If anything,Stardew Valleyis just as timeless asSkyrim, and mods support this idea even further.
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Like Skyrim, Stardew Valley Will Never Die
WhenSkyrim: Anniversary Editionwas announced, some gamers asked the question, “when willSkyrimdie already?“Skyrimisn’t without its flaws; not only was the game riddled with bugs, many small but some game-breaking, but there are a lot of ways in which Bethesda could and would go on to improve its formula for the huge open-world game. Still, the size of its open-world map was revolutionary at the time and would go onto influence and see comparisons against succeeding open-world titles, but few, such asBreath of the Wild, have captured the same magic of getting lost in the setting and side quests. Ten years later, games are still being made inspired byThe Elder Scrolls' fifth installment.
It may be hard to believe, butStardew Valleyis nearly 6 years old already. And yet, its community is still wildly active and players are still patiently waiting forStardew Valley’s 1.5 update to arrive on mobile devices. Many fans are still discovering the game’s deepest and darkest secrets as well as starting brand-new save files, perhaps spicing up the experience a bit by enacting player-made challenges like the ‘No Bin Challenge’ or a Joja Mart playthrough, where players complete the game by funding Joja Mart rather than by completing the Community Center. In short, the open-ended style ofStardew Valleymeans it’s far from growing tired, but those who have been so inspired by the experience have begun to develop their own games such asCoral Island, not unlikeSkyrim.
But likeSkyrim, which is actively kept alive by mods,Stardew Valleyhas seen a plethora of impressive mods that can make the experience even better. The most notable one isStardew Valley Expanded, which is something of an overhaul, adding new NPCs, quests, and locations to the game. They’re not canon, though, so not all players would enjoy the idea of expanding on the game’s lore in this way. But its intriguing characters and storytelling fit right in with the world Eric Barone created.
Just like howSkyrim: Anniversary Editionadopted the Creation Club, a number of “official” mods that can be added to the game via microtransactions,Stardew Valleycould formally adopt mods that have made the game even better. For example, one mod lets players romance the Wizard, because why shouldn’t they be able to? TheCreation Club canonized some mods, meaning capturing the interest of players who wouldn’t typically use them, and it’s elongatedSkyrim’s legacy. It might seem silly to some, but many fans are happy that fishing is now an official part of the game, and that there are several new official quests ready for them, andStardew Valleyfans would be just as happy for more content.
Regardless of if that ever happens,Stardew Valley’s era is far from over. New players are still trying out the game, which can be observed through forums such as Reddit and Steam’s discussion pages. Gamers are still excited by the prospect of romancing an NPC, customizing their farm, and completing the game at 100%. Only time will tell, butStardew Valleycould be in the same place asSkyrimin four years' time.
Stardew Valleyis out now for Mobile, PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.
