What Stardew Valley Teaches us about Storytelling
Developed by ConcernedApe, this indie farming simulation RPG has captivated players worldwide, showcasing that a game need not rely on convoluted narratives to keep its audience engaged.
Stardew Valley's narrative charm lies in its celebration of everyday life. Players step into the worn-out boots of a character escaping the hustle and bustle of city life to embrace the simplicity of rural existence. By focusing on the mundane tasks of farming, fishing, and forging relationships, the game taps into the universal appeal of relatable experiences, making the narrative more accessible and endearing.
While the central premise revolves around farm management, Stardew Valley keeps players on their toes with unexpected events. The appearance of the enigmatic traveling merchant, the quirky mouse selling hats, or the introduction of the community requests board injects variety into the gameplay. These elements not only break the monotony but also create a dynamic and evolving world, showcasing that a narrative doesn't need a complex plot to be engaging.
Relationships with the townspeople are at the core of the narrative. The gradual development of friendships and romances adds depth to the storyline. By focusing on character interactions, the game fosters emotional connections between players and the virtual community. The simple, overarching plot of saving a town from being corrupted by the fictional Joja company—a nod to real-world corporations like Walmart—is expressed through character-driven narratives and meaningful stories that unfold from interpersonal connections.
Quests exist in this world, but with a central focus on helping the villagers—often with a comedic flavoring (finding a resident’s lost shorts) or wholesome message (fishing trash from the water to bring beauty to the village). As you complete these missions you receive praise and thanks from the people you interact with, who gratefully invite you to become a part of their culture and daily lives.
In this way, the game encourages exploration and discovery outside of a linear plot, rewarding players for venturing beyond their comfort zones. From unlocking new areas in the caves to stumbling upon rare items, the game employs the joy of exploration as a narrative tool. This not only enhances the immersive experience but also shows us that a narrative can unfold through the player's actions and curiosity rather than a predetermined path.
This same philosophy has become a popular genre over the years. Games like Animal Crossing and Cozy Grove provide a similar approach to leveling up in lieu of boss battles and dungeons completed. We meet the residents of a small community, are given simple tasks like finding rare ingredients for foods or upgrading farming tools or expanding our houses (at great cost!), and are rewarded with glimpses of the characters’ lives and an invitation to interact.
In the early days of gaming, the focus was on doing damage, completing levels, and eliminating enemies. Later on, creative plots and stories gave us beloved cinematic games like the Last of Us and open world adventures like Horizon: Zero Dawn. We were given the opportunity to be active participants in an epic plot, often with the goal of saving the world—or the universe—and defeating evil.
These games are still popular, and rightfully so. They offer thrilling battles and compelling stories, and sometimes a morality system that allows us to choose the outcome of the adventure and explore the impact of choices. But as these games have grown up alongside “cozy” alternatives like Stardew or Animal Crossing, a hybrid style of gaming is gradually emerging.
Notable examples are Skyrim and the new Legend of Zelda games, Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. While there is still an emphasis on linear plot progression—with a multitude of side plots—you can choose to spend the majority of your time crafting items and foods, exploring the world, and interacting with its many characters. Some Skyrim fans, after delving into every dungeon and collecting every dragon shout, have decided to do the opposite of being the Dragonborn: treating the main character as a simple NPC, focusing on marriage, farming and crafting, and sometimes avoiding combat altogether.
As modern media demands more drama, more angst, more explosions, and more exciting narratives, there’s a steadily expanding interest in stories that don’t depend on special effects or seemingly unbeatable odds to feel fulfilled. Even avid gamers—and readers, and film lovers—who once gravitated toward thrill-seeking escapism, are now searching for a simpler, more intimate experience. Perhaps it’s not so surprising, considering the increasing pressures of the modern world, that we are finding joy in tilling pixelated fields and helping fictional characters find their lost berry baskets, or spending hours in a cave searching for that special crystal to complete our collection and save the community center.
I began Stardew Valley recently; as of today, I’m in my third season of the first year. I’ve never been particularly good at farming games, and I’m still not. But from the moment I saw the unexpected opening scene, which places our self-created character in a soulless office, wishing for a new life, I realized why so many people have continued to be captivated by the repetitive daily tasks and simplistic story. With so many of us joking that we’d love to quit our jobs and move to a cottage in the forest, a game that gives us the freedom to simply exist and contribute to a community of characters who appreciate our efforts, no matter how disorganized or haphazard they are, might be just what we need in modern storytelling.
