Stardew Valley

System: PC, Mac, Linux (console releases coming Q4 2016)
Players: 1 (multiplayer update in the works)
Rating: All ages (alcohol use, tobacco use, mild cartoon violence, mild sexual content, sensitive topics)
DLC: Yes (soundtrack)
Website: Stardew Valley

Four or five years ago, I saw info about Stardew Valley, and was immediately hyped.  I've played similar games, but I always felt there was something missing from them.  After a long wait, I snapped up Stardew Valley on Steam and jumped right in.

In Stardew Valley, your grandfather leaves you the deed to his farmland.  After tiring of your soul-sucking job at the Joja Corporation, you move to a small town in Stardew Valley.  Upon reaching the farm, you find it's become an overgrown mess.  You also find that the Joja Corporation has set up a supermarket in town, and plans to bulldoze the old community center to make room for a warehouse.  You've got your work cut out for you!

You start the game by customizing your character and farm.  There are many options for your character, and all of them can be used on both genders.  So, if you want to play as a bearded lady with blue skin, go for it!  You'll also get access to different hats and boots later in the game, as well as the ability to change your appearance (for a fee).

You can choose one of five layouts for your farm.  Standard gives you lots of room for buildings and crops, but has no other benefits.  Wilderness also has a good amount of space; however, monsters spawn at night, making it easier to boost your combat skill and get some extra loot.  The other farm types cut down on farming and building space, but give you different benefits.  Riverland gives you viable fishing areas right on your farm.  Forest makes it easier to collect wood and forageable items, while Hill-top gives you a place to mine ore and rock.  Since there's no save file limit, you're free to try out all of the farm types to see which one works for you!

At first, you're limited in what you can do on your farm and in town.  You have a handful of seeds and cash, mediocre tools, little energy, a tiny house, and restricted inventory space.  Once you've done some work, though, more and more options become available to you.  Maybe you'll grow lots of crops, or turn your farmland into an orchard.  Or a ranch.  Or a winery.  Maybe you'll do absolutely nothing with the farmland, and make a living by mining and fishing.  It's totally up to you.

One of the other great parts of the game is the townsfolk.  Get to know them, and they'll give you gifts and recipes, and tell you what other townsfolk like or dislike.  You'll even learn more about their lives, and this is where that "sensitive topics" bit comes in.  Abuse, alcoholism, depression, and war-induced PTSD are dealt with by some of the townsfolk, and it gets pretty dark at times.  Thankfully, you can bring some joy into their lives: give them gifts, complete quests for them, or just lend an ear. Maybe you'll even get married to someone!

Or you can just piss them off by giving them garbage and firing rocks at them with a slingshot.  Or maybe you'll just get tired of your spouse and file for divorce, leaving them hurt and miserable. Again, it's up to you!

For a mere $15, Stardew Valley offers a huge amount of fun.  And more updates are on the way, including multiplayer!  If you're a fan of Harvest Moon, Rune Factory, or Animal Crossing, definitely give this game a shot.