Most-Played Steam Deck Game of July 2025 Is One of the Best Cozy Games of All Time

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As a gamer myself, I can’t help but share some exciting news about the Steam Deck! Last month’s rankings show that my favorite comforting farm simulator, Stardew Valley, has once again claimed the throne as the most popular game on the Steam Deck. It’s always in a fierce battle with another great title, Balatro, but there’s no denying Stardew Valley’s well-earned status as one of the top cozy games out there. Its intuitive gameplay and regular updates make it an unmatched gaming experience, putting it up there among the all-time greatest.

Back in June, I found myself dominating the Steam Deck gaming scene with Balatro as my go-to game. However, it seems that Stardew Valley has managed to outshine it recently. This means that the chill, laid-back gamers like me have taken the lead over our fast-paced, dopamine-driven roguelite counterparts – at least for the moment. Interestingly enough, both games usually retail for $14.99, but this year’s Steam Summer Sale saw a more significant discount on Stardew Valley, which mainly took place in July.

In the recent sale, the game “Stardew Valley” was available for just $7.49, leading to increased playtime compared to “Balatro”, priced at $13.49. Notably, “Balatro” has never seen more than a 15% discount on Steam before. Remarkably, the upcoming game “Balatro” from 2024 is holding its own against the 2016 release of “Stardew Valley”, despite the latter’s shorter lifespan and lack of official multiplayer support that the farming sim offers.

Stardew Valley, created by developer Concerned Ape, has received almost unanimous praise from critics. It currently ranks second in terms of popularity on the Steam platform, with a staggering 97% positive feedback from users. Only Portal 2, which is highly favored by Valve, surpasses it slightly, but Stardew Valley overtook the puzzle-platformer as the most reviewed farming sim. With over 6 million reviews, Stardew Valley ranks sixth in total number of reviews on Steam, following Terraria, Garry’s Mod, Black Myth: Wukong, Elden Ring, and Left 4 Dead 2.

If someone hasn’t played Stardew Valley before, they might find it hard to understand why this game has received so many praises throughout the years. This is because, unlike most AAA gaming titles that require large amounts of money and numerous staff members to develop, Stardew Valley was initially created by just one person. However, despite numerous games trying to imitate its success, Stardew Valley resonated deeply within its genre in a way similar to how the Mario series impacted platformer games.

In simpler terms, Stardew Valley borrows ideas from popular farm simulation games such as Harvest Moon, enhancing the beloved features of this genre while making it easier for a wider range of players to enjoy.

During a 2016 conversation with PC Gamer, Stardew Valley’s developer Eric Barone encountered Yasuhiko Wada, creator of the Harvest Moon series for the first time. He considered it a privilege and shared how the long-standing game served as an inspiration for him to develop Stardew Valley.

As a child, Harvest Moon captivated me in an unusual way, and I can’t quite put my finger on why. But I believe it has something to do with the immense satisfaction I found in cultivating crops and engaging in simple, everyday activities within these games. In 2016, I expressed this sentiment: “It’s hard to explain, but there’s just something incredibly fulfilling about tending to my virtual farm and performing these domestic tasks.

Even though Stardew Valley is now selling at its regular price following the Summer sale, keep in mind that Steam’s Autumn sale is scheduled for late September. If you haven’t had a chance to play it yet, this upcoming event might offer a reduced price for Stardew Valley on the Steam Deck, giving you an opportunity to join the fun!

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2025-08-02 19:39