The Most Popular Farming Sim Ever Is 10 Years Old, and I Have a Confession to Make

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February 26th marked the 10-year anniversary of the release of Stardew Valley. This charming pixel art farming game has become incredibly popular, and many consider it the best farming simulator ever made. Now available on almost every gaming platform, Stardew Valley continues to attract players, even those who don’t usually enjoy relaxing, cozy games. It’s still breaking sales records, and with another big update planned, it shows no signs of losing momentum. As someone who loves cozy games, I’ve spent countless hours playing Stardew Valley. But, I’m going to share some surprising confessions about the game.

Like many fans, I play Stardew Valley on several devices. While I usually play on the Switch, I got it on PC to immediately experience the 1.6 update. It’s easily one of my most-played games, right up there with The Sims 4 and Skyrim, considering how many hours I’ve put into it. However, even after all that time, I haven’t achieved some of the game’s biggest accomplishments. To celebrate 10 years of Stardew Valley, I’m reflecting on the game’s impact and sharing a list of everything I still haven’t done in this charming pixel art farming sim.

Stardew Valley Is 10 Years Old, But Still Topping Charts

When I first started playing Stardew Valley, I thought it looked pretty simple, honestly. The pixel art is charming, and the basic gameplay loop of farming seemed easy enough. And it is easy to pick up, but man, there’s so much more to it than meets the eye! It’s been getting big updates for over ten years now, and it’s still the go-to farming sim for a reason. Whenever a new farming game comes out, especially one with that 2D pixel style, it always gets compared to Stardew Valley. It really set the standard.

Even after a decade, Stardew Valley is still incredibly popular and receiving praise. It recently became the most-played game on Steam Deck and took the top spot for player ratings on PC, where it consistently ranks among the most-played games. Concerned Ape truly created something special with Stardew Valley, and with a major update coming soon, its popularity is sure to continue. It makes you wonder how much of the game’s depth and secrets players have actually discovered!

I May Be a Cozy Gamer, But I’ve Never Managed to Hit These Stardew Valley Milestones

I downloaded Stardew Valley soon after getting my Nintendo Switch a few years ago, and I’ve been hooked ever since. I’ve spent countless hours farming… or rather, starting new farms! I often restart the game when I feel like beginning again, so even though I’ve played for a long time, I haven’t reached many of the big goals. I’ve never even gotten married, or figured out how to get a date for the Flower Dance! Stardew Valley looks simple on the surface, but it’s surprisingly complex.

I like Stardew Valley, but it’s definitely not my top cozy game. While it’s easy to get started and complete basic tasks like restoring the Community Center, a lot of the game’s deeper features aren’t explained well. That’s why there are so many guides and wikis available! Things like getting married, or even starting a romance, require you to learn what each character likes and dislikes, and then consistently give them the right gifts. Honestly, it takes a lot of effort, and I haven’t been patient enough to go through with it.

I usually get really into farming when I play Stardew Valley, but I always end up losing interest and starting a new game. I have tons of unfinished save files, each with a farm that quickly becomes overgrown and disorganized. I’ve learned a lot about the game’s hidden details just from browsing online communities. Despite its cute appearance, Stardew Valley is surprisingly complex, which is why people keep coming back to it. There’s always something new to discover, and the game’s creator has even confirmed that there’s at least one secret that hasn’t been found yet.

I’ve accepted that my character in Stardew Valley will probably never get married. That means I’ll miss out on the dramatic storyline about making sacrifices to the witch, but honestly, I’m fine with that! The best part about a game like Stardew Valley is that you can play it any way you like. For me, that means I love starting a new farm from scratch whenever I feel like planting potatoes again. So, happy birthday to Stardew Valley, and to all the farms I’ve left behind – sorry, but not too sorry!

It’s been 10 years since Stardew Valley came out! Do you have any funny stories or secrets about the game? Share them in the comments and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!

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2026-02-27 00:41