30. Stardew Valley (2016)
What it’s about: Stardew Valley is a cozy farming simulation with a hidden agenda. Players grow their farms, raise animals, and fall in love – all while deciding the fate of the town as the evil Joja corporation attempts to suck the community dry of resources.
Why we like it: Stardew Valley is a farming game that lures you in with adorable chickens and then leaves you fighting for the sake of the community against a mega-corporation.
The complex elements of the plot are enhanced by a cast of relatable, realistic characters who struggle with mental illness, poverty, homelessness, and complex relationship hurdles, and it serves to ground the game in realism instead of an idealized fantasy. This makes Stardew Valley incredibly relatable and enhances the player’s connection to their little farming town.
