Review of Stardew Valley: The Board Game
Game Type: Cooperative and Cosy
Players: 1-4. Really shines for 2 players and 4 players. For solo play, it is very easy to cheat yourself.
Age: 14+ (but experienced younger boardgamers or those familiar with the videogame may have a great time playing with older friends and family)
Play Time (approx.): 45 mins per player
Time to Learn (approx.): 30 mins
Footprint: Fits comfortably on a 4 person table, but will squeeze onto a 2 person table if you keep the box and unused components on the floor or a chair.
Replayability: Very replayable, with a variety of different goals each time.
My Favourite Thing: It has the cosy vibes of the videogame, but feels fresh and gets you thinking.
Playlist Recommendation: Stardew Valley (Original Game Soundtrack) or New Game Start
The box calls this “a cooperative game of farming and friendship” and that is exactly what Stardew Valley: The Board Game is. You and your friends will work together to restore Grandpa’s old homestead: planting crops, foraging for nuts and berries, fishing in local beauty spots, and gathering coal, ore, and gems from the nearby mine. The aim of the game is to complete the goals Grandpa left for you and restore the Community Center to its former glory as the beating heart of Stardew Valley. The villagers you befriend along the way will help you achieve your goals by giving you gifts and throwing events. You can even marry them. But be warned! Joja, an evil megacorporation, is just around the corner to make life hard for you and your fellow farmers. Keep Joja off your tails either by paying them off or uniting the locals.
So, your Grandpa has left you his plot of land and you’re ready to get started! Once you’re all set up and have your goals, each player chooses a profession—Farming, Foraging, Mining, or Fishing—and a piece of starting equipment you can upgrade to help you as the game goes on. You will play through an entire year in the valley (which, in realty, is only 16 turns long) and take it in turn to do two actions every day, working together to complete your goals. Your individual movement is limited, so you’ll need to plan your turns carefully to be as efficient as possible. Although your upgraded equipment will make you better at some actions than others—an upgraded fishing rod, for example, lets you reroll dice when you fish—you are not limited to that role; you can perform any action you want to and sometimes it takes all hands on deck to complete a task on time.
The combination of Grandpa’s Goals and completing Community Center Rooms keeps you busy all year—when I’ve played, we’ve cut it close pretty close a few times (and once we got cocky and ended up losing). The goals are also different every time you play, making the strategies you used in the last game obsolete. Each new game is a fresh challenge. Added to this, the Community Center goals are hidden when you start the game; you have to reveal them as you play, spending the Hearts you get from befriending the locals. When you are new to the game, this hidden element is exciting and keeps you guessing. And once you’ve been ‘round the block a few times, it pushes you to reveal the rooms in the most efficient order possible. If you wait too long, you may have missed your chance to complete one of the rooms. But fear not! The Hearts you gain from the villagers can also be used to change the Community Center goals.
Because every game is different, the replayability of Stardew Valley: The Board Game is one of its most appealing factors. Another is that, even though it requires complex decision making and critical thinking skills, the game mechanics themselves are simple. Once one person knows the rules (which are well laid out in the colourful rule book), it’s easy to teach to friends and family—even that one aunt who never pays attention when you’re trying to explain the rules. The box even includes a sheet of “Strategies & Tips” to help you get the most out of your first game.
Stardew Valley: The Board Game is a truly cooperative game, where group decisions can make or break your success. It’s also a beautiful visual and tactile experience. The board art is akin to the map players of the videogame will be familiar with and each of the previously-pixilated villagers has been brought to life with a wonderful portrait. The sheer quantity of cards and tokens may seem daunting when you first open the box, but the plastic inserts are an organiser’s dream. Everything has its place and is easy to find as you play. Everything fits so well, in fact, that the game can be stored on its side and still be ready to go whenever you fancy playing—which will be frequently, if you’re anything like me. All the physical components are of great quality, making game play enjoyable and set up a breeze. Even tidying up is quick and easy!
If you want to play a lighthearted game with your friends or family, but still like a challenge, Stardew Valley: The Board Game is for you! It’s perfect for family game time, unwinding with friends, or even date night. Escape from the fast pace of modern life and take a break in Stardew Valley!
