As I wrote in my last post, I’m currently in the finishing/polishing phase. There’s lots of content that I completed to about 90-95%, often because it needed to reference other aspects of the game I hadn’t even started on. Now I’m going back through and connecting everything together. It’s a big game and there’s lots of content to work through, but it’s an essential part of the development process and I can’t skimp on it!
Here’s a quick updated list of big content features in Stardew Valley:
- 40+ crops and fruit trees
- Crop quality, renewable crops, multi-season crops, different harvesting styles
- Farming-related items like fertilizers, sprinklers, and “maker machines”
- Random farm events (helpful, fun, creepy, mysterious)
- Farm animals
- Greenhouse to grow out-of-season crops
- Fishing (50+ fish that appear in different seasons/weather/time of day, crab pots, rods, bait, bobbers)
- Seasonal Festivals (games, unique items, character development)
- Mining (Explore and progress deeper underground, gathering precious ores and discovering powerful treasures)
- Smelt ore into bars and sell them, use them to craft, or upgrade your tools.
- Acquire boots, magic rings, and weapons to defend yourself against creatures lurking in the mines.
- Adventurer’s Guild (for monster hunters)
- Collect artifacts and minerals, and display them in the local museum. Those who donate can earn unique rewards.
- Non-Linear “story arc” involving the local community center (progressing unlocks big “world rewards” like gold panning or travel to the desert)
- Skill system with perks (e.g. the perk you choose at level 5 farming determines which perks you can choose from at level 10)
- Foraging… gathering from the wild, tapping trees, crafting beehives, etc.
- 30+ characters who go shopping, have doctor’s appointments, meet up for aerobics club, and kick back at the saloon. If you befriend someone, they might share a family recipe with you or send you gifts in the mail.
- 10 marriage candidates to pursue, each with unique character development cutscenes.
- 200+ furniture pieces, wallpapers and floors to customize your house.
- 150+ crafting and cooking recipes.
Of course, a bullet point list can’t really convey the finer details of a game experience, but it gives you a rough idea of what to expect.
A few Pelican Town residents
Thanks for reading!
-Ape