One-man Stardew Valley developer ConcernedApe (Eric Barone) recently announced Stardew Valley: The Board Game. Unlike most indie board games, Stardew Valley skipped right over Kickstarter, and is already available now (shipping to US only).
Unfortunately in the day (that’s “day,” singular) since its release, the first printing has already sold out! Barone has confirmed a second printing is coming.
The first printing of the board game is now sold out. We’ve been blown away by the excitement and response! We’re working on getting a second printing started, and I’ll let you know when there are updates.
— ConcernedApe (@ConcernedApe) February 24, 2021
Stardew Valley: The Board Game is a cooperative game for 1 to 4 players, with a recommended age of 13 and up. Players work together to complete Grandpa’s Goals and restore the local Community Center to thwart the takeover by the Joja Corporation. The goals are randomized each game, and time is tracked via the season deck, which imposes different weather and events.
Each turn players can choose what they want to focus on, like a day in the video game. Tend to the farm, care for livestock, fish at the docks, battle monsters in the mine, and make friends in Pelican Town.
The entire rulebook is available online. The game was designed by Eric Barone and Cole Medeiros over the last two years. Barone warns that the game is complex enough to warrant the higher age rating, but also that “some testers of the game had children younger than that and they all played together and the kids got way into it. Understanding Stardew Valley already will definitely help!” (Source: Twitter).
Stardew Valley is available on PC, (Steam, GOG), PlayStation, Switch, Xbox, and iOS and Android mobile devices. It’s rated E10+.
