Perhaps what makesStardew Valleysuch a hit that keeps people coming back for more is the fact that it’s quite acozy game. Its pixelated visuals hearken back to the olden days of gaming, which goes in stark contrast to the usual AAA appeal of hyperrealistic visuals and gun-toting violence.
So successful isStardew Valleythat, as of December 2024, the game has sold over 41 million copies worldwide since it launched back in 2016. That’s across all platforms, according to theofficial website, with the Nintendo Switch port alone accounting for 7.9 million copies.
When you consider that – as noted byEurogamer– February 2024 saw the game reach a milestone of over 30 million copies; this means over 10 million more units have shifted in less than 12 months. Some of this may have come from the big1.6 update that went live in 2024.
From small beginnings
Much likeMinecraft,Stardew Valleycame from humble beginnings, making an enormous splash in the indie gaming scene that caused a tsunami in the mainstream. Are these watery puns doing anything for you? No? Right. Noted.
According toWikipedia,Stardewis one of the biggest-selling video games of all time. With over 41,000,000 copies – and no doubt this number will keep going up – that puts the small farming simulator ahead ofMario Kart Wii,Super Mario Bros. Ultimateon the Nintendo Switch, andCyberpunk 2077. It’s got a long way to go before it topples the likes of the aforementionedMinecraftor evenGTA 5, but I suspect Barone does not have aspirations for such dominance.
In any case,Stardew Valleyis living proof that the indie scene is capable of doing just as well what big developers with a budget of millions can do. I must admit, it’s been far too long since I booted the game up. But since theconsole updatestarted rolling out not long ago, now might be a good time to dive back in.
