"Stardew Valley"'s release was a relatively quiet one. Most people barely paid attention to yet another indie game making its debut. And yet, "Stardew Valley" became one of the top-rated games on Steam practically overnight. What caused this game to have such a mass appeal?

As a child you may remember playing "Harvest Moon" (or even "Animal Crossing"). "Stardew Valley" is a similar type of game in which you are a small-town farmer. Your character is able to sell crops in order to earn currency, which is gold. Although the basic premise is admittedly not the most original idea, "Stardew Valley" has succeeded where many games have failed: having a peaceful, nostalgic mood.

The game, however, does have a twist on the usual farm game. Magic and combat both play important roles in the game's plot. "The game has a loose story that does have a resolution," said the developer. "You can tackle it at your own pace and the game doesn't actually end afterwards. You can continue playing forever."

The developer is actively involved in "Stardew Valley"'s subreddit, making him surprisingly easy to contact for help with glitches and other problems. He also plans to release a free DLC for the $15 game, which will be filled with ideas gathered from current players. A modding community has also sprung up quickly, with people adding their own twists on the gameplay. "Stardew Valley" is 100 percent worth its cost, especially when considering that there are professionally-made games that cost more and have less content.

"Stardew Valley" is an extremely addictive game once you begin it. It's wonderful to play when you're stressed out, but if you have a lot of work to do you might want to wait for a quieter time to play. You'll undoubtedly want to sink hours into the game after purchasing!