Whenever a really popular PC game get ported over to Android, things typically go one of two ways — it’s either a buggy mess that never quite translates to mobile in the way that the developers and fans had hoped, or it can be a roaring success that perfectly captures everything that made the original game great while now letting you take your game with you anywhere.
Stardew Valley definitely falls into the latter category. Having not actually played Stardew Valley for PC or console, if I had gone into this game not knowing anything about it, I could have sworn it was developed exclusively as a mobile title. It plays that good.
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For those unfamiliar with the game, Stardew Valley farming simulator built atop a robust 16-bit open-ended RPG that lets you play and develop your character and farm as you choose. From the outset, you are given five different farm sites to choose from, ranging from a more basic setting that’s ideal for beginners to advanced farms that are in areas inhabited by monsters.
The 16-bit graphics and artwork are masterful. All the sprites and animations are bright and colorful, and there’s no slowdown or weird effects that I’ve seen with other ports. Truly, this is one of the most beautiful games you’ll play.
Stardew Valley is a perfect example of how game developers should go about porting their games to Android.
Once you get settled into your farm, the game is very open-ended and lets you focus on farming, exploring, or working on your skills and social game in town. You’ll need to manage your time each day and keep track of the changing seasons, with different events occurring throughout the in-game year. That’s the true charm of this game, that there’s so much to do and explore. It’s not uncommon for players to spend hundreds of hours playing Stardew Valley because it’s such a relaxing and rewarding gaming experience.
Things have translated quite well to mobile, too. The game has been optimized for touchscreen devices and some of the player actions are automated to make things easier. The game will automatically select the required tool to clear out weeds, stones, or logs when you’re cleaning up the farm and you will automatically attack when engaging with enemies.
The default touch controls are tap-and-follow, meaning wherever you tap on the map your character will move to — and if there’s a bunch of stuff in the way, it will find the most convenient path around it. You can go in and tweak the controls (and pretty much any other setting for that matter) if you don’t quite like it, and really the only thing missing from this game vs the PC equivalent are the custom mods and multiplayer.
Stardew Valley is a premium game that will set you back $7 in the Google Play Store, but compared to the cost to download on Steam or console this is an absolute steal to get one of the best games of the decade on your phone and check in on your farm at any time.
Download: Stardew Valley ($6.99)
