How long?

[Slimeglasses]

How long has everyone been playing, and how did everyone get introduced to the game?

 

[Lew Zealand]

Since v1.3.sumpin' came out, I think it was August 2018. A YTer I used to watch played the game but I never watched those videos because??? But I remembered the thumbnails and 'round summer of 2018 I was burned out and looking for something reeeeeaaally different and decided, what the hell?

And tried it and never stopped it. And like totally nobody almost everyone obsessed the game until finishing most of the v1.3 stuffs. I've mentioned here many times before but I judged a book by its cover, never having seen a second of gameplay. You shouldn't do that but maybe on rare occasion it ain't the worst thing you could do.

 

[PerfectionWhaleFarm]

Ohh I can't remember. It was around 1.3 I believe. I remember I heard good things a long time ago back when it first was popular and thought why not? I'm now clocking almost 2K hours and there's just always things to do, or if there isn't an "objective" you can always just chill and take it easy. Something about the freedom to do anything and there's so much variety in that "anything" makes me keep coming back. I also love that it's in multiple languages, it helps me pick up new languages for fun!!

 

[lizzy007]

Since July! My brother and his fiancé introduced me. Late start, but now I'm at 88% on perfection. 9mil in the bank going toward the clock!

This is what I sent my brother tonight: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP88KAbAU/

 

[VampireCake]

I can't remember where it was but it was shortly before release, some people who'd been following development were really excited about it, it sounded like fun and didn't have a AAA price tag so I thought I'd try it.

5,890 hours later...

 

[Magically Clueless]

i first started playing in march 2016 as an early birthday present. been playing ever since!

 

[pinga]

I first introduced to the game by a good friend, about 5 years ago. he asked me to play co-op with him so we play co-op for about a year I think, but since we blind play the game, so we didn't really do anything (not even completing the community center bundle). then I start playing my own file 4 years ago, but stopped like after a month cause it just not fun without my friend lol.

started playing a new file 2 months ago and just 2 days ago I reached perfection for both files.

 

[HaleyRocks]

More than a year, less than two years. I had bought the game on gog a long time ago, but when i first tried it, i got sad and upset with the tone of townspeople towards my avatar, the game's new farmer. They reminded me of real life people that i wanted to forget or run away from and their downright materialistic demeanor, or disappreciation whenever presented with a gift not of their liking, wasn't something i was prepared to see, much less get used to or acquainted with. I started playing because i was an old Harvest Moon (SNES) fan and i liked the new layers of complexity and the overall style, yet during my first experience, i somehow found it too complex and too demanding, in order to do your thing, earn money with consistent profit, etc.

So, i let it aside. But, less than 2 years ago, i couldn't stop reading online, constant "singing and praising" of it nonstop, so i bothered to examine the wiki, a number of user guides and decided to step in for good, with a plan on how to set up "shop" in the valley.

The rest is everybody's feel. Gameplay is rich, never boring, full of things to do and countless alternatives, there is always something to go after, or try new things. You get addicted, you forget your stress and you enjoy your in-game activities, complete with a sense of "progress" or "growth", a feeling of "achievement", if you will.

Plus, Haley reminds me of my 2018 ex, on way too many levels.

 

[Yvi]

I started a year or two ago - my sister and her bestie played on co-op with me, spent a lot of time following me around explaining things like "how to get into the bed" and "how to use tools". It was a steep learning curve - I was spectacularly bad at first - but I had a lot of fun and started playing on my own time, too. Now I've probably sunk about a thousand hours into this game, it's a favorite.

 

[Slimeglasses]

I started during the covid 19 pandemic. In 2020. My dad bought it because he saw it was growing in popularity and wanted to try it. He didn't like it very much. He doesn't really like pixelated video games. (Stardew Valley, Minecraft, etc.) I tried it and COULD NOT STOP.
Starting out, I loved the mines and went there every day. I threw away my watering can to make room, and didn't even know where the blacksmith's place was ... In my defense... Umm... Yeah, I have no excuse. I lost interest eventually, and got into something else. A few years later, (2022) I went back, and tried it again! I loved it all over again! This time, I played it the way it was supposed to be played, and married Emily on year 2! Since then I have played multiple new saves and gotten to a point where I still can't accurately describe the game to anyone new! Where I can have nice, educated conversations with other fans!

 

[FilthyGorilla]

Played a little on 1.0, wasn't too interested at that point but picked it up again when I saw it had released on the mobile app store sometimes in 2018-2019 and had an absolute blast playing through the then more updated game (something like 1.3).

Bought it on PC again (new steam account) a little after I heard multiplayer was being added or had been added. Now I play a mix of mobile and PC though mostly the former lately, I always have an urge to get on more productive things when I'm at my PC as I know how easily I get dragged into SDV

 

[HeHH1329]

First played in July last year. I bought my first iPhone and got three month trial period of Apple Arcade subscription. At that time Stardew Valley was just got included into Apple Arcade. I tried it since I had heard about this game from some Youtuber and got instantly addicted to it. Then I discovered mods so I bought the Steam version mostly for mods as well as continue playing after my Apple Arcade subscription expired.

 

[Denyele]

I bought this game on switch a loooong time ago.
Started it but it didn't catch my attention for very long. Just not the right game at the right time.

I tried again between than and now... but also was like "nah this game is not for me".

Until three weeks ago I sat in a Tesla. We had to charge and for somereason you can play Stardew on the screen. so I did... and I was: " I want to explore it more."
So I started a new save file on my Switch and it seems to be the right game for the right time.
It is not super demanding on refleces so a chill game to play in the afternoon.

 

[LegendslayX]

Almost 8 years. Got hooked and bought it when Markiplier or Jacksepticeye played it on YouTube (can’t remember which one). Now I am one of those people that bought it on multiple platforms: Switch and PC

 

[Odin]

I started playing in 2016 after some friends recommended the game and have played it on and off ever since! Although at this point I've probably spent more time in communities for the game (like these forums) than I have playing the game itself.

 

[Slimeglasses]

Although at this point I've probably spent more time in communities for the game (like these forums) than I have playing the game itself.

I feel you, @Odin!