Lack of options to customize game difficulty, font, and other settings

[gostmagnum]

I am writing to express my deep disappointment and dissatisfaction with some of the limitations on customization options in Stardew Valley. Despite my great love for the game and its enchanting world, several aspects prevent me from fully and comfortably enjoying the experience as I would like: Font and Text Customization Limitations: The inability to change the text font is one of the most annoying things. I don't find the current font comfortable to read, especially during long play sessions. I desperately miss the option to change the font type and size to suit my personal preferences and visual comfort. This customization is essential in any modern game, and its absence detracts from the user experience. Difficulty Customization Issues: The inability to customize the world's difficulty is a problem. The game is fantastic, but at times it feels either too easy or too difficult in certain aspects. I wish there was a system that allowed me to individually adjust difficulty parameters, such as the amount of gold I obtain, the density of mine monsters, or the amount of resources required for crafting, to tailor my own challenging experience. Forced Blackout System (2 AM): The inability to disable the forced blackout system at 2 AM is a rigid and often frustrating time constraint. I don't see the need to penalize players by forcing them to faint and lose money and energy once the clock strikes 2:00 AM. There should be an option that allows me to continue working for longer hours (even late in the morning) without penalty, especially on days that require significant achievements. Regarding the length of the seasons, the inability to make them three months long instead of one: each season being a month long (28 days) makes me feel pressured and rushed to complete all the farming tasks, relationships, and seasonal events. I find that three months per season is the ideal option, allowing me to relax, plan better, and enjoy a slower, more realistic gameplay pace without feeling like time is constantly slipping away. In short, these limitations—eye comfort (font), challenge flexibility (difficulty), time management freedom (2:00 AM system), and lifecycle realism (season length)—are the main obstacles preventing Stardew Valley from being the ideal experience. I hope these fundamental adjustments to the customization options will be considered in future updates.

 

[Nonak]

Now to your points:

Inability to change the font

I don't have any problems with the current font, but I guess changing it could be a nice option. Though considering that it would have to be done for every language it sounds like a lot of work.

the amount of gold I get, the density of mine monsters, or the amount of resources required for crafting

You can change all of these in some ways (profit margin, oil of garlic/monster musk, that one profession for crab pots) i get that you want a separate menu to customize all of these, so maybe there are mods for that? There certainly are ones that make the fishing mini game easier, so could be a chance that there are ones that make other aspects easier.

Forced blackout system (2 a.m.)

A lot of events happen overnight. From cutscenes of junimos repairing stuff to debris and forage spawning and crops growing. The games saves your progress after you go to sleep. Also letting players to skip sleeping without any punishments would probably remove the need to do it enitely. Like you could go infinitely deep in skull cavern with no limits, replenishing health and energy from spicy eels dropped by serpents if you run out of food. That's just unbalanced and unrealistic, even if the game doesn't need to be 100% like real life (its not forcing you to have three daily meals to survive) removing the need for sleep is too much.

Not being able to make seasons 3 months instead of 1 month: Having each season last only 1 month (28 days) makes me feel pressured and rushed to complete all the farming tasks, relationships, and seasonal events.

Being pressured shouldn't be an issue, as there's barely anything for you to miss, most of the time you can do what you wanted to next time this season rolls around. And having them longer will make the waiting for that longer, which can be frustrating too.

 

[gostmagnum]

Now to your points:

I don't have any problems with the current font, but I guess changing it could be a nice option. Though considering that it would have to be done for every language it sounds like a lot of work.

You can change all of these in some ways (profit margin, oil of garlic/monster musk, that one profession for crab pots) i get that you want a separate menu to customize all of these, so maybe there are mods for that? There certainly are ones that make the fishing mini game easier, so could be a chance that there are ones that make other aspects easier.

A lot of events happen overnight. From cutscenes of junimos repairing stuff to debris and forage spawning and crops growing. The games saves your progress after you go to sleep. Also letting players to skip sleeping without any punishments would probably remove the need to do it enitely. Like you could go infinitely deep in skull cavern with no limits, replenishing health and energy from spicy eels dropped by serpents if you run out of food. That's just unbalanced and unrealistic, even if the game doesn't need to be 100% like real life (its not forcing you to have three daily meals to survive) removing the need for sleep is too much.


Being pressured shouldn't be an issue, as there's barely anything for you to miss, most of the time you can do what you wanted to next time this season rolls around. And having them longer will make the waiting for that longer, which can be frustrating too.

The intention is to make all those features optional. This means that a player isn't forced to sleep, isn't forced to play without sleep, isn't forced to play in a 3-month mode per season, and isn't forced to be set to 1. In short, my request is for optional settings that allow for difficulty customization.

 

[Nonak]

The intention is to make all those features optional. This means that a player isn't forced to sleep, isn't forced to play without sleep, isn't forced to play in a 3-month mode per season, and isn't forced to be set to 1. In short, my request is for optional settings that allow for difficulty customization.

I see that, but even if we don't consider my point of unbalance because it's optional, what about mechanics like forage/debris game spawning, crops growing? Would these happen before your eyes? Or stuff that you put in the shipping bin is sold overnight. Would you not be able to get the money until you choose to go to sleep?
And about seasons, I just tried to explain that it's not the game where you can miss something important if you are too slow.

 

[VladM]

One word is against arbitrary season length and similar ideas: multiplayer. If a length of a season is customizable, how to play in multiplayer mode? At this moment, everything is standardized. If everything is optional, people will have spent a lot of time trying to figure out why the game does not connect/work by comparing their game options one by one. A mitigation: let's allow customization only for single-player mode does not sound good to me, too. On the other hand, people are able to play together in modded games, so probably it is not a big trouble.