gamerdad There is always so much to do in this game, that to try and express an approach as progress is not a clear translation to make.

It is fall of my first year in this playthrough of Stardew Valley, which means that (and since I’ve played it a half dozen times before) I have made some solid gains on the community centre, levelled up a bunch of skills, nearly found my way to the bottom level of the mine, and have been stashing a respectable hoard of gold star vegetables for the harvest festival in a couple of days.

What I have definitely neglected this time around has been building strong relationships in the community (I’ve been hoarding all my gifts to sell for gold) and fishing. I will, as a side note, say that on the PS5 fishing suuuuuucks. I dunno if the controller is not responsive enough or I’m just doing something wrong, but it’s fall and I can count the number of fish I’ve actually caught on my fingers and as a single digit percentage of my attempts. I mean, it’s supposed to be a little tricky, but the curve is just off on consoles. Or something. Either way, I’ve been neglecting it.

My leaning back into this game has left me with a bit of self-reflective angst, tho. I mean, I’ve logged hundred of hours in this silly cozy game over the last decade, so on the one hand you might consider that its a familiar retreat. On the other, you’d assume I’d seen enough of it. It troubles me because I had Baldur’s Gate on my wishlist for nearly three years and finally bought it last month and… well, I logged about a dozen hours in that and started playing Stardew Valley again. What gives?

I think the disconnect I’m feeling is that cozy aspect. BG3 is an adventure game that requires thought and planning and strategy and attention to a story. SDV is just me chopping trees and planting vegetables and running around the #8bit landscape looking for berries.

In other words, I think my choice of game probably says more about my mental state and ability to focus than anything about the games themselves.

Autumn tends to be a time of reflection for me. My birthday is in autumn, for a start, which always makes me mushy about the passage of time. But autumn is also one of those clearcut seasons when the weather switches so dramatically. In fact it might be the most clear cut. Winter is winter and summer is summer, and spring is always a slow gradual melt and blossoming of the world, but autumn? Things just turn yellow and die and one day it’s freaking cold outside, snowing, and miserable and you need to dig your jacket out of the cupboard. Or you need to settle into a cozy video game. Take your pick.