Summary
The allure of life simulation RPGs lies within the experience of day-to-day activities through the lens of characters, and the realism factor that children bring to games in the category can’t be understated.Stardew Valleymay have attained the status of one of the most popular life simulators on the market due to its enthralling storylines and romance capabilities, but an area the ConcernedApe title finds itself lagging behind its competitors is its continuity factor. Currently, children can’t grow into adults inStardew Valley, and following in the footsteps ofThe Sims 4’s Legacy Challengeand regular gameplay could take the game to the next level.
A good story often progresses into a sequel, and as gaming technology evolves, more games are exploring advancing the tales of their main characters through their offspring.God of Waris the most recognizable franchise in this regard, with Santa Monica seemingly gearing up for the change of guard from Kratos' bloodthirsty adventures in his youth to Atreus, and navigating such a transition isn’t the easiest thing for developers. Although a protagonist shift inStardew Valleywill be nowhere near as stark, adopting aTheSims-esque approach to character succession can potentially reform the title’s outlook.
Successions Could Add an Extra Layer of Detail to Stardew Valley
Romantic elements are starting to prevail in the RPG scene, bleeding intoaction games likeBaldur’s Gate 3, and the dynamic has been one ofStardew Valley’s well-documented strengths. Wooing bachelors and bachelorettes might be the title’s main draw—aside from the cute country aesthetic—butStardew Valleyhas a missing component that current state-of-the-art games employ to elongate their gameplay.
Growing Limitations on Toddlers Might Be Holding Stardew Valley Back
Presently, there are only four phases in a child’s life in the farming simulator, and offspring can’t grow past the toddler stage. The omission of the growth cycle feels like a missed opportunity for ConcernedApe. When it comes to different life stages, there might be no better exemplary model on the market thanThe Sims, as the Maxis product displays a dedication to the progression of its characters. There are several ideasStardew Valleycan adopt fromThe Sims, but the Legacy Challenge in particular could fit the simulator’s storyline like a glove.
For instance, although there’s no definitive ending to the ConcernedApe title’s tale, reachingPerfection inStardew Valleyis considered the endgame by many players. Adding generations akin toThe Sims 4’s Legacy Challenge inStardew Valleycould let players strive towards the ultimate goal with multiple characters with unique skills, keeping gameplay interesting.
The idea behind the Legacy Challenge inThe Sims 4is for gamers to live through 10 or more generations of family rearing.
The Sims 4 Legacy Challenges Have a Lot to Offer Stardew Valley
Each heir has to meet a number of expectations in areas like career achievements and aspiration fulfillment, and there are also rules defining the challenges. The Legacy Challenge is guided by succession laws to determine the next heir, and the succession mechanism inStardew Valleycan also be geared towards the ultimate goal of Perfection. Instead of children only having performative aesthetic roles, allowing toddlers to grow into full adults as legacy heirs has the potential to add extra lore and layers toStardew Valley’s gameplay.
Each playable heir could have a themed focus on a specific skill to max out in the search for Perfection, as well as minor side quests like eating all seven Stardrops andfinding every Golden Walnuton Ginger Island. Implementing a generational feature would almost certainly require the very fabric ofStardew Valleyto get a restitch, but the rewards in terms of gameplay enjoyment and variety are too great to ignore.
