Stardew valley is a popular game with people in my generation. Like most video games it's a power fantasy.
In this case about growing food, having a functional "third space" in your community and fixing public transit. Pure escapism.
Also there are magic forest spirits and dungeons with monsters and treasures.
Two of the most momentous parts of the game are when you fix the public bus and when you get the ferry service working again.
You bring all of the materials to fix the boat but still need to buy tickets to use it because buying tickets for a nice functional local public transit system are kind of part of the whole allure.
@futurebird And to add to that thought the creator has been really good about making the game accessible to the modding community.
Which makes it even more communal as people share ways to customize the game. You can also do co-op and share a farm with your friends
myrmepropagandist
Michael Santaly