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.
@OctaviaConAmore @futurebird @emlove I dunno. The way Stardew Valley handles sleep is more of an anxiety inducing panic IMO. In every stream I've seen there was at least once with the person running in panic as that clock ticked down.
I still can't, for the life of me, understand why they made the timescale so much worse in Stardew Valley versus the games it's copying or, for that matter, why they made the punishment for not going to sleep on time so much worse, or why they made the time you must go to sleep or else so blasted early... In Rune Factory you go to sleep by 4am or you have a random chance of maybe getting sick (which can be cured by taking a sickness cure or at the clinic in some games — was a good excuse to visit Iris in Oceans, lol.)
It just temporarily lowered stats.
@nazokiyoubinbou @futurebird @emlove oooh, right, Stardew Valley has the limitations and everything 
I think I had the Elder Scrolls wait anywhere sleep anywhere for any set length of time system in mind for some reason 
I wonder if Stardew Valley is made by morning people... 
@OctaviaConAmore @futurebird @emlove I can absolutely believe it's by morning people...
I mean, I get that the actual farming generally needs the light of day. And certainly traditionally farming was done in the light of day. But there's so much else in the game and wow is it punishing on time to try to do any of it.
I think of all the games of this type I've ever played it has the fastest timescale and the earliest bed time.
@OctaviaConAmore @futurebird @emlove Actually, I think quite literally yes.
Though at least it doesn't reset everything on you after, what was it? Three days I think I recall?
Actually, if you count all three days as one time period then it's even worse since Stardew Valley is punishing you even faster by that scale. But I think one Stardew Valley day is still less than one Majora's Mask day.
Plus Majora's Mask at least had a lot of ways you could deal with the timescale (like opening shortcuts or gaining abilities that let you make shortcuts.)
@nazokiyoubinbou @futurebird @emlove 
oh gods that's terrifying even with the time tools MM had, that time mechanic (as core as it was to the game), made playing it an anxious experience a lot of the time
having that sort of time wizzing by in a cozy game sounds counterintuitive 
that time mechanic (as core as it was to the game), made playing it an anxious experience a lot of the time
THANK YOU!!!
I just don't get why games intending to be "cozy" introduce an anxiety inducing mechanic... (Of course Majora's Mask wasn't meant to be cozy. At all. But Stardew Valley is!)
I'm glad to hear some other games in the genre that have come out since at least eased up on the time 
@OctaviaConAmore To be clear, Stardew Valley is the odd one out in the genre.
Rune Factory has always had a better timescale since long before Stardew Valley existed. As far as I can remember Harvest Moon/Story of Seasons also has an easier timescale. (And I think maybe it doesn't punish much at all if you pass out from lack of sleep?)
By your wording I wonder if you know of Rune Factory and Story of Seasons. If you do not, go go go go go go go! 😁
but alas, I won't be able to properly for at least a few years since I'm besridden right now and mostly unable to get sitting time (e.g. at the pc)@OctaviaConAmore FWIW, those can be played on handheld platforms. Rune Factory 1-3 were on the Nintendo DS (well, I don't recommend 1 and 2 that much, they mostly just play weird IMO, but 3 is good) and 4 originated on the 3DS but later got an "HD" port to the Switch. Well, Harvest Moon was originally SNES but it has ports to other things and of course emulation. I forget which version of Harvest Moon is where another company acquired the name and started selling ripoffs though. That's when Story of Seasons starts to be the new Harvest Moon. Story of Seasons has a number of games that are, I think, Switch only. Might have been one on the 3DS?
So basically all portable capable if that works for you. Eg could be played lying down.
@OctaviaConAmore I really really love Rune Factory, so I couldn't help myself. 😁
Though one of my favorites is PS3 only sadly. I wish I could recommend it, but not only not handheld, unless you have a PS3, you can't play it anyway and PS3 is considered "retro" these days. (Maybe someday it will get ported? Please?)
Anyway Rune Factory 3, 4, and 5 are on the Switch. 4 is on the 3DS, and 1-3 are on the NDS (and the 3DS can play NDS games.) But I wouldn't bother with less than 3. 4 is probably the best (5 is kind of weak.)
myrmepropagandist
Octavia Con Amore 
Succubard's Library
Nazo
thanks for the in-depth reccs~