10 Times Video Game Spiritual Successors Were Better Than Official Sequels
3. Stardew Valley (Story of Seasons)
Long before Terraria, Littlewood, or Animal Crossing, the go-to farm sim was Story of Seasons, initially known as Harvest Moon. Boasting over two dozen games, Yasuhiro Wada's IP didn't just popularise the genre but monopolised it. Despite inspiring a heap of farming clones, none could knock Story of Seasons off its pedestal.
Until Stardew Valley. Eric "ConcernedApe" Barone's title single-handedly rejuvenated interest in the genre in a way no other game has before.
Rather than focusing purely on farming, Stardew Valley allowed players to develop complex relationships with the NPCs, creating a richer and more personal gaming experience. Unlike Story of Seasons, gamers weren't compelled to keep playing just to check on their crops, but also to check on their friends and family. Thanks to the open-ended gameplay, fans can play for years on end without getting bored.
Even though Story of Seasons has released multiple games since, they couldn't compete with Stardew Valley's presentation, addictiveness, or accessibility. Yasushiro Wada himself admitted during a GameSpot interview how Stardew Valley outclassed his creation, since it offers more freedom than his franchise's later instalments.
Although Story of Seasons will always have a special place in many gamers' hearts, Stardew Valley is the uncontested king of farm sims.