The big 1.5 update of the beloved simulation town of Stardew Valley farming town was released this week. I already told you about it on Wednesday, but now I’ve been playing it for a few hours, so I’ll tell you more, as it’s very good. The new beach farm is worth starting a new savings file, as well as all the other new quality of life changes.
I’ve always found that Stardew Valley’s annual updates are pretty good at introducing changes that make the game better without shaking everything you know about it. I’ve never booted Stardew after a major update and felt lost and confused. Such is the way with update 1.5. The map of the beach farm is fresh and new, but it won’t completely change the routine you know.
Here’s a look at the whole topic and actually hold on. I have just now seen the entrance to the cave at the lower left. I don’t know if it leads anywhere, but I’m adding it to the list of things to investigate.
The beach is a nice change of scenery, but keep in mind that sprinklers cannot be placed on the sand. This means that once you are looking to automate the operation of your farm, you will need to hurry to unlock the greenhouse or remove this dirt plot that is covered with large logs. Otherwise, you and your best friend are the watering can forever.
If you do Want to shake up the usual Stardew formula a bit more, don’t miss the Advanced Game Options below the key button when you start a new save file. Remixing the ingredients needed to complete the Community Center packages is a worthwhile change. I’m sure I can’t be the only person who can recite the items needed for the spring harvest package and the spring crop package.
There are all sorts of nice little changes to find if you are looking for them. Hidden in the options menu, for example, is the option to change the audible alert when a fish gets caught on the hook. I’m so conditioned to the default noise that I couldn’t stay with any of the new options, but hey, they’re beautiful.
The biggest and best part of the new update is the one that ConcernedApe chose not to spoil in Wednesday’s 1.5 update announcement, which I’ll be sure not to do as well. If you want to quickly keep track of the coolest (and hottest) part of the 1.5 update, be sure to upload one of your savings in a few years and visit the new door of Willy’s store that was teased earlier this year.
Also in the update announcement, ConcernedApe closed with “Next year, there will be more Stardew Valley-related ads (and possibly beyond …) that we look forward to.” He has also said earlier that a Stardew Valley 2 is out of the question and that he wouldn’t be surprised if he ended up doing several more upgrades to the same Stardew. No matter what you bring in next year, there is now so much more Stardew to chew on.