Valve finally got dethroned on their own platform. And all it took was one of the most relaxing experiences in gaming.
Portal 2 is widely regarded as one of the greatest games: The writing, the puzzles, the environmental storytelling all came together in a way that far exceeded its predecessor. Its status is supported by the fact, that it was the best-rated game on Steam for 14 years, according to steam250.com. But it finally got dethroned by one of the coziest games ever.
A Deserved First Place
Stardew Valley is currently sitting at the #1 spot. Its 8.87 score overtook Portal 2's 8.85. And it definitely earned its place. The game exceeds in one aspect that many people need in their daily lives: Coziness. That's why it instantly became a comfort game for many. Everything about the game invites you to sit back and relax, while immersing yourself in its world.
And isn't that what gaming is all about? To give in to escapism and to have a small break from the real world, while mentally recharging. In fact, Stardew Valley achieves this so well that scientific studies have shown improvements to mental health, when playing it frequently.
What's Next For The Developer
We definitely congratulate Stardew Valley for the #1 spot on Steam and breaking the seemingly never ending record of Portal 2. The developer of the game Eric "ConcernedApe" Barone is now focused on his next project Haunted Chocolatier – which seems to be a spiritual successor to Stardew Valley – and took a step back from Stardew Valley.
With its seemingly endless gameplay-loop and the current state of the game, it makes total sense for ConcernedApe to change his main focus onto his new project. Haunted Chocolatier has no release date yet, because fitting for the developer, he doesn't want to be stressed and take the time he needs to finish the game.