The world of cozy gaming is getting really popular, and one of the most popular among those games is Stardew Valley. When you start the game, you learn that your grandpa has written you a letter for you to open when you hit a dead end in your life. You leave a horrible corporate job to live on a farm that you inherit and start your new life.
As the days go on, you meet the townsfolk, learn how to till the land and sell for profit, and eventually, maybe even get married. You have structure in your daily life, you have a routine that you set, and you can date as many people and whatever gender you want.
For neurodivergent queer players, those simple features really feel like a haven. Neurodivergents thrive on structure and having a daily routine in their life, and Stardew Valley really checks all those boxes. You wake up, till, plant, water, talk to the locals, give them a gift maybe, and explore, and then you go to bed and repeat. The music is peaceful, and there is a community center that gives you a sense of purpose and reason to keep going, and it’s well organized, which, as a neurodivergent myself, makes me feel good inside.
Now, for the queer players, they can date whoever they like(as long as they are not married) and as many as they like, and there is even an achievement if you date everyone, and if or when you get caught, the scene is hilarious. There is pretty much someone for everyone, the nerdy type, the cheerleader, the athlete and doctor, and the explorer who might be part witch.
The game even has a mine where you can explore and unlock the mysteries of the desert and the galaxy sword. Can you finish the community center and kick the corporate business out of the sleepy town of Pelican Town? Will you date everyone and see the funny scene, or pick one person to marry? Every day is different in Stardew Valley.
