User Score
8.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 264 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Negative: 30 out of 264
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  1. Dec 13, 2016
    9
    I was really excited for this one even though I would have been more excited if it was on the Vita :-). Stardew Valley really reminds me of Harvest Moon. Build up your farm, help out your village, clear dungeons, collect resources, etc. Stardew Valley is absolutely a must play. I was shocked at how well the console version runs. Usually when something gets ported to consoles from PCI was really excited for this one even though I would have been more excited if it was on the Vita :-). Stardew Valley really reminds me of Harvest Moon. Build up your farm, help out your village, clear dungeons, collect resources, etc. Stardew Valley is absolutely a must play. I was shocked at how well the console version runs. Usually when something gets ported to consoles from PC there are a few if not many bugs to iron out. So far for me this isn't the case with SV. I have yet to run into ANY bugs. If you were ever a fan of Harvest Moon give it a try, you won't be disappointed. If you are new to the idea try it out anyway. This games might not be for some people but I think most will be surprised at how good it actually is. Expand
  2. Jan 23, 2017
    9
    This gem of a game hit me out of nowhere - i saw a Review of it and heard its comin to PS4, not very much into those type of games tbh but I did enjoy HarvestMoon back on my SNES and since I have a weak spot for Pixel games in General I was like god damn lets just give it a buy, ive bought worse and its something else ... what should I say about StardewValley other than its brilliant. InThis gem of a game hit me out of nowhere - i saw a Review of it and heard its comin to PS4, not very much into those type of games tbh but I did enjoy HarvestMoon back on my SNES and since I have a weak spot for Pixel games in General I was like god damn lets just give it a buy, ive bought worse and its something else ... what should I say about StardewValley other than its brilliant. In almost any way and aspect.
    Its charming, chilled, rewarding, deep, mysterious, just plain and simple fun, no matter how you Play it or what you do to spend your ingame time, harvesting, mining, fishing, exploring, all makes sense, gets you Progress and gets you more and more attached to your farm, the game world and his inhabitants.
    The graphics are extremely good, so is the Soundtrack. And aside from some small control issues (that could be fixed) theres hardly any Point to criticise about this game.
    The lack of German Texts is by far the biggest fault the game has so far (im from Europe and the game is just in english which is a shame for the not english speaking or younger audience) - although the PC Version got patched so theres hope for a console languaga patch as well.
    Small control issues aside the only real drag is the Overall lack of Information you get as a Player but this is very well part of the Experience.
    Stardew Valley wants to be explored, tried out and experienced on your own. And although some may think that the start (almost the two first years) is very dragging since Progress is so slow, its exactly this that makes you grow so attached to what you built up in the game - the Progress you make really feels like its earned. And no matter what you do in the game, theres no "wrong" or "false decision" to make, or even a "false way to Play" ... StardewValley always rewards you for everything and anything.
    Stardew Valley creates not only a warm and just good Feeling while playing, its simply put a one of a Kind experience, a true successor of all that made Harvest Moon such a classic, also evolving and expanding on it in just the right ways.
    Its one of the best Indie Games ever made, and one that you can Play for hours on end or just a few minutes in between. No matter what Kind of gamer you are, StardewValley is a masterpiece that just deserves to be in anyones game library.
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  3. Dec 16, 2016
    9
    On the surface, Stardew Valley isn't my kind of game. But for only $15, I decided to go with my gut instinct and give it a try. And almost immediately, I was addicted, and realized I was playing a very special, and unique game. Stardew Valley is incredibly open ended, although there are objectives to be completed occasionally, especially in the beginning. Also, there's optional, timedOn the surface, Stardew Valley isn't my kind of game. But for only $15, I decided to go with my gut instinct and give it a try. And almost immediately, I was addicted, and realized I was playing a very special, and unique game. Stardew Valley is incredibly open ended, although there are objectives to be completed occasionally, especially in the beginning. Also, there's optional, timed tasks, that are periodically displayed on the bulletin board in the town square. But the great part is, out of all the activities the game offers, from upgrading your farm, fishing, mining, foraging, and being social, it never forces you to do any of them. The solitary creator of this game lets you play it your way. Do you want to fish on the river banks all day, everyday? Go for it, just don't expect to get a dance partner at the local festival. You aren't punished for not completing tasks, but you're rewarded the more you engage in a particular activity, and you're often given upgrades, and new crafting recipes for your work, making any activity feel meaningful and fulfilling. The game is set up in days that last around 15-20 real world minutes, and spans through all four seasons (complete with unique musical themes) Each day on the calendar has the potential to be important. It could be someone's birthday, or a seasonal festival. The music is amazingly atmospheric as well. One of my only complaints about the game is that the music too often abruptly stops, and you're left in silence for the remainder of the day. There really needs to be a way to loop the music for continuous play. Also, it would be nice to have tutorial pages available, should the player need them. But these are small complaints. Stardew Valley has more charm, and attention to detail than most triple A games. It seriously proves how passion alone can create a superior product, despite a low budget. I'm about 20 hours in, and there is so much I haven't done or seen. And I've never been bored, not even once. This game could have been an endless, tedious, farming grind. But farming is only the tip of the iceberg. It's a relaxing experience that can be played any way you see fit. There are so many features I didn't even touch on in this review. Despite a few flaws, Stardew Valley is a near masterpiece, and nearly unfathomable it was created by one person. Although the game can seem daunting at first, it's the exact opposite. Forget to catch that certain fish to help restore the community center? That's okay. There's always tomorrow... Expand
  4. Jan 6, 2018
    10
    Crack cocaine is slightly less addictive than Stardew Valley. Pros: no micro transactions. Cons: you'll get glued to your controller and forget to eat and sleep during 48 hours after starting up the game.
  5. Feb 24, 2017
    9
    Stardew Valley is a fun and relaxing game. It’s leisurely paced and easy. It’s also repetitive and single player only. It may not have the reward of competitive multiplayer but it doesn’t have the stress either. This game will keep you entertained for 20+ hours which seems good value for the price. Even if you don’t think this would be your cup of tea I’d recommend giving it a go anyway,Stardew Valley is a fun and relaxing game. It’s leisurely paced and easy. It’s also repetitive and single player only. It may not have the reward of competitive multiplayer but it doesn’t have the stress either. This game will keep you entertained for 20+ hours which seems good value for the price. Even if you don’t think this would be your cup of tea I’d recommend giving it a go anyway, you might be surprised. Expand
  6. Dec 27, 2016
    9
    It's basically this developers version of Rune Factory/Harvest Moon. More Rune factory due to the RPG elements. I would've given it a 10 but the shallow relationship mechanics lose points in my book.
  7. Dec 29, 2016
    10
    I would have paid 110 dollars for this game. Replete with content and wide open enough to allow you to be whatever you want, Stardew Valley is the time sink that I needed. Aside from a few slightly clunky handling issues with the cursor, this game is an absolute masterpiece. At $15 it should be an automatic purchase, but be warned, once you start you won't want to stop playing. At 90 hoursI would have paid 110 dollars for this game. Replete with content and wide open enough to allow you to be whatever you want, Stardew Valley is the time sink that I needed. Aside from a few slightly clunky handling issues with the cursor, this game is an absolute masterpiece. At $15 it should be an automatic purchase, but be warned, once you start you won't want to stop playing. At 90 hours in I still have so much more to do and every day I'' racing the clock to accomplish what I want to. Great game. Expand
  8. Sep 23, 2017
    10
    OMG this game is so ADDICTIVE! When I read the concept for this game, I thought it sounded like a really boring kiddie game that you might find on Nintendo. The reviews were so darn good that I thought I had to give it a go. I couldn't have been more wrong. If you'd told me I'd become obsessed with building a chicken coop in a video game, I would never have believed you! It's such a gentleOMG this game is so ADDICTIVE! When I read the concept for this game, I thought it sounded like a really boring kiddie game that you might find on Nintendo. The reviews were so darn good that I thought I had to give it a go. I couldn't have been more wrong. If you'd told me I'd become obsessed with building a chicken coop in a video game, I would never have believed you! It's such a gentle game, and the activities so peaceful that you don't realise how addictive it gets. The day/night cycle is perfect, you can't help just living one more day, to check how your crops are, or catch one more fish, or discover something new about one of your neighbours. This is such a deceptively clever game, because it's really all about life and enjoying the simple things, without ever ramming the concept down your throat. I am absolutely delighted by this game! Expand
  9. Feb 27, 2018
    9
    Wow. Talk about a love infused game. Everything in this game vibrates with charm and personality. It's great to see a game that isn't about skills. Because yeah, this game is for the most part very easy and I love it for exactly this reason.

    I play Stardew Valley because, well, it's fun. I don't browse the web to find the most efficient cooking recipes, the most useful crops, the best
    Wow. Talk about a love infused game. Everything in this game vibrates with charm and personality. It's great to see a game that isn't about skills. Because yeah, this game is for the most part very easy and I love it for exactly this reason.

    I play Stardew Valley because, well, it's fun. I don't browse the web to find the most efficient cooking recipes, the most useful crops, the best thing to say to some villager, etc... I don't care! I just want to enjoy myself. I make beer and wine on my farm because it's cool to do, not because it's the most efficient way to become rich. I've created an orchard not because it is the most efficient way to bla bla bla... but because an orchard is awesome and I dearly want one in real life too. I go fishing even if I have enough money already and I don't need more... because fishing in this game is just very fun. Mining feels great too! And I kiss my spouse every morning even if she has all her hearts "maxed out". I don't care because my spouse is a such a sweet pixelated avatar that she deserves a daily hug.

    You get the idea. I play Stardew Valley not to "beat it" but to enjoy it for what it is.

    Highly recommended.
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  10. Jun 18, 2018
    10
    I love this game SO MUCH. I grew up playing Harvest Moon, but they haven't made a good version of it in a long, long, long, long time. Stardew Valley is even better than all of the really good Harvest Moon games. More customization. More storylines. More characters. More everything! I love it. Recommend to anyone and everyone!
  11. Apr 7, 2020
    7
    I believe that Stardew Valley is an undeniably charming, engaging and alluring game. It can draw in not only casual video gamers, but also the hardcore gamer looking for a more relaxing time. Having said that, the most important thing I can say is that this is not a game for everyone - I am one of those people.

    This game had me hooked up until what seemed like the latter third of the
    I believe that Stardew Valley is an undeniably charming, engaging and alluring game. It can draw in not only casual video gamers, but also the hardcore gamer looking for a more relaxing time. Having said that, the most important thing I can say is that this is not a game for everyone - I am one of those people.

    This game had me hooked up until what seemed like the latter third of the game. However, it seemed to lose its grip on me at that point, and there seemed to be a monotony to everything within the game by that point. This is unfortunate, but not entirely unexpected, as I tend to prefer far more fast-paced games than Stardew Valley. However, the game deserves high praise for drawing me in as much as it did.

    If you enjoy games like Animal Crossing or Harvest Moon, I think you will find something very special here. However, if your usual fix involves more action, I can't say for sure that this game will worm its way into your heart. Still, with its extremely reasonable price tag, I would lean towards giving the game a try and seeing what you think.
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  12. Jan 28, 2020
    7
    This game is filled with character and charm. You can tell that a lot of care went into making it. The game runs well with very little bugs or issues.
  13. Dec 13, 2016
    10
    I have to say that I didn't know about this game anything until september. Then I saw a youtube video and fell in love with this game. I was waiting for release and even pre-ordered it. Now it's the time to play and It's everything i needed. What can I say? It's upgraded Harvest Moon: Back to Nature which I played for long, long, long hours on my psx. This game was relaxing, open and itI have to say that I didn't know about this game anything until september. Then I saw a youtube video and fell in love with this game. I was waiting for release and even pre-ordered it. Now it's the time to play and It's everything i needed. What can I say? It's upgraded Harvest Moon: Back to Nature which I played for long, long, long hours on my psx. This game was relaxing, open and it made me care for animals and people. Now this game is upgraded with a lot of new stuff, has it's own art style and made by chucklefish. We need to appreciate His work, He made a great game, very expanded game that really deserves this 10/10. Sad thing is that this game may be missed by a lot of gamers and won't be getting as much attention as it deserves.

    PS. When I saw trophies for Stardew Valley on my ps4 I saw shared list for ps4/vita. So I think a vita version or a cross buy is coming :)
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  14. Dec 14, 2016
    10
    To all of you who think this "just a farming game". It's not. It is a game about human relationships, exploring your limits, finding your true self... and farming.

    And holy c*ap, is this game is awesome! I've played about ten hours now, which felt more like ten minutes. I really expected something else, but this is the first time in years and years of gaming that I am positively
    To all of you who think this "just a farming game". It's not. It is a game about human relationships, exploring your limits, finding your true self... and farming.

    And holy c*ap, is this game is awesome! I've played about ten hours now, which felt more like ten minutes. I really expected something else, but this is the first time in years and years of gaming that I am positively surprised, and thoroughly entertained.

    Technically, the game works perfectly. Controls are easy to learn. No noticeable bugs, what-so-ever.

    There is just nothing negative about this game that I can find. At all.

    Highly recommended.
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  15. Dec 13, 2016
    10
    this game is so fantastic on pc but i played it for only one hour because it coming out on ps4 so i wait for it and buy it on ps4 version and i will play it to finish it.. this game remind me of Harvest Moon Back to Nature on ps1 when i was little kid
  16. Jun 25, 2020
    0
    Terrible. Simply terrible.
    They took a game premise that is already built on tedium and made it so tedious and convoluted to the point its not even cathartic.
    game starts up and the first thing you are probably gonna end up doing is spending 3 in game days just clearing out the farmland in front of your house just so you can walk 2 steps without getting caught on something. there are
    Terrible. Simply terrible.
    They took a game premise that is already built on tedium and made it so tedious and convoluted to the point its not even cathartic.

    game starts up and the first thing you are probably gonna end up doing is spending 3 in game days just clearing out the farmland in front of your house just so you can walk 2 steps without getting caught on something.
    there are days in the game where shops will open but no one will be in there making the fact its open meaningless.
    Because of time systems in the game its hard to enjoy it in co-op because if you have to walk away you cant pause and lose time you could be spending earning money and setting up your farm.
    And lastly I wanted to change my characters look because when I initially made them it was a joke and I didn't want to restart from scratch but the process to change your look is so convoluted and poorly explained that its not worth your time, like instead of just having a barber and cloths shop you have to befriend a wizard (which you can only talk to after opening another place that the game doesn't explain or gives clues on how to open) and even then after building up your friend ship you have to know to go behind a secret bookshelf.

    I get tedium is part of these type of games but when you take the simple act of changing a characters look into a long ass process then I lose interest.
    I have played MMO that allow you to change your look easier then this and at this point I'd rather do real farming. at least I wont need to befriend a wizard to change my shirt
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  17. Jun 6, 2018
    0
    This game is super fun. If you every enjoyed Harvest Moon, you'll love Stardew Valley. The sounds and music is great, the graphics are retro and very enjoyable, the gameplay and the crafting system is great.
  18. Feb 17, 2017
    5
    Boring and way overrated. I get the gamer community is desperate for anything new and interesting, but stardew valley does not deserve this title. Slapping shoddy controls (console) on a Harvest moon title and then sprinkling a RPG makes not a inventive title.

    The day/night conversion is absurd to the point of debilitating to the pace of the game. The townspeople "seem" interesting at
    Boring and way overrated. I get the gamer community is desperate for anything new and interesting, but stardew valley does not deserve this title. Slapping shoddy controls (console) on a Harvest moon title and then sprinkling a RPG makes not a inventive title.

    The day/night conversion is absurd to the point of debilitating to the pace of the game. The townspeople "seem" interesting at first, until you realize they are just every single rpg trope ever created. The 8-bit art style has been done so much in the current market, that it actually sours the time spent with it. I'm dating myself here, but I grew up on the original NES, and it was fun to see those graphics return from time to time; but the nostalgia has worn away. All it looks to me now is a cheap way to bring a title to the market.

    There can be some genuine charming moments, featured along with some great music tracks, but they are few and far between and generally end of being nothing but things you've most likely seen in the past. The price point for this title is also way too high. Knock $10 off and you have a fair price, but at $15, you're asking far too much for a game about a quarter of a GB in size.
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  19. May 12, 2017
    0
    DO NOT BUY THIS GAME if you own a PS4 PRO. After I installed and played it for few times, I cant turn my ps4 pro into rest mode and got my first 3 beeps problem. They didnt fixed this on 4.5 and the bug is still there. They dont have a date to fix this yet. Wait and dont buy it until all good.
  20. Feb 21, 2019
    0
    It was fun at first, but then why bother? Some NPCs aren't at their shops randomly, and the doors aren't even locked. If only you could rob them in game. Also, the days and hours are way too short. A friend of mine introduced me to the game which I realize they shouldn't. THe thing that's most ridiculous is NPCs, like I said, aren't at their shops randomly. I'm sure just about anyoneIt was fun at first, but then why bother? Some NPCs aren't at their shops randomly, and the doors aren't even locked. If only you could rob them in game. Also, the days and hours are way too short. A friend of mine introduced me to the game which I realize they shouldn't. THe thing that's most ridiculous is NPCs, like I said, aren't at their shops randomly. I'm sure just about anyone could come up with a better game. Expand
  21. Jun 19, 2020
    0
    This game is a real gem It is a game where you will spend hours and hours improving your farm and enjoying all kinds of possibilities offered by the world of standew valley
  22. Oct 10, 2021
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. If you enjoy wasting your time, this game is perfect for you. I couldn't recommend this game to a single person. I was bored to tears by the 2-minute mark. Expand
  23. May 25, 2023
    4
    Just lost interest incredibly quickly. I'm sure it is a blast when you get super into it.
  24. May 22, 2022
    10
    Stardew valley & concerned ape are an absolute gift to the gaming community. This game turned more of my friends into “gamers” than Animal Crossing.
  25. Feb 20, 2017
    10
    I have definitely played enough to tell this is a beautifully crafted, fun, addictive game that checks all kinds of boxes for nostalgia, entertainment, and one more turn (or day). It has a lot in common with Animal Crossing and Harvest Moon, and borrows small amounts from Terraria, Minecraft, and Don't Starve, but perfects the formula by taking exactly what it needs from those franchisesI have definitely played enough to tell this is a beautifully crafted, fun, addictive game that checks all kinds of boxes for nostalgia, entertainment, and one more turn (or day). It has a lot in common with Animal Crossing and Harvest Moon, and borrows small amounts from Terraria, Minecraft, and Don't Starve, but perfects the formula by taking exactly what it needs from those franchises and focuses on the farming, gathering, crafting, and relationship sim.

    This game will have INCREDIBLY long legs and be played by many people for many years. It has a vibrant community and a lot of depth and challenge for people wanting to do everything. Me, my wife, and my daughter all love this game!
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  26. Jan 6, 2017
    10
    I watched people play this on Twitch/YouTube when it came out for PC and was enamored with the music, the graphics, and the seemingly endless sense of freedom not seen much in games of this kind. Picked it up for PS4, and I'm absolutely blown away by the depth here. A handful of hours in, it really hit me that this game is teeming with secrets and a remarkable sense of progression. TheI watched people play this on Twitch/YouTube when it came out for PC and was enamored with the music, the graphics, and the seemingly endless sense of freedom not seen much in games of this kind. Picked it up for PS4, and I'm absolutely blown away by the depth here. A handful of hours in, it really hit me that this game is teeming with secrets and a remarkable sense of progression. The fact that it was developed by one person seems impossible as the game begins to show it's layers. It's certainly not going to be for everyone, but if you like sim games of any kind, you've got to give Stardew Valley a shot. A masterpiece in every sense of the word. 10/10 Expand
  27. Dec 28, 2018
    9
    For me, Stardew Valley hit a lot of right notes: beautiful 16-bit-era graphics, tons and tons of things to do and collect, just the right amount of weirdness, and a satisfying blend of action and farming simulator game play. There's a lot of heart in this game, too; the more you get to know the residents of Stardew Valley, the more you'll experience as far as plot depth. I'd give this gameFor me, Stardew Valley hit a lot of right notes: beautiful 16-bit-era graphics, tons and tons of things to do and collect, just the right amount of weirdness, and a satisfying blend of action and farming simulator game play. There's a lot of heart in this game, too; the more you get to know the residents of Stardew Valley, the more you'll experience as far as plot depth. I'd give this game an 8.5 overall if I could, but I'll round up to a 9. Expand
  28. Jul 27, 2020
    10
    stardew valley is one of the funniest games I've ever played I highly recommend this game
  29. Sep 8, 2018
    8
    There is something about the way this game starts that really hit home for me. It’s a very basic beginning where your character is an office worker who is clearly unhappy about his career. You open up a letter from your Grandpa that basically tells you that he has gifted his farm to you and you should drop everything in your life and find a simpler lifestyle as a farmer.

    Once you arrive
    There is something about the way this game starts that really hit home for me. It’s a very basic beginning where your character is an office worker who is clearly unhappy about his career. You open up a letter from your Grandpa that basically tells you that he has gifted his farm to you and you should drop everything in your life and find a simpler lifestyle as a farmer.

    Once you arrive at the farm, you quickly realize that it’s run down and it needs a lot of work. After that, the game opens up and you can do whatever you want. If you want to wander around town, talking to people and getting to know them you can, if you want to work on your farm and harvest, you can. If you want to have livestock you can if you want to go to the mines for the day. You can do that as well.

    The game is split into 4 segments, there is spring, summer, fall, and winter. The 4 seasons, there are 4 months in a year and each month is a season. Spring, Summer, and Fall are harvesting months so spent all my time working on that. I would work until my character was exhausted for the day and then I would go to bed. Often times I was going to bed by noon but I was okay with that. In my mind, my character wasn’t actually going to bed. He was just relaxing for the rest of the day. When Winter hit, I couldn’t harvest anymore so than every day during winter I went to the mines. This allowed me to acquire a lot of rocks and gems.

    I used those rocks and gems to then craft sprinklers so that way when Spring of year 2 rolled along, I didn’t have to water the plants anymore. This made things a lot easier for me. It really turned my farm into a production powerhouse. To put it simply, I was making bank during the Spring, Summer, and Fall of year 2.

    By the time Winter of Year 2 rolled around. I was just about done with the game. Unfortunately for me, I’m the type of person after 30-40 hours with a game. I’m usually ready to move on and that’s what happened here. I forced myself to keep playing through the winter of year 2 because that was going to be my defining moment of “I beat this game.”

    I really enjoyed my time with this game and it was so peaceful and low stress. It was exactly what I needed but after 30+ hours with the game. I was starting to get bored and was looking forward to playing a game with a little more action.

    This is a fantastic game and I think everyone should try it. It does become very addictive.
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  30. Jan 23, 2017
    8
    I really enjoy Stardew Valley for the PS4. It reminds me a lot of Harvest Moon: Back to Nature that I played on the PS1. I would give it a higher score, but there are some bugs that cause my game to crash repeatedly at times, and the music occasionally cuts out. I understand that these are errors that are being worked on by the developer. I also hope to see more content in the future.
Metascore
86

Generally favorable reviews - based on 11 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 11
  3. Negative: 0 out of 11
  1. Apr 28, 2017
    90
    The constant churn of daily activities may prove thankless and repetitive for those impatient and unwilling to immerse themselves, but if you surrender yourself to Stardew Valley and dig deeper beneath the surface you’ll find one of the best, most impactful games you play this year, homage or not.
  2. Playstation Official Magazine Australia
    Apr 1, 2017
    90
    Alongside much lengthier save times at the end of days, the interface issues are irksome enough to mar the special, very real sense of escapism Stardew Valley can so masterfully afford. Still, that escapism is so strong it’s impossible to ignore. [March 2016, p76]
  3. Playstation Official Magazine UK
    Feb 19, 2017
    80
    A disappointing PS4 port of a brilliant game that revived and revitalised its genre. Cross your pitchforks for a thorough reworking on PS Vita in the future. Handheld husbandry? It'd be perfect. [Feb 2017, p.88]