Game Pacing
4 Things Harvest Moon and Story of Seasons Can Learn from Stardew Valley
Pacing is an important factor to consider in any kind of video game, especially for simulation games. These games usually follow an in-game clock that determines what you can accomplish during a single day. Harvest Moon and Story of Seasons have a relatively normal pace, but there will be plenty of days when you can finish your tasks done by noon. With nothing left to do, you’re basically forced to either wander around town or call it a day. It’s a bit strange sleeping at three in the afternoon, but sometimes there’s really nothing left to do. In turn, work can become a repetitive cycle since you can finish all of your daily tasks and more during a certain day.
Stardew Valley mixes things up by including a faster time cycle. Going to town from your farm can already shave off around half an hour or so, depending on how fast you walk. With faster pacing, you’ll have to put in more effort behind planning your schedule every day. It’s also a bit difficult to squeeze in every venture the game has to offer due to the limited time and energy. Because of this, each day feels different as you’ll be juggling different types of activities. You might find yourself deep in the mines today, while you’ll be out foraging for materials for that house upgrade tomorrow.
