Stardew Valley

Since this farm simulation is entirely what you choose to make of it, if you're somehow bored with this game, it's sort of your fault. Even if you're not inclined to appreciate or delve into these types of immersive simulator types of games, if you stick with it long enough, sooner or later something will hook you. It takes a few hours to get your bearings and understand what there is to see, explore, and even poke at, but in this game, literally, seasons pass and so many things pop up -- fishing, mining, spelunking, foraging, cooking, luaus, haunted mazes, arcade games -- that it can all seem daunting at first. But it's part of living in a place that's meant to feel alive, growing, and changing.

The big downside of Stardew Valley is, if nothing is hooks you in for a while, it can all feel a little aimless and underwhelming. Where are you supposed to go? Whom should you talk to? What should you do, and why? What should you choose not to do, and why not? The game throws a lot at you from the outset, and it's unclear why what you're doing matters or won't matter, and that can be a little frustrating. Still, it's worth sticking with and riding out for a few hours. Granted, not everyone will have a handful of hours just to understand a game and see whether it's worthwhile, but given that you can easily rack up hundreds of hours in Stardew Valley, that's a paltry entrance fee given what it can potentially yield.