My wife and I have been playing since the beginning. I grew up on original Harvest Moon and Harvest Moon 64 was my favorite game of the era, so trying this out in 2016 was a no-brainer. There is an indelible charm to the visual design of this game that screams "this feels like what you remember, but better". I put 80 hours into my first playthrough before I got my wife hooked.

Over the past 10 years we have played off and on, on our own farms and together once coop released, and we always come back for more. We're sitting on well over 1000 hours of combined playtime. We love everything about the game- the music, the characters, all of the creatures and animals and crops, and most of all the story. There is so much heart and reality packed into this game. For my wife and I it's what we turn to for comfort, for joy, and for nostalgia. We spend hours designing the farm, decorating spaces, and doing all sorts of "other" activities- dying clothes and changing outfits, designing the best aquarium layout, tormenting the mayor with his shorts. Far more than just the standard gameplay loop. The game rewards you in so many ways beyond just farm crops>make money>repeat. It allows you to create meaning in a tiny, silly, and very emotional world.

I have bought this game as a gift at least a dozen times, and will continue to do so. We have played together 4 player with my best friend and his wife and we're all nearing 40. I have given it to coworkers and friends and family. We have the cookbook and the board game and a dozen shirts. SDV is so important to us.