The best part is that Stardew Valley is available on almost every gaming platform at this point, so no matter your preferred platform, you can download it and start playing right away. My brother lives on the other side of the country, and we've already got plans to hang out in Stardew Valley this weekend. The improvements to multiplayer mode are extensive, including options for separate money and support for private chat messages, so if you're feeling lonely, Stardew Valley is a great way to stay in touch and play online with your friends.
The 1.4 update released in December added a ton of new content, including a movie theater unlocked in late game, a Four Corners map that's perfect for multiplayer, and new in-game events, including 14-heart events for romanceable characters. Plus, there's honestly no better time to dive into Stardew Valley. With its charming soundtrack, friendly characters, and downright addictive gameplay loop, Stardew Valley is sure to suck you in and take your mind off everything else happening in the real world. There's a lot to be stressed about right now, but boot up Stardew Valley, and you'll be transported to the cozy little community of Pelican Town, where your biggest worry is that a crow might eat one of your crops or that cute NPC might not want to be your partner at the spring dance. Stardew Valley is the ultimate chill-out game, and it's one I'll definitely be spending more time with as I'm stuck at home the next couple of weeks.
Otherwise, read on below and be sure to leave your recommendations in the comments section or have a look over all of our recommendations for the best games, movies, and TV to stream while social distancing. If you're looking for fun online multiplayer games to play while you wait for all this to blow over, then be sure to check out our feature highlighting some of our favorites. These hand-picked selections will help you spend your time indoors constructively, knocking out your backlog with excellent games.
GameSpot's editors have picked some of our favorite games for an extended stay, sure to offer hours of entertainment while you're doing the responsible thing by staying home. So what are you to do with all this newfound free time? Play video games, naturally. That means functionally, day-to-day, you're being encouraged to do your part by not going out in public all that much.
This is all part of a shared effort to slow the spread of the virus, and as the full scope of the pandemic grows, it's getting more clear we'll see more events canceled. Major video game events like E3 have been canceled, sporting events and leagues have been put on indefinite hiatus, and many states have canceled public events and schools. The novel coronavirus pandemic has had a major impact on the games industry and society at large.