I do agree with the author that Stardew Valley can be stressful. A day is too short, and you want to cream in as much as you can. We play coop together with my girlfriend and we still feel overwhelmed sometimes.
But I do admit, this just might be because of our playstyles. We actually enjoy chaotically cramming in everything in one day, and we have roles and usual chores assigned. She usually grinds the mines and takes care of animals, I take care of the crops and community house stuff.
We didn't even touch NPC interaction yet, might be missing a lot!
All I'm saying is, I never got the laid-back, slow, relaxed feeling from Stardew. Yes, it's serene and peaceful in theme, but it's as fast-paced as you want it to be. It really respects your time I think.
Go for it! Time on Stardew Valley is time well spent!
I find the farming sims that have a plotline are easier for me to stop, even if I get obsessed, because you finish the story, befriend everyone... And then there isn't much left to do unless you just want to chill and collect things. At which point you can move to My Time At Portia or any of the hundreds of similar games and start the whole process all over a....... I have issues, don't I?
have you played rune factory? it's my favorite of the farming simulator genre. I found Stardew a little plot lite for my tastes when I played it. I feel like after I finish the community center, why would I keep playing? rune factory 4 for the switch or PC is imo the perfect game.