Is Stardew Valley an RPG?

[Aidy]

Serious question....am I the only person on this thread who has actually played Stardew Valley?

[Aidy]

That's just things you need to do to in the game. Just because the game calls them "quests" doesn't mean they are quests in the RPG sense. All games have things you need to do. Is Donkey Kong an RPG because you need to get to the top of the structure?

[Pantsu Hunter]

Except you dont need to do them

[Aidy]

When playing Donkey Kong you don't need to get to the top either so I guess that's also an RPG.

[Deliciou5]

Anyone looking for a multiplayer partner on pc while we are here ? Looking for a modded serious play through with peeps.

[TheSHEEEP]

Well, it certainly has some RPG elements with the skills and equipment.
But that's about it. You cannot build your character in any meaningful, different way. Combat is action combat (determined by player skill), not RPG combat (determined by character stats).
Plus, combat is only a certain part of the game, you could play entirely without any combat.

What you actually do within the game is in almost no way even affected by your character's stats. Every character can do everything equally well, skill levels mostly just unlock craftables.
So, I'd say it is partly an RPG, albeit a VERY casual one.

If there is any challenge in the game, it doesn't come from mastering the character system but from managing the economy (which has 0 to do with RPG gameplay).