Breaking News: Local Woman Can't Stop Downloading Games

When I said I was aiming for less screen time after too much Stardew Valley last month, I wasn’t lying. I stuck to my word and refrained from continuing my digital farm life.

However, the amazing self-control didn’t last very long. I lasted maybe… a day or two before picking up where I left off. All I can tell you now is that I’m on the last day of summer, Year 2, and my Stardew Valley character's net worth is already much, much higher than mine in real life. (Her name is Kate, by the way, and she’s filthy rich—tons of diamonds, and even a machine to double them. If she had to file taxes, her asset list would be absurdly long. A Forbes 30 Under 30 nominee for sure.)

It turned out my obsession with mobile games didn’t stop there. In addition to Stardew Valley, I’ve recently started two more, and I'm not ashamed to admit it out loud:

Brain Puzzle: Tricky Quest

I don't think you can blame me for playing this one. The ad for this game kept popping up on my Instagram, intriguing me with its simple yet absurd gameplay.

After seeing it way too often, I decided to try it—and it definitely didn’t disappoint! The gameplay is exactly as advertised, meaning you have to find creative ways to solve each level's puzzle. For example, to help some students sneak into school, you dig a hole, steal the school guard’s glasses, and release a cat to distract him.

You get the idea—it's more or less like that.

My boyfriend laughed when he saw what I was playing (“That’s the one from Instagram!” he said), but then got just as hooked as I did. I just wish there were fewer ads. The frequency started to get annoying.

Moral of the story: I’m a victim of Instagram ads. I really am.

Roblox

Well, I gave in to the temptation. After all the hype around Roblox, I finally caved two days ago. I downloaded the app and climbed a mountain with my colleagues during lunch.

Our choice, Mount Merbabu, was surprisingly difficult for a first-timer (never thought I would say that about a digital mountain). The stairs were tricky—some were slanted and full of holes. My avatar fell off the stairs a couple of times and died. In one hour, I had to restart three times.

I know I suck at playing mobile games. It's no secret. But if practice makes perfect, I believe I'll reach Mount Merbabu's summit one day... with my friends in Roblox.

So, what about you? Let me know what kinds of games you're into—I would love to try them too.

If you like this post, you might also enjoy Not an Adventurer IRL, but Catch Me in Pelican Town and Brainteasers Gone Wild: My Offbeat Answers to ChatGPT’s Questions.