Stardew Valley Player Discovers A Key Gameplay Mechanic After 300 Hours

is a game that gives players back as much as they're willing to put in but every so often, a major feature can be overlooked by even the most enthusiastic Farmer. While the latest 1.6 Update has continued to astonish players on PC, older mechanics added in previous improvements can still stump those who may not have read the patch notes in detail. In instances like these, it's common for the community to come together to celebrate the discovery, even if everyone else is already well aware of its existence.

Posted to Reddit by user Precedexamethasone, the player shared their excitement at finding a shortcut to the Pelican Town beach that's accessible by running below Leah's house.

Despite having played for 300 hours, Precedexamethasone was caught unaware of the route, requesting that the game's community enlighten them regarding the path. The shortcut was added in the 1.5 Update and while fellow users very kindly explained that it wasn't always present in the game, many others were similarly shocked to learn about its existence.

While shortcuts around may seem like the sort of thing players should rush to acquire, unlocking them can be fairly time-consuming. To open up previously inaccessible paths, the Farmer must first fully upgrade their Farmhouse and finish up every Community Center bundle before once again approaching Robin. The talented carpenter will reveal that players can now purchase a new «Community Upgrade» designed to improve Pelican Town; specifically, it provides a better house for Pam and Penny (if the Farmer hasn't married her).

That first Community Upgrade costs an eye-watering 500,000g and 950 Wood. After completing it, the job's not yet done as the second Community Upgrade will become available, priced at a more reasonable 300,000g. Doing so will unlock several shortcuts all around the Valley but the most frequently used takes players from Cindersap Forest through to the Beach, as demonstrated by Precedexamethasone; while not essential to the