I think you're putting too much stock in the steam reviews. Just because a game has the same % positive rating as another doesn't mean it's of the same quality or even that people like it the same amount.

It's like rotten tomatoes. 2001: A Space Odyssey [0] has 93% on RT, Pick of the Litter has 100%. I'm sure Pick of the Litter is a fine film, but clearly there's a sense in which it's a lesser movie compared to 2001 by general consensus, despite what the percentages would indicate. Now the case of stardew valley and "the other farming simulators on steam" is not so extreme but that's what I'm getting at.

[0] https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1000085_2001_a_space_odysse...?

[1] https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/pick_of_the_litter

But Stardew Valley is a much better name.

You may be right that a good name or a different engine won't save a game, but I don't think the game you chose as your point is one to demonstrate that.

> But people really like that game.

It seems most people haven't played it.

And there are often game with, say, awful graphics, that are awesome to play. It happens. That doesn't mean you should bank on it.