Stardew Valley has been an indie gaming sensation all year long, and with the recent release of the game-changing version 1.1, old and new players alike are flocking to the game. I’m one of those new players. Stardew Valley is a complicated game with a huge array of features and secrets and you’ll need a lot of tips and guides to make the most of your time on the farm. But here’s a pro tip for you: If you want to preserve the sense of mystery and joy that’s such a big part of the game, don’t read the wiki. Stick to stuff without spoilers and you’ll be much happier for it.

Stardew Valley Tips: Don’t Read The Wiki

I am a gaming wiki addict. I try to stay clear of spoilers, but when you get a big choice with big consequences—like whether to break up with Triss in The Witcher 3—it can be hard to avoid looking it up to see why it matters. If you’re a wiki addict, that is. And doing this for Stardew Valley is actually just fine—for big choices, like which skill path to take at level 5. Not all of these choices are created equal, and going in well-informed is just fine, as long as you don’t mind being kind-of-sort-of a dirty cheater.

But it should stop right there. Only look up the big stuff in Stardew Valley. You shouldn’t look up the little stuff—like what presents the townspeople like, or how many levels the mine has, or what kind of events and special items show up. Let all that stuff happen on its own, and trust the game to introduce things at a steady pace.

Looking up gameplay elements in Stardew Valley is just fine, if you like to optimize that sort of thing; there are plenty of guides for it too and those tend to have less spoilers about the game’s plot or progression. Guides will teach you what crops are worth stocking up on or what to do when you see worms in the field, but they won’t tell you about areas or characters you haven’t met yet. Nor should they.

Stardew Valley is a game about living your life, about discovering the world around you, about building relationships. Just like spying on someone’s computer isn’t the best way to learn what they like, looking up what your Stardew Valley friends’ favorite foods are isn’t cool. It’s a little cheatsy… and in an area where you aren’t going to miss out if you don’t do it. Just let the game guide you, and stick to looking up mechanics.