I play single player, no mods. I've played all the way through once and now I'm doing it again for Hearth and Home. It's very challenging and unforgiving of mistakes.

Grindy depends on your point of view, I don't mind all the farming though. It's kind of the point of these kinds of games. The game gives you all the tools you need to move mountains of ore around but you have to think ahead and plan out what you're doing.

Personally this is the most fun game I've played in years, probably since Skyrim.