If you want to use PHP, and you want to be productive, there’s no other choice in my opinion. I will say, the brain behind it is quite opinionated and most of those opinions are correct. If you don’t agree with those opinions, you will probably find yourself hating it and fighting the Laravel Magic. Give in to the magic and get shit done.
Not to belittle Stardew, a game I adore, but Stardew is itself very much cribbed, as a desperately needed spiritual successor to the Harvest Moon/Rune Factory games. I don’t intend on checking out fields of mistria so I’ll just take your word on the rest.