Are you a Stardew Valley fan looking for games like Stardew Valley? Look no further!
Not to be basic but Stardew Valley is one of my favorite cozy games of all time. I’ve 100%’ed the game to get the “special ending scene” and very nearly Platinumed it on PlayStation Vita (if it weren’t for that pesky “Beat Journey Of The Prairie King” trophy). Needless to say, I’ve sunk hundreds if not thousands of hours into this game.
But recently I’ve been feeling like I’ve played it to death. I’ve dated everyone I want to date, tested every farm type, seen every cutscene, and even owned the coveted Gold Clock. There’s nothing else I really want to do in the game (no, I will not play nor beat Journey Of The Prairie King!!!!), which leaves me feeling rather empty. There’s a Stardew Valley-shaped hole in my heart and I need to find something to fill the gap.
There may never be a farming sim as good as Stardew Valley, but there are plenty of cozy games that scratch that same itch: farming, fishing, friends…maybe a sprinkle of combat.
But Wait: What is Stardew Valley?
“What is Stardew Valley?” Huh? How did you get to this article? Who sent you? …I kid, I kid. Just in case you’ve been living under the rock or this article goes unexpectedly viral, here’s the gist of Stardew Valley:
Stardew Valley is a charming farming simulation game developed by ConcernedApe. Set in the idyllic Pelican Town, players inherit a run-down farm and are tasked with restoring it to its former glory. The game combines farming, fishing, mining, and crafting mechanics, allowing players to plant and harvest crops, raise animals, and build relationships with the diverse cast of characters inhabiting the town. The game features a shifting calendar with seasonal changes affecting crop growth and festivals that offer unique activities. Players can explore the mines to obtain resources and battle monsters, engage in fishing to catch various aquatic species, and participate in community events. The game’s pixel art style and soothing soundtrack contribute to its nostalgic and relaxing atmosphere, making Stardew Valley a beloved and addictive gaming experience.
What makes a game like Stardew Valley?
When comparing games to Stardew Valley, I look for certain elements or gameplay mechanics. Here are the main qualifiers, though I like to break my own rules every so often, too.
- Has farming sim elements (crops, livestock)
- Has any of: fishing, foraging, crafting, mining, combat
- Has a rich social/community environment
- Has memorable characters
- Has a quaint, charming setting
That being said, it’s time to get to the heart of the matter! Here are…
The 12 Best Games Like Stardew Valley
As someone who loves the farming sim genre, I’m always on the lookout for new games to play. Here are some farming games like Stardew Valley that I recommend:
1. Harvest Moon – The Stardew Valley origin story
It’s no secret that Stardew Valley was actually based on the earlier Harvest Moon games. This classic farming sim series has been around since 1996, and for good reason. With charming characters, engaging gameplay, and a focus on building relationships, Harvest Moon is a great choice for anyone looking for a similar experience to Stardew Valley. It’s tough to recommend the best Harvest Moon game because, personally, I like Harvest Moon 64 (Nintendo 64) and Harvest Moon: Magical Melody (GameCube), so good luck finding those.
Here are some newer editions to the franchise that are much easier to come by these days (ordered according to my personal preference):
2. My Time at Sandrock – Stardew Valley with a crafting/building focus
While not strictly a farming game, My Time at Sandrock has a similar vibe to Stardew Valley. Set in a post-apocalyptic world, you’ll be tasked with rebuilding your workshop and helping the town of Sandrock grow and thrive. You spend most of your days scavenging and foraging in a resource-scarce environment in order to complete crafting commissions posted by the townsfolk. With crafting, farming, festival mini-games, and relationship-building mechanics, it’s a great choice for anyone looking for a more varied experience. I love this game series and played the heck out of My Time at Portia by Pathea Games, as well.
On the fence? Read my My Time at Sandrock Review.
3. Rune Factory – Stardew Valley that is more action-oriented
Combining farming sim mechanics with RPG elements, Rune Factory is a unique take on the genre. With dungeon-crawling, monster-taming, and a wide variety of crops to grow, it’s a great choice for anyone looking for something a little different. It has a heavier focus on linear narrative, dungeon crawling, and combat, so fans of the mines/Skull Cavern in Stardew Valley will appreciate what it has to offer. I can personally vouch for Rune Factory 4 being an absolute blast, but I’m hearing good things about Rune Factory 5, as well!
4. Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town – Stardew Valley with cutsie 3D graphics
A remake of the original Game Boy Advance game, Friends of Mineral Town is a charming farming sim with updated graphics and mechanics. With plenty of plants to care for, animals to raise, and townsfolk to befriend (and eventually marry), it’s a great choice for anyone looking for a more traditional farming experience. This one is heavily based on the OG Harvest Moon games (SNES, N64), so it has a special place in my heart.
Read my full Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town review.
Story of Seasons has other titles available, too, but Friends of Mineral Town happens to be my personal favorite…and it’s not even a little bit close. But here are some other recent titles you can check out, as well:
- Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life
- Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town
- Doraemon Story of Seasons (Nintendo Switch)
5. Coral Island – Stardew Valley with hand-drawn art & deep story
A broad map, tons to do, and some of the best character art around, Coral Island has been dubbed the “bisexual panic” farming sim on account of how attractive all the bachelors and bachelorettes are. This one has a very modern storyline about a corporation polluting the ocean and trying to bully the town into selling them space. Very Stardew Valley-esc (a la JojaMart), so you’ll have a sense of familiarity there. I have been playing this title since it was in Early Access and I can’t rave enough about this game. It’s got all of the farming sim elements you know and love but with juuust enough unique twists (underwater exploration, anyone?) to keep things fresh.
6. Sun Haven – Stardew Valley with an advanced skill tree
Sun Haven is a truly charming farming sim with tons of battle and skill tree mechanics that you don’t really see often in this genres. The character creation screen lets you pick a race that will unlock additional bonuses, which in another unique feature of this farming sim! You also will have multiple farms in different, distinct villages. I don’t want to spoil anything, but one of them has a cool urban, neon vibe that I haven’t seen in a farming sim location before. Oh, and much like Stardew Valley, Sun Haven has a seamless online co-op mode, too!
7. Wylde Flowers – Stardew Valley, with witches
Become a witch, tend your garden, make potions, and befriend the townsfolk. Wylde Flowers is an often overlooked farming and life sim that I know Stardew Valley fans will enjoy. It champions diversity and has a ton of heart, two things I love in any farming life game. You’ll be surprised by a few of the mechanics—like that you control the seasons…with magic—but it’s really worth a playthrough to see them all for yourself. There are many story twists and turns in Wylde Flowers that are better left experienced first-hand.
8. Roots of Pacha – Stardew Valley in the stone age
Take farming simulation back to the stone age. Roots of Pacha is a new farming sim on the market so it’s a bit feature-lite at the moment but the developers have a ton of stuff on the roadmap. Roots of Pacha really switches things up when it comes to the in-game economy, as your contributions to the clan’s well-being earn you “points” that can be traded for goods and services. That’s the only currency! It’s less about making money and more about supporting the community. You will also “discover” new technology, like tools or machines, by completing certain tasks for NPCs. It’s a totally unique approach to farming sims.
Psst! I think Roots of Pacha has a genuine shot at becoming the “next Stardew Valley,” but that might just be me.
9. Summer in Mara – Stardew Valley, with pirates
Summer in Mara is a charming, well-written farming sim and exploration game with one of my favorite art styles on this list. You play as Koa, who shows up on a quite little island alone and tries to make the place feel like home. You are equipped with your trusty boat, though it needs repairs, and a farmstead that has everything you need to survive and thrive. Eventually, you’ll be able to sail the map and visit many islands, meet and greet pirates, and engage in dozens of compelling side stories. I highly recommend this one, even though it strays somewhat from the basic farming sim formula.
10. Fae Farm – Stardew Valley with more dungeon crawling
Full disclosure: I didn’t really like Fae Farm. But it has a dedicated fanbase who make some pretty compelling points about why it’s great. More importantly, I want you to be able to make your own decision about the game, so I’m going to keep it on this list anyway. It undoubtedly has Stardew Valley elements, like farming, combat, NPC quests, animal rearing, mining, fishing, and more. It definitely deserves a spot on this list so far as people will for sure be recommending it as a Stardew Valley alternative for years to come.
11. Disney Dreamlight Valley – Best for games-as-a-service
Disney Dreamlight Valley is a great choice for Stardew Valley fans who didn’t dig the combat aspects of the game. Dreamlight Valley focuses on wholesome adventures with characters you’ll recognize from myriad popular properties, including Disney and Pixar. You can explore, collect, craft, grow, and decorate, as well as take advantage of ongoing DLC that the developer releases regularly. Some content is behind additional paywalls but a lot of it is distributed for free.
DDLV was supposed to go free-to-play until the developer rolled that back (booo), so beware of aggressive microtransactions if you decide to give it a run.
12. Harvest Town – Best Stardew Valley alternative on mobile
One of the great things about Stardew Valley was that it is on basically every platform you can imagine. Harvest Town is a great option for those looking to game on-the-go with their Android or iOS devices. Harvest Town is very, very Stardew Valley-inspired; so much so that some players dislike it for trying to be “too similar.” But, hey, that’s what this recommendations list was made for, so I’m not going to ding it for that! In Harvest Town, you’ll inherit a rundown farm, plant crops and fish, and complete quests to progress the story.
13. Farming Simulator – Stardew Valley with more realism
I honestly don’t really like the Farming Simulator games but I feel like I’ll get an angry DM if I don’t at least give it a mention! It’s a pretty obvious win if you are looking for a gamified farming experience. Farming Simulator is a simulation game that allows players to experience the life of a modern-day farmer, managing tasks such as planting and harvesting crops, raising livestock, and operating various farming vehicles and equipment. The game provides a realistic and immersive agricultural experience, enabling players to cultivate their virtual farms and participate in the challenges of rural life.
Conclusion
So there you have it: my top recommendations for games like Stardew Valley. New farming sims are being released all the time so I plan to revisit this list and expand upon it when I find something worthy. I tried to be really specific about games that resemble Stardew Valley in a big way, which is why you won’t see titles like Animal Crossing: New Horizons on here (I have a different list for that!) even though other lists compare them favorably.
Leave a comment below if you have a game like Stardew Valley that you want me to consider for this list! I’ll check it out and maybe even add it on a future update.
Stay cozy, friends!
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