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Reviewed by Benjamin Barr
Stardew Valley is a game of possibility. Move to the idyllic countryside town of Pelican, and embark on a grand adventure full of simulation farming, RPG monster-slaying, and other magical experiences. The world is your oyster.
But oysters are small, and even grand adventures grow tiresome after a while. The good news? The best Stardew Valley mods are here to expand your horizons.
True to the core game itself, Stardew Valley mods add new possibilities to your playing experience. Choose from thousands of different mods, ranging from simple cosmetic tweaks to hardcore “God Mode” cheats. The customization options are endless.
This article takes you through 10 of the best Stardew Valley mods around. We’ll also show you how to install them and where to find even more awesome prospects. Ready to begin? Adventure awaits in Stardew Valley.
Installation Process: Enabling Mods
Before we look at the ten best Stardew mods, we need to get things set up properly. Fortunately, Stardew Valley has an active, friendly community of modders that make enabling mods a cinch.
What’s the installation process like? It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3.
1. Backup your save files.
While mods are unlikely to affect your save files, it’s always better to be safe than sorry.
How do you backup your save files? First, navigate to the Stardew Valley ‘Saves’ folder. Assuming you purchased the game on Steam for Windows, it’s located at:
C:Program Files (x86)SteamsteamappscommonStardew ValleySaves
Right-click to make a copy, and stash the copy away somewhere safe.
2. Install SMAPI
SMAPI, or the Stardew Modding API, is the mod loader for Stardew Valley. The program is incredibly easy to install, and it makes testing/playing with mods a snap.
Download it from the link above, install it on your system, and you’ll be ready for the next step.
3. Bring on the Mods
After you’ve installed SMAPI, the rest is cake. Simply unzip any downloaded mods into the Stardew Valley ‘Mods’ folder located in your program files, and you’re good to go!
For more information on installing Stardew Valley mods, check out this comprehensive guide from the Stardew Wiki. It’s got answers to every question under the Stardew sun.
The 10 Best Stardew Valley Mods
Starting with #10, let’s work our way through the best Stardew Valley mods on the interwebs. Oh, and keep a sharp eye on the Cheat-o-meter as we go. The closer we get to #1, the more impactful the mods become.
10. Seasonal Buildings
- Category: User Interface
- Cheat-o-meter: 1
- Synopsis: Add new tiles and buildings to the core game.
Stardew Valley is a place of majestic beauty, with lovely pixel art sprites and tasteful tilesets. But variety is the spice of life, and the town doesn’t change much throughout the seasons.
Why not bring a bit more color to the Valley? The Seasonal Buildings mod offers a ton of extra building sprites, with fresh new color palettes and unique styles. Add seasonal overlays that change based on the time of year, or replace the tiles entirely. Either way, there’s a lot of new art to explore and enjoy.
Seasonal Buildings is entirely cosmetic, so it only ranks a one on our Cheat-o-meter. For players seeking an authentic experience with little impact on the original game, this is the mod for you.
9. NPC Map Locations
- Category: User Interface
- Cheat-o-meter: 1
- Synopsis: Check the location of all NPCs and other players on the map.
Ever find yourself wondering: where the heck is everybody?
Wonder no more, thanks to the NPC Map Locations mod for Stardew Valley.
NPC Map Locations replaces the default map with a redrawn, totally dynamic version that tracks townsfolk (and other players in multiplayer mode) across the map. Simply bring up the minimap HUD, locate the character you’re seeking, and the map will lead you right to them. Pretty cool, right?
And that’s not all! NPC Map Locations is jam-packed with additional functionality, including novel color palettes, building locations, and hover effects that give you detailed information about each character.
8. Lookup Anything
- Category: User Interface
- Cheat-o-meter: 1
- Synopsis: See detailed information about anything with the click of a button.
When will this crop be ready for harvest? What does this item do again? Who is this villager, and what do they want from me?
If you’re anything like me, you constantly forget things. This issue is made all the more difficult in Stardew Valley, as the devs continually update the game with mini-expansions and patches.
That’s why Lookup Anything is one of the best mods for Stardew Valley. It doesn’t interfere with the way you play, but it does add a layer of convenience that you’ll wonder how you ever lived without. Look up information on crops, items, NPCs, and more — all with the click of a button.
7. Tractor Mod
- Category: Gameplay Mechanics
- Cheat-o-meter: 1
- Synopsis: Speed up the farming process with a sexy new tractor.
Put your tools away, my friends. The Tractor Mod is here.
No more swapping between a dozen different items when working out in the fields. The Tractor Mod adds an in-game tractor that does all the dirty work for you. It functions as an axe, hoe, pickaxe, scythe, watering can, and all the other essential farming tools. Not only that, but it doubles as a seed drill, meaning it can plant seeds and grass starts, and fertilize your entire crop — in record time!
The Tractor Mod takes away a lot of the monotonous grind while maintaining the authentic farming experience that makes Stardew Valley so special.
6. Friends Forever
- Category: Gameplay Mechanics
- Cheat-o-meter: 1
- Synopsis: Remove the Friendship Degradation mechanic and stay friends forever.
We get it — life can be hectic, and you’re a busy guy (or gal). You’ve got an entire farm to run, after all. Yet, every villager expects a daily greeting and punishes you for forgetting to stop by. Some friends they are.
Stop fretting about your overly sensitive neighbors with the Friends Forever mod. This simple addition removes the friendship degradation feature from Stardew Valley once and for all. No more worrying about going over every day; stop by and say hi on your time. Note that the Friends Forever mod does not apply to your spouse, so you’ll still have to make time for him/her on occasion (sorry, folks).
5. Bigger Backpack
- Category: Items
- Cheat-o-meter: 2
- Synopsis: Upgrade the size of your backpack to 48 slots.
You’re a strong dude or dudette. So why does Stardew Valley set such a measly backpack item cap? 36 items? Get real.
Now you can download the Bigger Backpack mod and upgrade your storage space to a whopping 48 slots! All it costs? A meager $50,000g at good ‘ol Pierre’s. Pay this one-time fee, and you’ve got a bigger backpack for life.
Now, Bigger Backpack does give a modest in-game advantage, so we’ve given it a Cheat-o-meter score of two.
4. Chests Anywhere
- Category: User Interface
- Cheat-o-meter: 2
- Synopsis: Access your chests from anywhere on the map.
Deep in the mines, and need quick access to your chest? What’s a player to do? In the past, you’d have to walk all the way back home, transfer items, then head all the way back to where you started. Ugh!
But not anymore.
Chests Anywhere provides access to your chests from, well, anywhere. Tap the assigned key, and it’ll open up all your chests, grouped into convenient categories for easy access. Gather resources, go monster hunting, and move across the map without fear of maxing out inventory space too soon.
The Chests Anywhere mod comes in two varieties: Unlimited and Balanced. Unlimited is true anywhere-access, while the Balanced version only gives access to chests in your vicinity.
3. Stardew Valley Expanded
- Category: Maps
- Cheat-o-meter: 2
- Synopsis: Travel to a brand new region in this comprehensive expansion that adds over 20 new locations to the core game.
You’ve explored the map in its entirety and made it to the end game. There’s just not much else for you to do. So what’s next?
Introducing Stardew Valley Expanded. This incredible mod adds a new village, a remastered farm map, and over 20 distinct locations to the game. Not only that, but it supplements seven extra characters for you to mingle with and potentially even date. Time to get your swagger on!
Even though it’s a game-changing mod, all the new additions stay true to the enchanting atmosphere that makes Stardew Valley so enjoyable in the first place – while effectively doubling its content.
2. Farm Type Manager
- Category: Gameplay Mechanics
- Cheat-o-meter: 3
- Synopsis: Manage your farm by spawning items and other features on the map.
Low on ore? Wouldn’t it be mighty convenient if a small horde of gold were to spawn right in front of you?
Say no more. We’ve got you covered.
Farm Type Manager is the key to taking Stardew Valley to the next level. This powerful mod lets you manage your entire farming experience. Spawn items and/or customize the map to your liking by adding materials, plants, monsters, even large objects like meteorites to the world around you. It doesn’t get much more convenient than that.
Farm Type Manager is a game-breaking mod, and it scores a three on our Cheat-o-meter. Use with discretion.
1. CJB Cheats
- Category: Cheats
- Cheat-o-meter: 3
- Synopsis: Use CJB Cheats to go full-on ‘God Mode.’
Maybe spawning items isn’t enough to satisfy your cheatful inclinations. Perhaps you need something a bit more… nefarious.
CJB is the cream of the crop when it comes to Stardew Valley cheat mods. Load this sucker up, and you’ve got instant access to a smattering of insidious options. Channel Machiavelli as you max out all your character relationship meters and cash stacks, or make like Thanos and increase your skill levels in a snap. There are hundreds of cheats included with this one mod, and you’ll have to explore the HUD for yourself to see them all.
It doesn’t get much more game-breaking than the CJB Cheat mod. We wholeheartedly recommend it!
On the Horizon
We hope you enjoyed our guide on the best mods for Stardew Valley!
If you’re interested in joining the modding community – or toiling away in the source files yourself – the Nexus Mods website is a great place to visit next. They have plenty more mods to explore and lots of friendly folks willing to answer any questions you have.
In the meantime, leave a comment down below letting us know your favorite Stardew Valley mods. See ya around the Valley!
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