Having spent all her life in the rainy PNW, Ashley knows the value of spending time inside with a good game. She developed a passion for the unique... Read more
Reviewed by Benjamin Barr
I fell in love with Stardew Valley when it was first released. Even before I bought the game, I watched scores of Twitch streamers and YouTubers stake their claim to the land in this delightful farming-simulator/RPG. I picked it up for PS4 the day it launched, and again on the Switch when the multiplayer update was released. It’s still my go-to when I’m looking to unwind and de-stress, and it’s helped me discover a love for farming and management simulators that I wouldn’t have been aware of otherwise.
Since I’m always on the lookout for new games, I compiled this list of games that are similar to Stardew Valley in their genre, mechanics, and overall vibe. These games are arranged in no particular order, so feel free to take the numbered list format with a grain of salt. Please enjoy!
10 Best Games Like Stardew Valley
Let’s jump right into the list with a look at #10.
10. Terraria
- Publisher: Re-Logic
- Platform(s): PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, Mobile
- Genre(s): Action-adventure, survival
Terraria offers players a procedurally-generated world that they can explore and develop with all of the freedom granted by sandbox games. The game revolves around exploration, gifting players with a few essential tools before sending them on their way to shape the world to their preferences. Although it lacks the farming simulation appeal of Stardew Valley, the crafting/building, mining, and light combat elements resemble the casual action that can be found in the mines. This is perfect for players who opted for a less traditional farm design and looked forward to the fun found during Pelican Town’s rainy days.
9. Graveyard Keeper
- Publisher: TinyBuild Games
- Platform(s): PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, Mobile
- Genre(s): Graveyard/life sim, RPG
Having taken inspiration from Stardew Valley, Graveyard Keeper bears notable resemblance in both its mechanics and overall aesthetic. The main difference between the two is that the farming simulation is replaced by graveyard maintenance, including the digging/maintaining of gravesites and delivery/burial of corpses. The game features foraging, fishing, and dungeon exploration (including light combat), as well as a unique and multi-tiered leveling system with distinct types of experience points. Due to its aesthetic similarity to Stardew Valley, Graveyard Keeper creates an exciting juxtaposition between its sweet and unassuming appearance and the darker themes of death and violence contained within.
8. My Time at Portia
- Publisher: Panthea / Team 17 Digital Limited
- Platform(s): PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch
- Genre(s): Construction sim, RPG
My Time at Portia takes place in a world where civilization is being rebuilt from the ground up, allowing players to take a direct role in the expansion and improvement of their little town. Similarly to Stardew Valley, the game gives players the option to farm, forage, interact with townspeople, and explore local dungeons for rewards. As a construction sim, it’s worth noting that it does place more emphasis on building and crafting than on farming. For players that enjoyed constructing their farm in Stardew Valley but wished that their actions had more of a direct impact on improving the town, My Time at Portia may be worth checking out!
7. Farming Simulator
- Publisher: Focus Home Interactive
- Platform(s): PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, Mobile
- Genre(s): Farming sim
Farming Simulator is… you guessed it, a simulator game about farming. This series departs from Stardew Valley in that it focuses more on delivering an authentic farming experience over any form of RPG elements. Still, it’s perfect for players who prefer cotidian farming routines and a relaxing atmosphere. Players can develop their farm by breeding livestock, growing and maintaining crops, and selling the results of their hard work, all while surrounded by a beautiful environment inspired by rural America and Europe.
6. Kynseed
- Publisher: PixelCount Studios
- Platform(s): PC
- Genre(s): Life sim, RPG
From a handful of the developers behind Fable comes Kynseed, an RPG life sim where aging and death are a part of the game. Although farming is one of the options available in Kynseed, it’s not central to the game — players can spend their time exploring, foraging, and even starting their own businesses in the town. The RPG elements are highlighted during interactions with villagers, as creating a family and progressing through the lives of your descendants is an important part of the game.
5. Staxel
- Publisher: Humble Bundle
- Platform(s): PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch
- Genre(s): Farming/life sim, RPG
Staxel occupies the middle ground between Stardew Valley and Minecraft, offering a farming and village life simulation that celebrates its sandbox elements and encourages players to create and customize their own diverse worlds. Players are given more room to explore and develop in both single and multiplayer mode, but are drawn to their village by the allure of a highly-customizable farm and a cast of lovably quirky characters to interact with and assist in various tasks.
4. Farmer’s Dynasty
- Publisher: Toplitz Productions / Bigben Interactive
- Platform(s): PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch
- Genre(s): Farming/life sim
Farmer’s Dynasty focuses more on its simulation elements than Stardew Valley, creating a realistic experience that gives players a first-person view of their new roles as a farmer. As with other titles in this list, players inherit a rundown farm that they must develop and maintain, though the work involved is notably more hands-on. As the game progresses, new equipment and recipes unlock that allow for further development, and the player can hire farm hands to assist them in their efforts to build a self-sustaining farm.
3. Verdant Skies
- Publisher: Howling Moon Software
- Platform(s): PC
- Genre(s): Farming/life sim, RPG
Verdant Skies is advertised as a more mature version of Harvest Moon, using similar concepts and mechanics. The story is based around a gender non-specific explorer who crash lands on a planet called Veridius Primus and must help develop the colony. It resembles Stardew Valley in its use of farming, foraging, mining, and interacting with villagers, but also features new ideas related to the interplanetary colonization theme (e.g., a minigame about DNA splicing and genetically-modifying crops).
2. Farm Together
- Publisher: Milkstone Studios
- Platform(s): PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch
- Genre(s): Farming/life sim
Farm Together is a highly-customizable simulation game that emphasizes its multiplayer elements for a fun, friendly experience. Since there are no added RPG elements, the game encourages self-driven goals and cooperation. Players can build their farm from scratch, developing a small plot of land into an expansive masterpiece either alone or with friends. The game allows for both private and open multiplayer, with settings to allow for collaboration without unnecessary griefing. Time passes even when the game isn’t active, ensuring that players always have tasks lined up when they start up a new session.
1. Story of Seasons
- Publisher: XSEED Games / Marvelous USA, Inc.
- Platform(s): PS4, Xbox One, Switch
- Genre(s): Farming/life sim, RPG
Previously known as Harvest Moon, the Story of Seasons series bears the most similarity to Stardew Valley with its charming RPG elements and agricultural simulation mechanics. Players begin the game in a run-down farm that they must maintain, progressing through the game by tending their crops and livestock, befriending villagers, mining, foraging, and completing other in-game goals. As they level up, players can unlock features that allow them to further customize and automate their farm.
It’s worth noting that the Story of Seasons series has been around for a while — most of its installments exist on older-gen consoles and handheld systems. Nintendo recently released a few remakes on the Switch (including the Doraemon crossover shown above), but we’ll have to keep an eye out for further official announcements.
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