Stardew Valleyis one of the most successful indie games released in recent years. The addictive gameplay, excellent soundtrack, and uncomplicated but appealing graphics led millions to fall in love with this charming farming simulator. But if you’ve already spent countless hours inStardew Valleyand are looking for a few similar games to try out, here are a few to start with.
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Harvest Moon: Friends of Mineral Town (2003)
If you loveStardew Valley, you’ll feel right at home playingHarvest Moon.TheHarvest Moonseries was the primary inspiration forConcerned Ape, the developer forStardew Valley.The creator ofHarvest Moon,Yasuhiro Wada, even praisedStardewfor the level of freedom it offered players. Of the many games in theHarvest Moonseries,Friends of Mineral Townstands out as one of the best. In the game, players take control of a young man who inherits a farm in Mineral Town after an old friend passes away. Now, the young farmer must restore the decrepit farm, make friends with the locals, and maybe even fall in love.Friends of Mineral Townoffers a charming retro art style and addictively fun gameplay that anyStardewfan should enjoy. However, if you can’t get a hold of the old GBA cartridge, check out the remake titledStory of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town.
Rune Factory 4 (2012)
TheRune Factoryseries is a fantasy RPG spinoff ofHarvest Moon. Most of the mechanics from theHarvest Moonseries are present including farming, socialization, and romance. However,Rune Factoryadds dungeon exploration to the mix.Rune Factory 4is one of the best games in the series, and an enhanced version was recently released for the Nintendo Switch. So, if you’re interested in trying a fantasy anime-style game that’s similar toStardew Valley, you should definitely giveRune Factory 4a chance.
The Sims 4 (2014)
If socialization and customization are your favorite parts ofStardew Valley,thenThe Sims 4will be your newest obsession. One of the best-selling game franchises in the world,The Simsallows players to create their own characters called Sims and control their lives. You can design your Sim’s home, get them a job, and have them start a family. The possibilities inTheSims 4are only limited by your own creativity and imagination. With so many customization options and DLC packages available, you can easily sink hundreds of hours intoTheSims 4just likeStardew Valley.
Slime Rancher (2016)
You can start a small-time slime farm inStardew Valley, butSlime Ranchertakes things to an extreme level. The game is played in first-person and places you in a large open world filled with slimes to farm. Your character is armed with a VacPack that allows you to interact with the slimes and various items found around the map. InSlime Rancher, you’re part farmer, part explorer, and part zookeeper, and it’s all fun. Trying to collect and manage slimes is a very engrossing challenge and getting to crossbreed your slimes into new species is a ton of fun. If you appreciate the animal raising and exploration aspects ofStardew Valley,Slime Ranchershould suit your fancy.
Graveyard Keeper (2018)
Think ofGraveyard Keeperas the gothic version ofStardew Valleywhere you manage a cemetery plot instead of a farm. The plot ofGraveyard Keeperdraws a lot from the isekai genre of anime and manga. At the start of the game, your character is hit by a car and finds himself in a medieval fantasy world, separated from his lover. While you search for a way back to your world, you must tend to a run-down graveyard and level up your character’s skills. You’ll also be farming, dungeon crawling, crafting, and fishing while interacting with some spooky NPCs.
My Time at Portia (2019)
Post-apocalyptic games are typically gritty and depressing, butMy Time at Portiais refreshingly light. The game takes place sometime after civilization collapsed and humanity moved underground to survive. But now, humans have returned to the surface and are in the process of rebuilding society with your help. That may sound dark written out, but the cheery environments, cartoonish graphics, and laid-back feel of the game keep things fun and light-hearted.My Time at Portiacombines appealing aspects of both RPG and Simulation games in a way similar toStardew Valley.It’s not quite as polished asStardewoverall, but it’s still a solid competitor.
Farming Simulator 19 (2018)
After becoming a farming master inStardew Valley, there’s no doubt you’re ready for a new crop growing challenge, and what better way to test your skills than trying out a more true-to-life farm simulator. TheFarming Simulatorfranchise is about as realistic as farming video games come.Farming Simulatormay not be as stylish as the other entries on this list, but don’t be surprised if you end up addicted to the farming grind anyway. you’re able to try out any of the games in the series and be set for a good time, butFarming Simulator 19is a good pick for both newbies and seasoned farmers alike.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons (2020)
You won’t be doing much traditional farming inAnimal Crossing: New Horizons, but it’s still one of the mostStardew Valley-like games out there.Animal Crossing: New Horizonsplaces you and your new anthropomorphic animal friends on a remote island paradise. From there, you’re able to play the game however you want, much like inStardew. You can catch fish and bugs, discover dinosaur fossils, befriend your neighbors, upgrade your home, and beautify your island however you desire. And if you’re really itching for some farming-type content, try collecting all the fruit trees, or growing some hybrid flowers!
Hokko Life (2021)
Hokko Lifeis an early-access indie game released in 2021, and so far, it shows great promise. Similar toAnimal Crossing, you control a human character in a town full of anthropomorphic animals. The gameplay is standard for a casual life simulator, but it’s done well enough to keep you interested. There’s also a commendable amount of customization options available for an early access game. Overall,Hokko Lifeisn’t as fleshed out as other entries on this list, but with more development time, it’s easy to imagine it becoming aStardew-like staple.
Garden Story (2021)
Garden Storyis no simple farming simulator. It’s an action RPG that puts you in control of a grape named Concord who is fighting “the rot”, a goo that’s overtaking his island home. There’s a lot ofStardew Valley-type content found inGarden Storylike farming and fishing, but the game places a much higher emphasis on combat thanStardewdoes. Expect plenty of dungeon crawling and some entertaining battles along Concord’s journey.Garden Storyis relaxed, simplistically stylish, and full of content to enjoy at your own pace.
