Stardew Valley is a 2016 farm life simulation video game created by Eric "ConcernedApe" Barone. Players take the role of a character who inherits a run-down farm from their late grandfather. The game allows players to manage the farm by clearing land, planting seasonal crops, and raising animals. Players can learn skills in farming, gathering food from nature, fishing, mining, and combat. The game includes social features, such as building friendships with townspeople, with the option to marry and have a child. A later update added multiplayer, allowing players to play online with others.
Barone developed Stardew Valley alone over five years as an independent game developer. He started the project to improve his abilities in programming and game design. He was inspired by the Harvest Moon series (now called Story of Seasons) and added features to fix some issues in those games. A British studio named Chucklefish contacted Barone during development and offered to publish the game, helping him focus on finishing it. The game was first released for Windows in February 2016 and later made available on other platforms.
Stardew Valley received good reviews from critics, including Yasuhiro Wada, the creator of Harvest Moon. The game has been called one of the best video games ever made and helped increase the popularity of farming simulation games again. It became one of the best-selling video games, selling 50 million copies by February 2026. The game was listed on several year-end top game lists and won awards, including the Breakthrough Award at the Golden Joystick Awards and a nomination for Best Game at the British Academy Games Awards.
Gameplay
Stardew Valley is a video game that lets players experience life on a farm from a top-down view. The game begins when the player character leaves a job at a company to take care of a farm near Pelican Town, which is located in the area called Stardew Valley. The player inherits the farm from their late grandfather and must work to restore it while helping the town recover.
Players can choose from different farm types, each with its own theme and advantages and disadvantages. These themes help players improve specific skills more quickly. On the farm, players must cut down trees, break rocks, and use a scythe to remove weeds so they can prepare the soil for planting. The farming system allows players to plant seeds that grow during specific seasons. These seeds need daily watering and must be harvested before the next season starts. Players can also build barns and coops to raise animals that provide items like eggs and milk.
As the game moves through four seasons, each lasting 28 days, players can complete tasks called bundles. To finish each bundle, players must collect a certain number of items and bring them to the Community Center to unlock new areas and activities, such as a new island.
Players can improve skills in farming, foraging, fishing, mining, and combat. Talking to townspeople and giving them gifts helps build friendships over time. Players can marry one of 12 characters, regardless of their own gender, and their spouse can assist with daily tasks like cooking, feeding animals, or watering crops. After marriage, the couple may choose to have a child.
Time in the game is divided into day-length segments. Each morning, players start with a full energy bar, which decreases as they complete tasks and can be restored by eating food. A nearby cave system contains ores that can be mined and heated in a furnace. The cave also has monsters, adding a combat element to mining. Players must switch between a pickaxe and a sword while exploring deeper levels, where more valuable items can be found. A multiplayer mode was added in a later update, allowing players to play online with others.
Development
Stardew Valley was created by Eric Barone, an American indie game designer who is professionally known as ConcernedApe. Barone graduated from the University of Washington Tacoma in 2011 with a degree in computer science. However, he could not find a job in the game industry and instead worked as an usher at the Paramount Theatre in Seattle. To improve his computer skills and increase his chances of finding a better job, he decided to create a game that would also use his artistic talents. Barone grew up in the Pacific Northwest and included many elements of that region in the game’s design and artwork.
Stardew Valley began as a modern, fan-made version of the Harvest Moon series, which Barone believed had become less enjoyable over time. He wanted to create a game that fixed the problems he noticed in the Harvest Moon series and combined all the best aspects of the games into one. The game was originally called Sprout Valley and took Barone five years to develop before its official release. He was the only person who worked on the game, including all of its pixel art, music, and sound effects. Barone used software called Reason Studios to create the music and sound effects and Paint.NET to make the pixel art. He chose not to use Steam’s Early Access feature because he felt it was not a good fit for Stardew Valley. The game was first programmed in C# using the Microsoft XNA framework, and later switched to MonoGame in 2021. This change helped ensure the game could support future improvements and allow players to use more than 4 GB of RAM for mods.
Barone wanted players to feel immersed in a small farming community. He aimed to make the game both fun and meaningful, with messages about real-life issues. Unlike most Harvest Moon games, which could end after two years of gameplay, Stardew Valley has no set end, allowing players to take their time without feeling rushed. He designed the game to encourage a relaxed style of play, letting players explore activities, stories, and goals at their own pace. While some players used spreadsheets and guides to maximize their farm’s income, Barone noticed this was common but not always in line with the game’s spirit. To address this, he made the cooking system less profitable, instead offering rewards that helped with farming, mining, and fishing. He also chose not to include the killing of farm animals for meat, encouraging players to care for and name each animal.
Barone first considered releasing Stardew Valley on Xbox Live Indie Games, but the project became larger than he expected. He announced the game in September 2012 using Steam Greenlight to see how much interest it had. After receiving strong support from the community, he began full-time development and shared updates with players on Reddit and Twitter. In 2013, Finn Brice, director of Chucklefish, offered to help publish the game. Chucklefish handled tasks like website hosting and creating a wiki. In April 2015, Barone said he would not release the game until it was fully complete and declined to accept pre-sales. Stardew Valley was released for Windows on Steam and GOG.com on February 26, 2016.
After the game’s release, Barone continued to improve it by adding new features, fixing problems, and listening to player feedback. He planned to create more end-game content and release the game on other platforms. In May 2016, Chucklefish agreed to help with translations for non-English languages, as well as versions for Linux, macOS, and consoles, and the technical work needed for online multiplayer. This allowed Barone to focus on a major content update. He had planned to test the multiplayer feature for Windows in late 2017 but needed more time to improve the network code. The multiplayer beta for Windows was released in April 2018 and officially launched for all PC platforms on August 1, 2018. The multiplayer update for Nintendo Switch was released in December 2018. That same month, Barone said he wanted to form a team of developers to help continue the game’s growth. He regained publishing rights for all platforms except Android, iOS, and Nintendo Switch, which remained with Chucklefish. By 2019, Barone was self-publishing all versions of the game except for mobile. He regained control of the official wiki in February 2021, the iOS version in December 2021, and the Android version in March 2022, ending Chucklefish’s involvement. In March 2024, Barone released a major update that greatly expanded the game, with mobile and console versions receiving the update in November of that year.
Stardew Valley was released on multiple platforms after its initial launch. The Linux and macOS versions came out on July 29, 2016. Console versions for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One were announced at E3 2016 in June. Barone also said a Wii U version would be released, but it was later canceled in favor of a Nintendo Switch version. The PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions were released on December 14, 2016. The Switch version, developed by Sickhead Games, was released on October 5, 2017. A PlayStation Vita version came out on May 22, 2018. Retail versions for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One were published by 505 Games. A collector’s edition released at the same time included a physical map of the game world, a soundtrack download code, and a guidebook. Mobile versions for iOS and Android were developed with help from The Secret Police. The iOS version was released on October 24, 2018, and the Android version on March 14, 2019. Both versions allow players using Linux, macOS, or Windows to transfer their progress to their mobile devices. In December 2019, Stardew Valley was added to Tesla Arcade, a Linux-based gaming service in Tesla electric cars. In 2020, Barone worked with Fangamer to release physical versions of the game’s standard and collector’s editions, as well as versions for Nintendo Switch and PC. The Nintendo Switch 2 edition of Stardew Valley was released on December 25, 2025.
Mods
Stardew Valley has a large group of players who create new features for the game. As of 2026, more than 28,000 mods have been made. One popular mod is Stardew Valley Expanded, which adds new characters, places, and has been downloaded over 3 million times. Devin Hedegaard, the person who created this mod, later became part of the Stardew Valley development team. Other mods allow players to change the game’s appearance, such as adding new animal designs. Most mods can only be used on the PC version of the game. Later updates to the game included tools to help mod developers.
In March 2025, a fan-created mod called Baldur's Village, inspired by Baldur's Gate 3, was released. Swen Vincke, the founder of Larian Studios, praised the mod. Later that month, lawyers from Wizards of the Coast removed the mod using the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Vincke shared his support for fan-made mods on social media and expressed concerns about how they are treated. On April 1, 2025, Wizards of the Coast released a statement saying the DMCA action was a mistake and apologized for the situation.
Reception
Stardew Valley received mostly positive reviews from Metacritic, a website that collects game reviews. Another review site, OpenCritic, said the game was very highly praised, with 99% of critics recommending it. Many publications have called it one of the greatest video games ever made. Yasuhiro Wada, the creator of Harvest Moon, said he was "very happy" with Stardew Valley because it helped keep the Harvest Moon series alive. He noted that Stardew Valley captured the freedom he wanted for the series while improving animation and graphics.
Critics praised the game’s farming simulation and gameplay. Jonathan Leack of GameRevolution said the game’s systems for progress, activities, and rewards make each day feel unique and connected. Javy Gwaltney of Game Informer said the farming mechanics create a relaxing and rewarding experience. Daniella Lucas of PC Gamer highlighted crafting and farm customization as fun features that help players design and improve their farms. Kallie Plagge of IGN said the mix of role-playing game (RPG) and farming elements creates an engaging experience without stress. Carli Velocci of Polygon said the game gives players a strong sense of achievement, even for simple tasks. However, Jan Wöbbeking of 4Players said early farming tasks felt repetitive, though this improved as the game progressed. Gwaltney criticized the lack of fast travel and said the map system made moving around the game world time-consuming.
The game’s story and characters were generally well received. Leack praised the writing, saying the villagers have unique personalities. Gwaltney said the townspeople react differently to players. Lucas said the townspeople feel realistic and have interesting traits. Plagge noted that while the townspeople have detailed lives, the mechanics for building relationships are simple. Velocci said small interactions with characters reveal their personalities and challenges. Elena Schulz of GameStar said the game has interesting story elements, like a haunted community center, but lacks a deep main story. Steven Wright of Paste described the game as anti-capitalist, noting its criticism of a fictional corporation. Many outlets praised the game’s LGBT options, such as the ability to marry any of 12 villagers regardless of gender. Aimee Hart of Gayming Magazine said the game lacked racial diversity.
Critics praised the game’s visual style. Leack said the pixel art looks good and fits the game’s theme, with different environments for each season. Schulz called the colorful pixel art charming. Wöbbeking said the game’s animations and lighting effects create a magical atmosphere.
The soundtrack was also praised. Leack said the music is creative and well-composed. Gwaltney said it is light and enjoyable. Plagge said the music in the mine helps reduce stress during battles and adds to the underground atmosphere. Schulz said the music and retro visuals create a pleasant atmosphere. Wöbbeking said the music matches the game’s weather and seasons with relaxing melodies.
Combat and dungeon exploration were mostly praised, though some critics said combat was too simple. Leack said combat is fun and adds variety. Gwaltney said the mine dungeon is simple but offers a change of pace. Plagge said combat is straightforward but enjoyable because of the rewards from exploring the mine. Schulz said combat is simple but rewarding through a system of defeating enemies and getting better equipment.
Some critics said the game’s tutorial and controls were not helpful. Leack said the tutorial was not clear enough. Velocci said the tutorial is minimal and controls are hard to use. Schulz said the lack of guidance made the game harder to learn. Wöbbeking said the simple controls made the game feel relaxed. Lucas noted technical issues at launch, like glitches and confusing menus.
Eight years after its release, Polygon said Stardew Valley remains popular and continues to grow without losing its original charm. In 2018, IGN raised its original score, noting updates added new items, events, and features that made the game easier for new players and more challenging for experienced ones. A 2020 update gave the game a perfect score, with IGN saying the years of updates made it a modern classic.
Stardew Valley sold about 425,000 copies on Steam and GOG.com in its first two weeks, and more than a million copies within two months. It was one of the top 24 most profitable games on Steam in 2016. Journalists said the game’s community supported its creator, Chuck Barone. Some players who downloaded the game illegally later bought it, and others offered to help others afford it.
By the end of 2017, the game sold over 3.5 million copies across all platforms. It became the most downloaded game on Nintendo Switch in 2017, even though it launched on the platform in October. After its mobile release in 2018, the game earned over $1 million in revenue on the Apple App Store within three weeks. By February 2026, it had sold over 50 million copies, with 26 million on PC and 7.9 million on Nintendo Switch.
Stardew Valley was nominated for three awards at the 2016 Golden Joystick Awards and won the Breakthrough Award. It was nominated for Best Game at the 13th British Academy Games Awards. It received nominations for Best Debut at the Game Developers Choice Awards and Best Independent Game at The Game Awards. It was also nominated for Most Promising New Intellectual Property at the SXSW Gaming Awards and the Seumas McNally Grand Prize at the Independent Games Festival. At The Steam Awards, it received five nominations between 2016 and 2024.
Legacy
Stardew Valley became widely known for its farming and cozy game themes and helped shape the modern farming simulator genre. Jess Reyes of Inverse noted that the game has played an important role in introducing farming and cozy games to more people over time. Noelle Warner of Destructoid said the game was responsible for the recent increase in popularity of farming simulators, calling it a "major cultural event" and one of the most successful indie games. Tomas Franzese of Digital Trends explained that while the original Harvest Moon started the farming sim genre, Stardew Valley’s gameplay and world design set the standard for modern games. Franzese also mentioned that the game inspired many indie titles and encouraged larger companies to explore the genre. Wes Fenlon and Kara Phillips of PC Gamer described Stardew Valley as the foundation of modern farming simulators, noting that new games in the genre are often compared to it. They also wrote that its success led to many similar games, with developers using its design as inspiration.
Ali Shutler of NME reported that Stardew Valley was ranked first among the best video games for reducing stress. Gamasutra listed Barone as one of the top ten developers in 2016, saying he created something that "gave new life" to a genre that had been mostly controlled by the Story of Seasons series. In 2017, Matt Perez wrote that Forbes named Barone one of their "30 Under 30" people to watch in video games, praising his work on Stardew Valley.
The music from Stardew Valley has been released through soundtracks, collaborations, and concert tours. The Stardew Valley: Original Soundtrack was released on September 19, 2016. A piano sheet music book and album followed on October 5, 2018. An orchestral album called Symphonic Tale: The Place I Truly Belong (Music from Stardew Valley) was released on August 15, 2020, directed by Kentaro Sato and performed by the Budapest Symphony Orchestra. In 2021, Barone worked with Norihiko Hibino on the album Prescription for Sleep, which includes piano and saxophone arrangements of ten tracks from the original soundtrack and a new song called "Beauty in the Seasons." A concert tour named Stardew Valley: Festival of Seasons was announced on October 10, 2023. A second tour, Stardew Valley: Symphony of Seasons, was introduced on November 20, 2024. An instrumental album called Stardew Valley (Festival of Seasons) was released on August 29, 2025, featuring 16 songs from the game.
Stardew Valley has expanded into books and other media. The Stardew Valley Guidebook, written by Barone and Ryan Novak and illustrated by Kari Fry, was released in 2016. The book has been updated several times to match the game’s changes. A board game version of Stardew Valley was released in February 2021. The Official Stardew Valley Cookbook, which includes over 50 recipes from the game, came out on May 14, 2024. In 2017, Jason Schreier wrote about Stardew Valley’s development in his book Blood, Sweat, and Pixels: The Triumphant, Turbulent Stories Behind How Video Games Are Made. At BrickCon 2024, a Lego model of Stardew Valley’s Pelican Town, built over two years, won the "People's Choice" award. On October 25, 2024, singer-songwriter Soccer Mommy released a song called "Abigail," inspired by the game’s character Abigail.
Stardew Valley has also had several collaborations with other games. In September 2022, a weapon from Terraria, the Meowmere sword, was added to Stardew Valley. In October 2024, the "Friends of Jimbo 2" update for Balatro included Stardew Valley characters. On September 2, 2025, Infinity Nikki released a collaboration with Stardew Valley, adding music and rhythm game-style content that lets players unlock cosmetic items. On November 18, 2025, Among Us launched a collaboration with Stardew Valley, which ran until February 18, 2026, offering Stardew Valley-themed cosmetics.