Stardew Valley

 PC
User Score
8.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 1599 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,414 out of 1599
  2. Mixed: 101 out of 1599
  3. Negative: 84 out of 1599

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  1. curvy2
    Feb 26, 2016
    10
    Harvest Moon is back! And its simple and fun again. From the soundtrack to its gameplay its simply a true work of art done by one man. Thank You STARDEW VALLEY.o0O
  2. ranshaa05
    Mar 2, 2021
    10
    Excellent game. I love it.
    It's like the overall ambiance of the game was carefully engineered to be soothing and peaceful.
    The game is meant to be played at the player's own pace: you can rush everything and complete any quest that is given to you right after you get it or you can just take your time with it, and get to it when you get to it. It's completely up to you. I have over 300    Excellent game. I love it.
    It's like the overall ambiance of the game was carefully engineered to be soothing and peaceful.
    The game is meant to be played at the player's own pace: you can rush everything and complete any quest that is given to you right after you get it or you can just take your time with it, and get to it when you get to it. It's completely up to you. I have over 300 hours of gameplay and still haven't finished the game because I took my time.
    Not many games have kept me entertained for over 300 hours of gameplay, but this is definitely an exception to the rule.
    The story is amazing, the art style is soothing and the gameplay is excellent.
    It's like a perfect combination of so many of my favorite games packed into one.
    Would recommend for everybody to play this game :)    … Expand
  3. Eukor
    Jul 19, 2020
    10
    lo mejor de su género, es un poco triste que no vayan a salir más juegos así
  4. RyuuLee
    May 11, 2023
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I once saw a special comment of this games on another website,that boy said that he played this game with his girlfriend,but.they broke up 2 years ago.He thinks those days are sweet and memorable,it was unforgettable,he always misses his exgirlfriend,misses their playtime in Stardew Valley,misses their home in the game.

    At the end of his comment,he said"Stardew Valley is obviously a great work,the charms of it is well-known.I just want to tell you all that cherish those who are with you right now, It's winter already,It's going to snow in pelican town,put your hands in pockets, don't wave and say goodbye."    … Expand
  5. Alb23
    May 26, 2023
    10
    It doesn't explain why this game is one of the best indies out there because just by playing the first year of the game you can already see how good it is.
  6. MikeZillaGames
    Feb 27, 2016
    9
    'Stardew Valley' doesn't just breathe new life into a dying concept; 'Stardew Valley' gets on it's bare knees, leans over in tears, passionately breathes into it over and over even though the Doctor already said "it's dead, stop trying", pumps the chest liberally, and doesn't give up until something good happens.

    And that something good is this game. The 'Harvest Moon' franchise has    'Stardew Valley' doesn't just breathe new life into a dying concept; 'Stardew Valley' gets on it's bare knees, leans over in tears, passionately breathes into it over and over even though the Doctor already said "it's dead, stop trying", pumps the chest liberally, and doesn't give up until something good happens.

    And that something good is this game. The 'Harvest Moon' franchise has been a mixed bag over the last decade, and the same can be said for the spinoff series 'Rune Factory'. Fans took the good with the bad and went with it because they were holding onto something special. Today, the Harvest Moon series barely exists on it's own. 'Story of Seasons' and other life sim titles have come along to replace it with mixed success.

    Well, if you loved those series then 'Stardew Valley' is what you want to play. An indie dev has revived the concept...with an obvious passion for 'Harvest Moon' and an insane attention to detail.

    I know, right? I didn't see it coming, either.    … Expand
  7. kaanelif
    Feb 22, 2019
    10
    Looking for stress-free game? Stardew Valley very suits you.
    Its very nice game to play like your own life if you dont have one.
  8. Sanysyka
    Dec 29, 2019
    10
    Harvest Moon is back! And its simple and fun again. From the soundtrack to its gameplay its simply a true work of art done by one man. Thank You STARDEW VALLEY.o0O
  9. zeux
    Dec 12, 2020
    10
    Absolutly amazing game! If you want to enjoy it the most then dont watch any tutorials
  10. rodericrinehart
    Feb 20, 2017
    10
    I have definitely played enough to tell this is a beautifully crafted, fun, addictive game that checks all kinds of boxes for nostalgia, entertainment, and one more turn (or day). It has a lot in common with Animal Crossing and Harvest Moon, and borrows small amounts from Terraria, Minecraft, and Don't Starve, but perfects the formula by taking exactly what it needs from those franchisesI have definitely played enough to tell this is a beautifully crafted, fun, addictive game that checks all kinds of boxes for nostalgia, entertainment, and one more turn (or day). It has a lot in common with Animal Crossing and Harvest Moon, and borrows small amounts from Terraria, Minecraft, and Don't Starve, but perfects the formula by taking exactly what it needs from those franchises and focuses on the farming, gathering, crafting, and relationship sim.

    This game will have INCREDIBLY long legs and be played by many people for many years. It has a vibrant community and a lot of depth and challenge for people wanting to do everything. Me, my wife, and my daughter all love this game!    … Expand
  11. sampsonj
    Mar 29, 2016
    10
    What a fantastic game. A true Harvest Moon (Story of Season) experience has finally come to the PC. The artwork is fantastic and music is great. I love how it is not about item hoading to make stuff, though there is crafting, it is not to the point of where the harvest Moon (Story of Seasons) games have gone and stuff feels fresh again. it is an overall joy with tons to do, lots of cropsWhat a fantastic game. A true Harvest Moon (Story of Season) experience has finally come to the PC. The artwork is fantastic and music is great. I love how it is not about item hoading to make stuff, though there is crafting, it is not to the point of where the harvest Moon (Story of Seasons) games have gone and stuff feels fresh again. it is an overall joy with tons to do, lots of crops and animals to raise, and an adventure.… Expand
  12. ztribal
    May 5, 2016
    10
    I have been wanting this game for ages! A Harvest Moon on PC, with loads of content! Bonus, it takes really awesome aspects from different harvest moon style games and incorporates them into a single awesome game!

    I can dungeon crawl, I can woo townsfolk, I can grow crops, take care of animals, and much more! I'm so used to these being Japanese games, but this game definitely feels    I have been wanting this game for ages! A Harvest Moon on PC, with loads of content! Bonus, it takes really awesome aspects from different harvest moon style games and incorporates them into a single awesome game!

    I can dungeon crawl, I can woo townsfolk, I can grow crops, take care of animals, and much more!

    I'm so used to these being Japanese games, but this game definitely feels more western, it is hard to pin down exactly why. It is kind of refreshing!

    The game looks fantastic, sounds fantastic! The controls aren't perfect for a controller, but they work.

    Also gay friendly! I, as a lady, can woo the ladies! So good!    … Expand
  13. Snoracks
    Apr 4, 2016
    10
    I never played Harvest Moon so I do not have much basis for comparison. Yet, what I can say is that this game seems masterfully made and is addicting as all hell. It took me a couple of in-game days to get into it and understand it, but everything was simple and self-explanatory enough that I was able to jump right in.

    It was really an inspiration to learn that it was just one guy    I never played Harvest Moon so I do not have much basis for comparison. Yet, what I can say is that this game seems masterfully made and is addicting as all hell. It took me a couple of in-game days to get into it and understand it, but everything was simple and self-explanatory enough that I was able to jump right in.

    It was really an inspiration to learn that it was just one guy that made this game and what a job he did. The art is great, the music is great and all of the characters have such specific backstories and behaviors that you'd think a whole team made it.

    I noticed a couple of glitches, but nothing game breaking. My biggest issue with the game though is in the lack of settings and options. I would like to be able to play at work, but I cannot make the screen small enough to do so. Additionally, volume control is limited to music on or off. I also would like to be able to save other than at the end of a day, but I can see where that's ultimately problematic from a design perspective.

    ConcernedApe, you da real MVP.    … Expand
  14. RogalDorn01
    Apr 1, 2016
    10
    For real, this is the very best "Harvest Moon Style" game I've ever played. The balancing act of planning the size of a farm you can reasonably water each day while trying to build up the resources to get better sprinklers is amazingly fun. The characters are absolutely charming and realistically written. The entire game is an exercise in chipping away at the jade and ice that formsFor real, this is the very best "Harvest Moon Style" game I've ever played. The balancing act of planning the size of a farm you can reasonably water each day while trying to build up the resources to get better sprinklers is amazingly fun. The characters are absolutely charming and realistically written. The entire game is an exercise in chipping away at the jade and ice that forms around your heart as you age. I cannot believe this game was made by one person.… Expand
  15. dubesor
    Mar 16, 2016
    10
    This is my favourite game in the last 10 years. So far the Dev released 6 patches (in 3 weeks) and the game itself is marvellous and reminiscent of old times when games were created to be fun, not to make the most amount of money. A very nostalgic experience with all the touches of life-improvement modern features. Amazing.
  16. Megagal1978
    Mar 13, 2016
    10
    All I can say is WOW! The level of detail put into this game is mind blowing. It already has me and my husband addicted and I'm incredibly impressed at how much fun this game is! I Am a huge Harvest Moon fan and the two are definitely similar. However, you can tell that there was so much more heart and soul put into this game than that of Harvest Moon. For those of you that don't likeAll I can say is WOW! The level of detail put into this game is mind blowing. It already has me and my husband addicted and I'm incredibly impressed at how much fun this game is! I Am a huge Harvest Moon fan and the two are definitely similar. However, you can tell that there was so much more heart and soul put into this game than that of Harvest Moon. For those of you that don't like the fishing...I felt that way at first but I gradually got the hang of it and found it to be quite fun. Awesome job ConcernedApe. This is quite an accomplishment!… Expand
  17. arruu
    Mar 25, 2016
    9
    This game is super-addicting. It's a Harvest Moon rip-off with some mechanics from Terraria, and support for user mods... Awesome idea, if you ask me. The game is fun as hell... However, imo it lacks endgame content and advance farming mechanics. Guess they couldnt balance well the easy-to-newcomers/depth of mechanics ratio... Hope the mods, or the sequel (please!!) will fix that.This game is super-addicting. It's a Harvest Moon rip-off with some mechanics from Terraria, and support for user mods... Awesome idea, if you ask me. The game is fun as hell... However, imo it lacks endgame content and advance farming mechanics. Guess they couldnt balance well the easy-to-newcomers/depth of mechanics ratio... Hope the mods, or the sequel (please!!) will fix that. Definitely give it a try!!… Expand
  18. PeregrineOmega
    Mar 11, 2016
    10
    This game has something no AAA title has been able to deliver in years... Charm.

    It's just dripping, oozing and overflowing with it. This is a game with so much character and truly dedicated attention to detail, I wish I could give it a hug, and tell it how special it is. It's an ode to that marvelous old farming game which sings with a delightful glee that reminds you so much of why    This game has something no AAA title has been able to deliver in years... Charm.

    It's just dripping, oozing and overflowing with it. This is a game with so much character and truly dedicated attention to detail, I wish I could give it a hug, and tell it how special it is.

    It's an ode to that marvelous old farming game which sings with a delightful glee that reminds you so much of why you pine for the founding era of game design.

    A one-man developer has produced what feels like it could have been done with an army of artists and designers. Bravo, ConcernedApe.    … Expand
  19. Alcarin
    Feb 29, 2016
    10
    Awesome pixel harvester and after work-"escaper". Build your farm, explore caves, level your skills and craft your equipment. Luv it from the beginning and will spend many hours creating my own pixel fake life!
  20. gabbo1313
    Feb 28, 2016
    10
    Charming, Nostalgic and good soundtrack too.

    Fans of Harvest moon/animal crossing should feel right at home with this title, Newcomers will also love to experience a decent HM similar on PC
  21. dprkforum
    Mar 8, 2016
    10
    TL:DR - Buy the game. Now. Seriously. No... just do it.

    The best $15 you will ever spend. I loved Harvest Moon as a young teen, and when I saw this on GOG, I nearly fell out of my chair. Then I fired up the game... it was a lot more than Harvest Moon. It was amazing. Lots of depth, plenty of things to do, lots of secrets, and plenty of surprises hit me dead in the face.
  22. loltroll123
    Feb 28, 2016
    10
    A Masterpiece. Thanks ConcernedApe for your years of hard work! Its been a long time but your community loves the game. Congratulations!

    Just one minor point: Fix the Fishing please! :-)
  23. jdog90000
    Feb 26, 2016
    10
    This is an amazing Harvest-Moonesque/Animal Crossingesque inspired game. I've been following the development for a while and I was still really impressed with the quality of this game. Combine that with the fact that one guy made this and there's no reason not to get it if you've been looking for this type of game for the PC.
  24. Tubey
    Mar 1, 2016
    9
    The best game of 2016 thus far for me. Rarely does an indie game pack so much polish and content into a finished product and nail the mechanics so hard that it's almost impossible to put down.

    As others have said, if you're an existing Harvest Moon/Animal Crossing fan, you've found your new home with this game on the PC - but if you're a fan of well made RPG/management sims in general,    The best game of 2016 thus far for me. Rarely does an indie game pack so much polish and content into a finished product and nail the mechanics so hard that it's almost impossible to put down.

    As others have said, if you're an existing Harvest Moon/Animal Crossing fan, you've found your new home with this game on the PC - but if you're a fan of well made RPG/management sims in general, you're going to absolutely adore this as well.    … Expand
  25. mijxero
    Apr 6, 2016
    10
    This is a great game made by a developer that has mashed all of our favorite games into one. It is like so many games, but like no other. Games like Harvest Moon never held my attention too long, but this has so many things to do that it keeps me hooked for hours. I can't suggest this any higher to anyone that liked Harvest Moon, Animal Crossing, or just any relaxing game to play.
  26. Henryloko22222
    Feb 28, 2016
    10
    I dont usually write reviews and even less review games on steam, but this is totally an exception. As i progress further into the game i'll update, but i got pretty much information to give on you guys for now.
    Im a big Harvest moon fan, actually not that much, in fact the only ones i played was Friends of Mineral Town and Back to Nature, and ow boy, Back to Nature... i've spent easily    I dont usually write reviews and even less review games on steam, but this is totally an exception. As i progress further into the game i'll update, but i got pretty much information to give on you guys for now.
    Im a big Harvest moon fan, actually not that much, in fact the only ones i played was Friends of Mineral Town and Back to Nature, and ow boy, Back to Nature... i've spent easily 500+ hours on that game, it is just so good to start something with barely nothing and turn it into a big thing (That's why i love games like Tropico 5,XCOM, Total War ETC).
    I know its boring but i'll need to make a lot of comparisons with Harvest moon Back to Nature (because it was the only one i REALLY played and enjoyed)
    First off by the story, you are the grandson of a farmer which lives in a small town called Stardew valley, its not explained if you lived with him or not (probably not), one day, he leaves you a letter, and asks you to open it when you grow tired of the City life.
    Twenty years have passed and you are working for a company called Joja which is somewhat a parody or critic of the today's companies, "enslaving" his workers. One day at work, you grow tired of being exploited and decides to open the letter, only to find out you grandfather has left his farm all to you, to start a new life.
    Well its pretty much back to nature, but there you live in the city and visit your grandfather in vacations, people already knew you basically but from what i remember he stopped visiting and got somewhat forggoten. his grandpa dies and he gets the farm. So my point is, this is not a ripoff, i was so glad to see such familiar storyline, but from now on things really change so don't be mad.
    So you are introduced to your new, devasted, overgrown land, 500 moneys and 15 seeds as a gift from the mayor, so with hard work you need to transform a terrible once forgotten farm, 500 bucks and 15 seeds into a money-maker machine, restore the town's economy and bring the people together again. (i'll explain)
    So, Joja gets in the city, everything is different, people likes TV more than hanging out, the once high populated city hall is destroyed and the economy is really bad, so it's up to you to maybe kick joja out (i don't know yet if this is a possibility)
    So let's go to some things you can do and have:
    -You have some basic tools, which is used to: chop trees down,mine ores and rocks,watering crops,prepare the soil, fishing and foraging.
    -There's plenty of ways to make money in the game, including your primary crop plantation in your farm (beside animals like chickens giving you eggs), Mining, Fishing and even fighting and looting monsters!!!!
    -Socialize with other people and even marry and (maybe) have children
    -Participate in festivals held by the locals
    -Have a pet like a cat or a dog
    So now i'll list somethings different than BtN.
    -There are monters, yes! you can actually fight them and loot them, they are pretty though tho, but you can upgrade yours weapons and equipment in the guild hall.
    -Bigger Map
    -Bigger and more beatiful farm land
    -You can craft and build items like chests, scarecrows, sprinklers, furnacers etc
    (Im missing things for sure so don't hesitate to comment and correct me)
    Overall its pretty much the same mechanics about farming and etc and i completely love it!
    Although there is somethings i didn't liked
    -Females are not cute like the Harvest moon ones (I really preferer those japanese stylish art for women)
    -The guys are really cool and the girls not so much, there is one that has a band and rides a skate sometimes!
    -The energy system really needs an overhaul, its frustating in the start but becomes too much underpowered on the early to mid game!!
    -The TV could use some more work
    The soundtrack is simply amazing, it really gives you this "farm" feel!
    This is a great game, and it was made by one guy only (which has worked on StarBound) buy it now if you love Harvest moon like me or if you like micro management games like Tropico 5,Sim City etc, its really worth its price, i've been playing this for 5 hours straight, no recent games has done this to me, so this is a GREAT sign!
    Really, JUST BUY IT!!!!    … Expand
  27. Braduk
    Feb 28, 2016
    10
    In recent years, the Harvest Moon series has died down some over the course of several new games, where the next one does not really add anything new to the last. Until now, the only alternative to the series has mostly been Rune Factory, which is also a very good series. This game, however takes the good from both series and breathes new life into the formula.

    It has many elements that    In recent years, the Harvest Moon series has died down some over the course of several new games, where the next one does not really add anything new to the last. Until now, the only alternative to the series has mostly been Rune Factory, which is also a very good series. This game, however takes the good from both series and breathes new life into the formula.

    It has many elements that any player of either series would be more than familiar with: farming crops, raising livestock, fishing, and mining. And everything is timed with the daily clock and monthly calendar dates, with special events happening every so often. These categories work the same way as their inspirations for the most part, however there are some key differences. A big over-arching change is that your farmland is almost completely customizable. Other than your house, there is nothing that is pre-placed, and your land area is gigantic. This allows for a fully customized farm that is unique to you. Fishing has a minigame instead of automatically catching whatever you hook; at first, the minigame is extremely difficult, but it does not take long to get used to. Farming also comes with conveniences that never existed before, such as upgradable sprinklers that water tiles of your crops for you (the amount depends on the level of sprinkler) as well as several kinds of fertilizers that have different effects on your crop. Raising animals is mostly the same, however the range of animals that you can care for is vast, including chickens, ducks, goats, pigs, and cows. All of these areas of the game work well, and as one would expect, with there being plenty of variety in all three. Any of these elements can be completely ignored if desired and the player can still make a profit. There is no rush to get to anything at a certain time (for the most part) and the game can be played at your own pace.

    Mining can be best described as a combination of Rune Factory's combat and Harvest Moon's cave systems. Each floor has a ladder that needs to be found to move on to the next floor, with there being better ore, minerals, gems, etc to mine the deeper you go. Inside the mine are various monsters that can be killed, sometimes even required to kill. The combat is simple, where LMB swings your melee weapon, holding LMB charges up a slingshot, and RMB does various special actions depending on the weapon. However, the simplicity works for the game, as you are always on the clock, and if it were too complex there'd be too much time spent fighting. There is something special at the very bottom of the mine, giving even more reason to explore it.

    Of course, a Harvest Moon inspired game would not be complete without interactions with the townsfolk. The system is the same as it is in Harvest Moon, where you can talk with villagers and give them gifts to get them to like you more. Unlike Harvest Moon, you can only give two gifts per week, meaning the progression of affection is a lot slower unless you complete quests or special interactions with each villager. So long as you give the right gifts and complete the special tasks, it still will not take too long before your chosen bachelor or bachelorette can be married.

    Despite everything the game does right, there are some issues with it. The running speed is atrociously slow, especially with diagonal movement. You do eventually unlock a horse, but the horse only speeds up diagonal movement; the vertical and horizontal run speeds remain the same. In addition, the bachelors and bachelorettes vary from each other with personality, however they are fairly two dimensional with their personalities. The developer also apparently had a stroke at one point because if you look at the progression of their appearances, there is a point where they gradually become worse and more same-faced, losing some uniqueness to them. There is also a very unfitting anti-corporation message in the game that could have been left out. The overall graphics style is up to personal preference, but I personally like it and think it does a good job creating the comfy atmosphere these games are known for.

    Lastly, the game is capable of being fully modified due to how simple the engine is made. Every pixel can be changed, and mod tools are in the process of being created to add extra content. There is already a mod that changes the appearances of the bachelorettes to an earlier time, as a result of many individuals wanting them altered. So who knows what the developer and modders will add to the game in the future.

    In conclusion, this game has just as much if not more content than any of the more modern Harvest Moon games yet is half the price. There are some aspects that I did not even mention such as the sewer dungeon and what is basically the Harvest Sprite tasks because I am 18 hours in and still haven't finished either of those things, nor have I seen everything the game has to offer yet. I highly recommend it.    … Expand
  28. Kendow
    Mar 2, 2016
    10
    Civ5-level addiction. Simple gameplay with a refreshing amount of content. I was amazed at the amount of things I could do. If you want a casual game just to kick back and relax, this game is for you.
  29. pospulsar99
    Mar 19, 2016
    10
    Picked this up after seeing several friends playing it, and the only 'complaint' I could come up with would be "Now I want to buy a farm in a bad way." Game is seriously just a ton of fun... well worth what it's selling for.
  30. FogCityRoller
    Mar 17, 2016
    10
    Charming and addictive in the purest possible way. The no scope MLG kiddies might not care much for the graphics and assume the game sucks because of that, but that just means they are missing out. This game is the best $15 you could possibly spend since Rocket League's debut.
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Awards & Rankings

7
#7 Best PC Game of 2016
14
#14 Most Discussed PC Game of 2016
10
#10 Most Shared PC Game of 2016

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
89

Generally favorable reviews - based on 30 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 29 out of 30
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 30
  3. Negative: 0 out of 30
  1. RPG Fan
    Jul 19, 2017
    92
    Stardew Valley is without a doubt the best game in the Harvest Moon genre in many years. It has a subtle message about what it means to live a good life and to flourish through a combination of hard work and human connection. The Harvest Moon games all basically boil down to managing a mix of time, tasks, and metrics, and recent entries in the series have relied heavily on exploiting a new gameplay gimmick with each iteration: in one it's crafting structures for the town, in another it's trading with foreign economies. The problem with this approach is that once these gimmicks are exhausted — all the houses built or all the goods traded — the games feel hollow. Stardew Valley succeeds by delivering a robust experience that does not merely rely on watching a meter go up. It has something to say and says it well, while never abandoning the core gameplay that attracted players in the first place.
    Read full review
  2. GameGrin
    Sep 23, 2016
    90
    Don't start this game if you value relationships, your job, your social life, and having free time. Stardew Valley will take all of that away from you, but it's okay because it's a great game.
    Read full review
  3. Gamer.nl
    Jul 25, 2016
    85
    Stardew Valley is a fine, smart farm simulation game. It is slow and it involves a lot of daily tasks, but in Stardew Valley there is something ingenious about those tasks.
    Read full review
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