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. greenbey
    Jul 11, 2020
    9
    A+
    It is hard to believe that this game is made by one person.
    Very immersive.
    You can see that this is one of the games that made with passion.
    Farming, dating, friendship sim.
    Dungeon crawler.
  2. Vectis99
    Sep 5, 2019
    9
    Solid, cute, and relaxing- but it requires a hefty time commitment and moves along at a snail pace. If you can get past that, I found this deeply rewarding as an experience to share with a friend. It's also extraordinarily beautiful, with excellent and consistent graphics and audio.
  3. drew23flyer
    Nov 1, 2018
    9
    I think startdews graphics are wonderful. The music is quite relaxing and this game, while challenging is fun and rewarding. You can unwind after a long day and just farm, or you can go into the mine, or raise animals or fish or anything there are many things to do in this game and it is absolutely excellent.
  4. RustyDiamonds
    Nov 21, 2018
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Stardew Valley is a one-man project created by ConcernedApe. This Farming RPG simply excels in its attempt to make you have fun and relax. Even the parts that seem hectic aren't overwhelming, any enemies you may fight being simple to get through. How great is it, really?

    ----------------
    Music/Graphics:

    The artwork for this game is amazing. The pixel graphics clearly had a lot of care and effort poured into them, with good shading performed everywhere. I don't get why people hate this graphical style because it is still amazing even today. Just look at Shovel Knight for another example of a great, pixel art game.

    The music is simply celestial. Barone clearly knew what he was doing here, as the OST of this game is one of the best I have heard, period. Even the title screen has good music! Sound effects are not shabby either, helping to draw you into the game's fictional but (mostly) realistic world.

    --------------
    Narrative:

    The narrative opens with your grandpa dying and giving you a title deed to a farm. Years later, as a bored office clerk, you open it up, ditch the company, and take the long trip to Stardew Valley, where Pelican Town resides. You take the cluttered farm and for a few in-game years, help it thrive. Or, you know, you could just forget farming and focus on the relationships.

    After those 2 years, you will see a cutscene where your grandfather's ghost talks to you, grading you based on how well you've kept the farm. That's basically the narrative, otherwise, its an open-world/open-ended game, do what you want. It is very easy to get carried away and lose track of the time.

    -------------
    Mechanics:

    The game's mechanics really work well with the premise. Farming is calm and relaxing, only requesting a few scarecrows to keep...well, crows away. It's oh-so-satisfying to harvest a large crop and see the profit you have made at the end of a day, whether you went to the mines, talked to the villagers, or stayed and chilled with your crops and animals. I only wish that it did not get repetitive after a few years, but otherwise, it is a really great bundle of fun.

    Fishing is probably the most negative section for me with the ludicrous timing and reactivity required to captures fish when you are short of skill points and/or bait. Otherwise, it is fine. Just takes getting used to. Use tackles whenever you can to make life easier.

    One of the most fun parts of this game is the relationship/friendship segment. By befriending villagers, you gain access to recipes, get sent items in the mail, and can even marry them if they have "single" under their name in the Relationships menu. To get married, raise a villager to 8 hearts and throw a bunch of bouquets at them. Once they reach 10 hearts, go see an old guy at the beach and get a "Mermaid's Pendant", which allows you to propose and marry the NPC you choose. You can even have children!

    The RPG elements are also quite sound. Skill points are earned by performing various tasks(foraging, farming, fishing, combat, mining) and make said jobs easier or more productive with upgrades at levels 5 and 10. Tool upgrades not only make them work faster but with certain ones(hoe and watering can) you can do multiple tiles at once, speeding up some lengthy processes!

    Finally, the main fetch quest of the game, the abandoned town hall. You are sent by adorable creatures called Junimos to collect certain items across the town, caves, and Calico Desert. Completing each room opens up a new room to fill and changes things in the world. For example, upon completing the Vault, you unlock the bus to Calico Desert.

    -----------
    Game World:

    Stardew Valley is set in Pelican Town, a tiny country village filled with all sorts of interesting characters and pretty landscapes. Minus the magical/fantasy elements to the game, it paints a realistic setting that feels and looks great. The characters are filled with personalities of their own, no character is the same. This helps make the world as believable(again, minus the magic stuff) as it is.

    ----------
    Conclusion

    Stardew Valley is an amazing game, definitely worth the minor $16 it costs on the Steam store. Unless you dislike calmer, farming games like this, this game is a must-have. The major reason, along with minor ones, I did not award 10/10 is that it gets repetitive after a few in-game years. Sad but true. There are always mods and different farm layouts to play with though, so you'll be sure to spend countless hours playing this amazingly well-built game.    … Expand
  5. GRRicky
    Dec 9, 2018
    9
    I always play this game when I cannot fall asleep since it brings peace to me. This game does an excellent job in what it is trying to offer. If you wonder whether to buy this game all you need is to watch its advertisement and pay for it if you want the experience you saw it the ads (Ironically, do not apply this method for most other game ads.). Overall, it is a great game, and I enjoy it.
  6. rezo_21
    May 11, 2022
    9
    ====================IIIIIIIIII GAME SCORE : 89 IIIIIIIIII====================
  7. NezharMC
    May 3, 2019
    9
    The true revival of Harvest Moon, a charming game with placement, crafting and other systems similar to Minecraft. In it you must manage a farm, fish, battle with monsters and mine to grow your enterprise, attract the ladies and become a friend of everyone.
    It hangs a little bit too much on randomness but we must remember that most of the game was made by one person. Just one. Really    The true revival of Harvest Moon, a charming game with placement, crafting and other systems similar to Minecraft. In it you must manage a farm, fish, battle with monsters and mine to grow your enterprise, attract the ladies and become a friend of everyone.
    It hangs a little bit too much on randomness but we must remember that most of the game was made by one person. Just one. Really detailed, with a good soundtrack, a really relaxing game.
    Even if the site says it doesn't have online multiplayer, it actually does now, it's a coop mode that can be used once a player builds a cabin to house another player, which is very cheap and then your friend will live there and share money.

    It's a experience to be sure.    … Expand
  8. EDGE666
    Aug 7, 2019
    9
    this game never ends. you will never get board with this game cus there will always be some thing for you to do and one of the best developers ever who is passionate about his game. just go get the game already :D
  9. C45513
    Jan 13, 2021
    9
    I've enjoyed this more than any farming game in recent history. It has a huge amount of content, a charming art style and soundtrack, and interesting characters. Top all of that off with the fact that it's the pet project of a solo indie dev, and you have an amazing accomplishment.
  10. TheSaltySaltine
    Nov 2, 2019
    9
    A simple, relaxing, laid back farming game. A bit janky in multiplayer but it adds to the character. A game i come back to regularly. Thank you Concerned Ape for this amazing game
  11. otterone
    Mar 10, 2020
    9
    Stardew Valley is an absolutely delightful farming game with loads of stuff to do and tons of interesting town people to befriend. Stardew Valley is the game, that will keep you awake throughout the night as you realize it's 3AM already and think: "just one more day!"

    The only gripe I have with this game is that is seems to lack proper endgame content. After a while (say, 2 years of    Stardew Valley is an absolutely delightful farming game with loads of stuff to do and tons of interesting town people to befriend. Stardew Valley is the game, that will keep you awake throughout the night as you realize it's 3AM already and think: "just one more day!"

    The only gripe I have with this game is that is seems to lack proper endgame content. After a while (say, 2 years of in-game time) the gameplay WILL get extremely repetitive. Unless you absolutely love designing your farm or taking on RNG to complete the museum collection, you won't find much incentive to continue playing after finishing the main storyline. This, however, will slowly change as the game receives new updates.

    Thankfully, it all boils down how YOU want to play the game. Stardew Valley offers something for everyone: whether you like simple farming, adventuring, experiencing stories, bullet hells, or even mindless grinding, you will find something fun to do.

    On top of it all the game is consistently being updated (no DLCs), each and every update being completely free! Stardew Valley is an amazing game with hard-working devs, and totally deserves the attention it has received.    … Expand
  12. DragonHeart000
    Feb 12, 2020
    9
    Stardew Valley is a very calm and relaxing game that somehow is a perfect fit for everyone! If you just want to have a relaxing time doing some farming or some random stuff you can do that and it's just as valid of trying to squeeze every lest bit of money you can out of every action if you're the type who has fun optimizing everything. There's so many ways to play and so many things to doStardew Valley is a very calm and relaxing game that somehow is a perfect fit for everyone! If you just want to have a relaxing time doing some farming or some random stuff you can do that and it's just as valid of trying to squeeze every lest bit of money you can out of every action if you're the type who has fun optimizing everything. There's so many ways to play and so many things to do in what seems like just a simple farming simulator. I'd certainly recommend picking it up and it has multiplayer so playing with a friend can make it that much more great! (or horrible depending on what type of people you hang out with)… Expand
  13. LazyLoad08
    Apr 25, 2020
    9
    This game is so charming and beautifully relaxing. The music is awesome, gameplay is fun, there is no hard deadlnes, keep at your pace, if you wanna relax, relax, if you wanna min-max, min-max. Seriously, for its price, this is a must play.
    Incredible one person was able to craft all this. However, a few things could be improved - the dialogue could be switched up and more contextual.    This game is so charming and beautifully relaxing. The music is awesome, gameplay is fun, there is no hard deadlnes, keep at your pace, if you wanna relax, relax, if you wanna min-max, min-max. Seriously, for its price, this is a must play.
    Incredible one person was able to craft all this. However, a few things could be improved - the dialogue could be switched up and more contextual. From the QoL perspective, inventory and chest management could be more user friendly :)    … Expand
  14. vgolev
    May 1, 2023
    9
    Great game. Returned after years, and it’s still good playing gameplay. Also tried to play coop with a kid, it was fun.
  15. Saax
    Jun 27, 2020
    9
    Cozy and chill, I really like to play this game with friends, also I like planting seeds:)
  16. lauchlauch
    Jul 8, 2020
    9
    Score 8,5: Nehmen Sie einen Farmsimulator, werfen ihn in einen Topf, gießen Sie die Optik eines SNES-RPGs hinzu, würzen das ganze mit ein wenig Sims und Minecraft, und Sie erhalten dieses Spiel. Es ist ein Farmspiel, in dem man den kleinen Bauernhof seines Großvaters erbt und diesen neu aufbaut. Doch es ist noch ein wenig mehr. Man kann sich mit Geschenken bei den DorfbewohnernScore 8,5: Nehmen Sie einen Farmsimulator, werfen ihn in einen Topf, gießen Sie die Optik eines SNES-RPGs hinzu, würzen das ganze mit ein wenig Sims und Minecraft, und Sie erhalten dieses Spiel. Es ist ein Farmspiel, in dem man den kleinen Bauernhof seines Großvaters erbt und diesen neu aufbaut. Doch es ist noch ein wenig mehr. Man kann sich mit Geschenken bei den Dorfbewohnern einschleimen und letztendlich auch Heiraten( auch wenn ich diesen Punkt noch nicht erreicht habe, man kann aber auch in die Minen krabbeln, Monster besiegen und Erze sammeln. Man sollte aber wissen, dass dieses Spiel auch so einige Stunden an Zeit beansprucht.… Expand
  17. Lopakf
    Aug 4, 2020
    9
    This Game is so good for its price. You can do so much things in this game. I maybe would say, this game is like one of the best pc games ever. I will really recommend this game.
  18. emilyratesgames
    Jul 21, 2020
    9
    Score: 9
    ------------------------------------------------------------------
  19. Dreminator
    Jul 25, 2020
    9
    It's a great game to just play with a friend and relax

    And now I found out how to use mods, it's even better
  20. Learimo
    Jul 26, 2020
    9
    Stardew Valley is one of the best games you can play if you like 2D RPG games. You can fish, dig, farm, build, interact with every NPC in the game, explore and fight. The game presents a good RPG experience but don't think that its story is boring. It has a nice story, the one that makes you feel curious after each quest. Quests are so fun and they make you feel like you need to exploreStardew Valley is one of the best games you can play if you like 2D RPG games. You can fish, dig, farm, build, interact with every NPC in the game, explore and fight. The game presents a good RPG experience but don't think that its story is boring. It has a nice story, the one that makes you feel curious after each quest. Quests are so fun and they make you feel like you need to explore the map more and more. Plus, there's a multiplayer option. If you wanna play something cozy, interesting and fun after a hard day, this is your game.… Expand
  21. shinkleihh
    Aug 5, 2020
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. A very relaxing and enjoyable game to play; especially with others. I found little to no bugs nor glitches. Surprisingly, repetition wasn't a problem at all. There were no problems farming the same crop or even catching the same fish because there are a large variety of them.

    The characters are great. Every one of them are unique, and may open up to you overtime depending on how you interact with them. Though, your relationships can and will decay if you don't talk to a person for a day. This won't affect you too much unless you neglect someone for too long.

    The story is one of the best parts in my opinion. I feel like the story isn't really about rebuilding the community center, rather your adventure; every character's story can be different. I don't know how to exactly explain it, but just know you have freedom over what you want to do and what order you do it in.

    The end-game is when your farm is fully complete: Everything is automatically maintained, you have many buildings that serve different purposes, your farm is refined and polished, etc. Though I must add, the end-game is a bit lacking like many people say.

    One of the things I most love about this game is the information it feeds you - I didn't need a wiki for anything. You're given useful tips and information from villagers, signs, letters, TVs, and even books.

    I absolutely recommend Stardew Valley - except if you like to finish games quickly. I feel like the way to truly enjoy this game is by basking in it, like how people take their time eating to fully enjoy the food's flavour.

    This is a great game in my opinion, and a great way to relieve stress too. Sometimes you gotta escape from reality, and Stardew the Valley.

    Something funny to add, I bought this game three times (Switch, PS4, Steam) because I love it very much.    … Expand
  22. FuzzyPackRat
    Aug 15, 2020
    9
    Story: 9/10
    Gameplay: 9/10
    Music: 10/10 Animation/Graphics: 7/10 Cute, simple yet challenging, full of surprises. It's a 2d farming sim and the bar was low- I did not expect the game to charm me as much as it did. It's perfect for playing with a friend or partner. Ideal for the days when you want to play a fun game but not overthink everything. ALSO- wonderful music (which makes a    Story: 9/10
    Gameplay: 9/10
    Music: 10/10
    Animation/Graphics: 7/10

    Cute, simple yet challenging, full of surprises. It's a 2d farming sim and the bar was low- I did not expect the game to charm me as much as it did. It's perfect for playing with a friend or partner. Ideal for the days when you want to play a fun game but not overthink everything.

    ALSO- wonderful music (which makes a game playable for many more hours)    … Expand
  23. leonopolis
    Aug 19, 2020
    9
    Incrível ambientação, com uma quantidade absurda de atividades e eventos a serem realizados, uma história que apesar de ser simples é muito imersiva.
  24. Luceid
    Aug 21, 2020
    9
    It's a great game, full of content, a lot of things to do... and with mods it's even better.
    What can I say, I love it.
  25. CleanZodiac
    Oct 12, 2020
    9
    Truly an amazing game, it has so much content in its insane, it has dungeons with slimes, bats, prehistoric monsters, golems, ghost, mummies, etc. You can farm allot of stuff, not just crops, you can farm trees, bees, farm animals like sheep, cows, ducks, chickens, you can also have horses, dogs and cats. There's also foraging and fishing (Honestly not a big fan of how fishing works onTruly an amazing game, it has so much content in its insane, it has dungeons with slimes, bats, prehistoric monsters, golems, ghost, mummies, etc. You can farm allot of stuff, not just crops, you can farm trees, bees, farm animals like sheep, cows, ducks, chickens, you can also have horses, dogs and cats. There's also foraging and fishing (Honestly not a big fan of how fishing works on this game since it has slippery controls that the fish ai ens up abusing it once you find a good catch.) theres several replayable events and a game filled with quest. Honestly this game deserves the high rating it has since it has amazing soundtrack, characters that stand out with allot of dialogues and they also have different interactions depending on how close you are to them with the heart system. The game is allot of grinding but in my opinion it's one of those few games where I actually enjoyed putting hours into, when i first bought Stardew I literally played for 11 hours in a single day which is unusual for me. The game is super well made with very little bugs, which the bugs where mostly in the valley fair's mini games event.… Expand
  26. Yoow
    Dec 12, 2020
    9
    Никогда не думал, что мне так понравится симулятор фермы)))
    Очень затягивает.
  27. Fallconex
    Dec 17, 2020
    9
    The best farm and dungeon simulator there is. Considering that it's made by just one creator, wow!
  28. Gokarty
    Dec 10, 2020
    9
    Nice game - 100 hours.ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd
  29. Torgall
    Dec 12, 2020
    9
    Very relaxing game, simple yet you can spend many many hours playing it. Modds made it even better.
  30. GodRatiy
    Dec 12, 2020
    9
    What can I say that is good about the game that unless you have been living under a rock for the last 5 years, that you do not already know about the game yet, who do not know about SDV yet, I can tell you who, those dang rock crabs that who.
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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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