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. mrclopes
    Apr 5, 2016
    0
    I'm shocked.
    - Graphics are pre-historic and the 2D sprites are "ok" at best.
    - Sounds and music are very basic and have MIDI quality. - Characters are bland and lack personality. - The gameplay mechanics are boring and repetitive. The combat mechanics is ridiculously uncreative. I felt insulted. The gameplay in general, lack any depth. Everything is a chore, and due poor time    I'm shocked.
    - Graphics are pre-historic and the 2D sprites are "ok" at best.
    - Sounds and music are very basic and have MIDI quality.
    - Characters are bland and lack personality.
    - The gameplay mechanics are boring and repetitive. The combat mechanics is ridiculously uncreative. I felt insulted.
    The gameplay in general, lack any depth. Everything is a chore, and due poor time management mechanics, it's impossible to not be stressed by this game, And if you want to gift those bland NPCs, be prepared for more stressful time trying to catch them.

    And about the story, well, I'm afraid I can't really complete a review because after the first year I stopped playing and deleted this game. Only the thought of going trough all this again was too much for me.

    I can't think of anything but give this game a solid 0.    … Expand
  3. 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
  4. Eukor
    Jul 19, 2020
    10
    lo mejor de su género, es un poco triste que no vayan a salir más juegos así
  5. 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
  6. 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.
  7. oneplayer
    Sep 7, 2017
    7
    2D farming sim that takes its inspiration from Harvest Moon. But improves on the formula and adds many new mechanics. There is such a huge selection of crops and things to do that you never feel like you have enough daylight. The dungeon combat is very shallow and fishing is a PITA at the start. There is just so much you can do but not a lot that you have to do. The missions are generic.2D farming sim that takes its inspiration from Harvest Moon. But improves on the formula and adds many new mechanics. There is such a huge selection of crops and things to do that you never feel like you have enough daylight. The dungeon combat is very shallow and fishing is a PITA at the start. There is just so much you can do but not a lot that you have to do. The missions are generic. Better missions would make this game a lot better.… Expand
  8. gracjanski
    Feb 15, 2018
    7
    This game has so much love and wisdom. The critics of a modern life are so true. The atmosphere is all about the beauty of a landlife in a village with being committed to other villagers and nature instead of a unnatural live in a city as an employer for a corporation.
    So, yes this game is about more than just farming simulation. In addition you can fish, explore dungeons, build up your    This game has so much love and wisdom. The critics of a modern life are so true. The atmosphere is all about the beauty of a landlife in a village with being committed to other villagers and nature instead of a unnatural live in a city as an employer for a corporation.
    So, yes this game is about more than just farming simulation. In addition you can fish, explore dungeons, build up your farm, help to build up the village, making friends and even marry. Later on you start to think, what you will do in the day, because there is so much to do and the day time is restricted. Anyway, after few weeks the game becomes repetitive and you feel the need to grind. Another weakness is the bad overview of all the items. There are so many and you need to search, where you need an item you have found. It is not only that you need to look ingame, but also in wiki, to know what to do with it -> Fun killer. This all should be ingame and easier to manage.
    Graphics looks really too old and simple. The good thing is, it is looking sweet and fits to the whole atmosphere of the game: not modern graphic. Anyway it could be better.    … Expand
  9. Crowborn
    May 8, 2016
    7
    A very fun game that expands on Harvest Moon's classic concept. Gets a bit slow and repetitive at times, and the combat can be messy and unresponsive. Still, recommended. Devs keep adding more and more content.
  10. ScienceAdvisor
    Jan 21, 2018
    5
    This is an excercise in reuse of coding, with RNG as the main gameplay mechanic to fill in some (very limited) sense of unexpectedness. Most of the artifical game mechanics are hidden, forcing you to be yet another wiki-warrior, wading through countless pages of information that shows how little logic or balancing is in Stardew Valley. When you realize the lone developer designed this toThis is an excercise in reuse of coding, with RNG as the main gameplay mechanic to fill in some (very limited) sense of unexpectedness. Most of the artifical game mechanics are hidden, forcing you to be yet another wiki-warrior, wading through countless pages of information that shows how little logic or balancing is in Stardew Valley. When you realize the lone developer designed this to allow you to easily maximize profits if you already know what you are doing, most of the crops can be skipped as they are only useful for in-game achievements which have not actual gameplay value except as the freemium gold star which is what this should be most famous for. Basically, Stardew Valley is a freemium-like game that pats you on the head repeatedly for doing very little, which seems to be exactly what many people apprectiate (or do not realize what is happening to them).

    When examined as a whole it does not really qualify as a game since there is no way to win, or to lose. Once you realize that, you can skip days at a time which quickly robs this of any meaning at all. If you have endless hours (50+) and OCD, then this piece of software is for you. If you actually want a game, a sim, or some combination thereof, look somewhere else (as of Jan. 2018).    … Expand
  11. 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
  12. Onkelmolan
    Jul 25, 2016
    7
    Great game with great idea's but something is missing.
    there is no endgame and not really much content ( in Winter you cant do really much).
    But the first 20 hours of game play you are having a lot of fun and that makes it a great game.
  13. 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.
  14. 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
  15. zeux
    Dec 12, 2020
    10
    Absolutly amazing game! If you want to enjoy it the most then dont watch any tutorials
  16. 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
  17. 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
  18. 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
  19. Hippie629
    Jul 13, 2018
    5
    The game starts off with a will from your dead grandpa, who has left you a property in the country that was dear to him. So that you can get away from your desk job (where you use a monitor larger than yourself) and get back to nature and enjoy the simple things in life.
    Once you arrive at the property you find it in a unkempt state, strange that place grandpa love so much was so run    The game starts off with a will from your dead grandpa, who has left you a property in the country that was dear to him. So that you can get away from your desk job (where you use a monitor larger than yourself) and get back to nature and enjoy the simple things in life.
    Once you arrive at the property you find it in a unkempt state, strange that place grandpa love so much was so run downed. And you begin rebuilding it by doing various tasks and jobs, while getting to know the towns people.

    The game tries to give off an atmosphere of relaxing and getting back to nature and the simple parts of life, but the mechanics make this a number cruncher were you're trying to maximize your efficacy with each in game day.
    The in game time moves so fast, that you'll always feel like you need to rush everything in order to get things done in time.
    To find out what you need to do, you need to go the bulletin board in town, which wastes time getting to and information like characters birthdays are not saved in your journal.
    So you have to go back to town to keep track of things, which gets repetitive.

    One of the most time consuming things is socializing with NPCs, so you can get gifts in the mail and progress their story.
    You increase your friendship with them by giving them gifts, you need to find them first, which can be a challenge as they move around following a schedule that you can only find out about through trail and error.
    Then you go through more trail and error trying to find out what gifts they like.
    And character interaction only gives you a single line that repeats until you increase your friendship.

    Your characters skill progression is really slow, and doesn't show progress to the next level.
    The skills feel like they should be split up as the foraging skill unlocks the lightning rod and magic totems, while the mining skill lets you transmute metals and unlock cooking recipes.
    Feels like there should be more skills magic, building, cooking Etc.

    The game only saves when you sleep, the menu only exits to the desktop and not the main menu,
    and the map is poorly detailed. The crafting menu is cluttered as it uses the in world sprites for the items.
    The game uses a grabs every item in range if you have inventory room system, that can be a pain to manage.
    Doing precise things can be a problem as you interact with items, which either relies on what direction you are facing or where the cursor is. Miss clicks can happen when you use items causing you to waste resources. The game always asks to confirm you eat something.

    The Fishing mini game is just poorly made and is not fun to play. Mining is can be annoying, as enemies will continue to respawn. A notable bug is, when multiple exit ladders can spawn in a single level but go to the same place. The torches are awkward to use.

    The art of the game ranges from ok to bad. This game has no focus, it tries to be a relaxing game with its tone and dialog, but its pacing and mechanics make you rush through stuff to avoid wasting resource and chances to progress.

    I would like to a more focused game from the developer.    … Expand
  20. tsampson25
    Aug 6, 2017
    7
    Now, I do not want to hate on this game too much because while it's not my style of game, I can definitely. From playing it my problem was I got bored really fast. Now, I can see how others would enjoy this game, but I for sure do not have enough patience to fully enjoy it. It's slow paced but not necessarily in a bad way, just too slow for my personal licking. It's unique, and I liked theNow, I do not want to hate on this game too much because while it's not my style of game, I can definitely. From playing it my problem was I got bored really fast. Now, I can see how others would enjoy this game, but I for sure do not have enough patience to fully enjoy it. It's slow paced but not necessarily in a bad way, just too slow for my personal licking. It's unique, and I liked the feel of owning a farm. One thing that I think is just bad is how repetitive it can get can be really irritating. But i recommend the game anyway, it's not terrible, for some it's a great game! I just didn't enjoy the slow pace, but for sure it's not a really bad game.… Expand
  21. 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
  22. 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
  23. 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.
  24. 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
  25. 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
  26. 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
  27. 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!
  28. 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
  29. 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.
  30. 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! :-)
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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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