Stardew Valley Image
Metascore
89

Generally favorable reviews - based on 30 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 1599 Ratings

Your Score
0 out of 10
Rate this:
  • 10
  • 9
  • 8
  • 7
  • 6
  • 5
  • 4
  • 3
  • 2
  • 1
  • 0
  • 0
  • Summary: Stardew Valley is an RPG-style farming game. It's up to you to choose your path... Will you devote your time to raising crops and caring for animals? Will you spend time in the local village, befriending the local townspeople? Do you get a kick out of slaying dreadful monsters in theStardew Valley is an RPG-style farming game. It's up to you to choose your path... Will you devote your time to raising crops and caring for animals? Will you spend time in the local village, befriending the local townspeople? Do you get a kick out of slaying dreadful monsters in the mysterious mountain caverns? Or will you try to accomplish everything and claim the coveted title of Stardew Hero? Expand

Trailer

Play Sound
Please enter your birth date to watch this video:
You are not allowed to view this material at this time.
Stardew Valley - Collector's Edition Retail Announcement
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 29 out of 30
  2. Negative: 0 out of 30
  1. Mar 21, 2016
    100
    Far more than just a farming game, this one-man labor of love is filled with seemingly endless content and heart.
  2. Mar 7, 2016
    95
    Stardew Valley has been the most rich and heartwarming experience I’ve had in a game in years.
  3. Mar 16, 2016
    90
    Stardew Valley is an absolutely charming little gem about forgetting all your worries and relaxing on a farm.
  4. 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.
  5. Mar 24, 2016
    88
    With so many interconnected systems, from the farm simulation to simple combat and cooking to crafting, and each driving the others forward in some way, it’s a deeper and more complex game than you’d expect after the first day on the farm. There’s plenty to do while I wait to uncover more of the Valley’s secrets, and the prospect of filling my days with new adventures or just a better harvest is too enticing to pass up.
  6. Mar 19, 2016
    86
    It's a trip to the countryside with incredibly motivating game mechanics. Once you're there, you won't come back very soon.
  7. Mar 1, 2016
    73
    Despite all odds, it seems Stardew Valley is a different game than the one it mimics. And a pretty fun, different game at that.

See all 32 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Negative: 18 out of 336
  1. 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. ThankHarvest 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 Expand
  2. Jan 3, 2023
    10
    Very Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good
  3. Jul 7, 2017
    10
    Better than Harvest Moon.

    Just because of how many things there are to do. And customization of the farm, and just everything. Tons of
    Better than Harvest Moon.

    Just because of how many things there are to do.

    And customization of the farm, and just everything. Tons of mods also.
    Expand
  4. Feb 20, 2018
    9
    Brings both harvest moon and rune factory elements together without the warts this time; annoying aspects are removed and the enjoyableBrings both harvest moon and rune factory elements together without the warts this time; annoying aspects are removed and the enjoyable factors are enhanced. Farming is as good as it can get and many other aspects are amazing; but falls short in a few places such as the lackluster story and the combat gets abandoned pretty quickly. Still an all around enjoyable game for anyone interested in its genre. Expand
  5. Apr 20, 2016
    9
    I absolutely love this game. I became interested in the game when I heard about it on all of the usual video game websites. I've neverI absolutely love this game. I became interested in the game when I heard about it on all of the usual video game websites. I've never played a game like this before, but my girlfriend loved Harvest Moon back in the day and we are both are in love with this game. It is one of the first games we've ever played where we can both play. Are growing farm has 1 of each animal, all given nicknames very personal. A goat that has a combination of my in-laws names for his own. A pig named Porkins in honor of the Star Wars character, because why not!?!?

    Being able to give personal names to these animals, your child, your farm, etc. Make the property and assets you own in the game feel like your own, you're more invested.

    The gameplay loop is satisfyingly addictive, and there's a lot of flexibility in how you can play the game. My first play through was mostly focused on a moderate amount of farming, lots and lots of foraging, mining, and fishing to make a little extra income so I could gradually level up my tools. My second play through was noticeably different. Focusing heavily on crops and saving up to buy next season's crops in bulk, I was usually so tired after watering all of the crops, I usually didn't have enough energy to fish, mine, or cut down trees. My time was then spent putting more focus into befriending people (because it doesn't use energy, the game's version of stamina.) and I have the excess crops to afford that kind of generosity. It pays off though. The recipes and perks of being good friends with your neighbors allows you to learn new recipes for food that can restore that crucial energy meter, or they can send you the odd gift like useful supplies for the farm. Those are two different play-throughs with two very different consequences.

    Want to do nothing while your farm makes it's own money? Craft 3 dozen bee boxes and let them generate $100 (or even more if you place them near flowers) per bee box every 4 hours. Want to be the country's largest producer of pumpkins? Use every square inch of your farm to plant 2600 pumpkins... Have fun watering them every day. Or you can become a spelunker and dig down into the mines and try and collect as many minerals and resources as you can get. There are many ways to make money in this game. That freedom is yours to decide.

    Controls are a mixed bag with a gamepad, I've had a few head slapping moments where seeds, walls, floors, fertilizer were placed somewhere they shouldn't have been. Does it affect the gameplay much? No, it doesn't. But when it does happen, 1 or twice every few hours of gameplay, it reminds me that a keyboard and mouse is the best way to play this game. But if you're a gamepad gamer like myself, don't be dissuaded to ignore this game.

    The game mostly functions well, I have come across a few glitches in the game, but most of those have been resolved by a dedicated 1-man developer who's interacted with the booming fanbase of a game that he passionately made on his own within 4. He's constantly releasing patches, there have even been occasions where he has personally helped repair save files of people who have lost progress on their game.

    This is a very personal game that should not be overlooked. Play the game the way you want, get sucked into the gameplay loop of "One more day" while your eyes are red and you're staring at the computer screen at midnight when you have work tomorrow.
    Expand
  6. Apr 5, 2022
    9
    Stardew Valley

    When I first bought this game, I expected it to be an unfinished cheap indie title that would suck so bad. The first thing
    Stardew Valley

    When I first bought this game, I expected it to be an unfinished cheap indie title that would suck so bad. The first thing that came to my head was that this game is a cheap copy of Animal Crossing. Well I never played Animal Crossing that much.

    To be honest, it did not suck. Neither It was aiming to be Animal Crossing. The price I bought it for, seems like I pirated the game, and on top of that, I got addicted to it.

    The visuals, the soundtrack, gameplay mechanics are simplistic, yet amazing and has a charm to it. It's a great package I'd say. Plus it runs smoothly.

    That's really all I have to say about this. Definitely a game, everyone should try.
    Expand
  7. May 28, 2021
    0
    Игра очень скучна и в конце концов надоедает. К сожалению, но это так. Как бы я себя не заставлял продвинуться, никак не получалось. ИграИгра очень скучна и в конце концов надоедает. К сожалению, но это так. Как бы я себя не заставлял продвинуться, никак не получалось. Игра могла быть хорошей, но не вышло Expand

See all 336 User Reviews

Related Articles

  1. The 20 Best PC Games of 2016

    The 20 Best PC Games of 2016 Image
    Published: December 20, 2016
    We rank the highest-scoring computer games released during 2016.