17 Best Games Like Stardew Valley in 2024

Stardew Valley is the closest we’ve come to a pixelated life simulator albeit in not-so-normal circumstances.

We love games with a lot to do, with everything so perfectly interconnected, inter-dependent, and simply fun!

So, we’ve decided to round up 17 games like Stardew Valley totally worth your time.

While these aren’t exact clones of Stardew Valley, these games capture the same quirkiness, ambiance, and pace.

Games Like Stardew Valley

1. Slime Rancher

Slime Rancher is an FPS version of Stardew Valley if the farming simulator swapped out veggies and cows with cute and bouncing slimes. 

Sure, you’ll see growing a carrot now and then, but that’s not the point here. Instead, as the game’s name suggests, your goal is to expand your ranch filled with the titular slimes. You make money off of selling their poop, which you then use to expand and raise more slim to make more money out of their poop. 

It’s an endless poop cycle that’s made less monotonous with the occasional scavenging of resources and exotic kinds of slimes. 

Speaking of slimes, these gelatinous blobs are quite rebellious. When they’re not busy literally shitting cash, they’ll escape, eat each other’s plorts, and sometimes, even become tar monsters, which you’ll then have to take down to defend the rest of your slimey critters.

Admittedly, Slime Rancher is a tad more frantic and less relaxing than Stardew Valley. However, it’s not exactly chaotic like a full-fledged FPS title. Besides, there’s just something relaxing about the simplistic and cyclical nature of making money off of raising slimes and selling off their plots. 

• Developer – Monomi Park
• Release Date – 2016
• Platforms – PS4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, more.

2. My Time at Portia

My Time at Portia has a lot of similarities with Harvest Moon, and, to the same extent, Stardew Valley. 

The game puts players in the shoes of a character who’s been tasked to take over a family workshop. However, the said workshop has since seen better days and is in dire need of some sprucing up. 

Of course, as with other games in its genre, your job doesn’t just extend to your area. You’re also supposed to help out the other townsfolk. In this case, you’ll fix things for them, as well as grow crops, and even raise the occasional farm animal or two. 

What also sets My Time at Portia apart is what the jovial and colorful setting hides. This is because, technically, the game is set in a post-apocalyptic world. 

• Developer – Pathea
• Release Date – 2018
• Platforms – PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Windows, more.

3. Moonlighter

Moonlighter is a straightforward title and is one of the best games similar to Stardew Valley today. 

Similar to Stardew Valley, it has you manage stuff. In this case, you work as a shopkeeper, where you barter with customers and spend your days restocking the shelves, as well as doing inventory.

You’ll also get a chance to upgrade your shop and even hire a part-timer to handle affairs during the game. 

However, the main draw of the game comes from the title itself. Just as it implies, at night, you moonlight as a dungeon-delving warrior. 

Apparently, the wares you sell in your shop are stuff that you scavenged throughout your travels in an open world filled with randomly generated dungeons. 

Moonlighter also throws in an overarching story filled with anguish and drama that should only make the addicting gameplay even more of a timesink in this fun-filled simple action RPG.

• Developer – Digital Sun, Bit Studios, Crunching Koalas
• Release Date – 2018
• Platforms – Nintendo Switch, PS4, iOS, Windows, more.

4. Doraemon: Story of Seasons

Doraemon: Story of Seasons is a crossover between the hit Japanese children’s anime show, Doraemon, and the former Harvest Moon franchise, now known as Story of Seasons. 

With that being said, you can expect this to be a good farming game. However, the addition of Doraemon does help add some interesting things to the game.

Like, for example, the charming anime-style graphics, as well as the fact that you get to access stuff that only a talking robotic cat from the future can provide so long as you spend the time befriending him. 

Doraemon: Story of Seasons doesn’t take itself too seriously, nor does it overcomplicate things. It just lets you farm, relax, and have fun, which is pretty much all that you can ask for in a game of its genre. You should have more games from the season’s series too! 

• Developer – Marvelous Inc.
• Release Date – 2019
• Platforms – Switch, PS4, Windows, more.

5. Yonder: The Cloudcatcher Chronicles

One of the best things about Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild was that it was already a good game based on its aesthetics alone. 

In fact, one could argue that you could make a game that’s just as good based on the look of Breath of the Wild, which is pretty much what Yonder: The Cloudcatcher Chronicles is. 

Although the game isn’t a Legend of Zelda spin-off, you’d be forgiven for thinking like so. The overall feel of the characters, including the enemies in Breath of the Wild, is perfectly captured in this farming game/simulator.

However, it doesn’t have a story, albeit the game does try to put in some quests for you to follow and complete. 

What’s good about Yonder: The Cloudcatcher Chronicles is that it doesn’t just limit you to farming at all. 

In the game, you’ll also get to craft, cook, fish, and even brew, giving you plenty of things to do and keep busy from, even way after the spell from the cutesy aesthetics of the game have worn off.

• Developer – Prideful Sloth
• Release Date – 2017
• Platforms – PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox Series X/ S/ One, Windows.

6. Minecraft Stardew Valley Mod

Minecraft is the type of game that can and has literally become anything so long as the modder puts its mind to it. 

So, it’s no wonder that someone actually pulled off Stardew Valley in Minecraft. 

This handy mod pack turns Minecraft into a Stardew Valley-Esque clone, with the ability to play and harvest crows, sell goods, and even recruit non-playable characters to help you turn your town of nothing into, well, something. 

Check out Keehan for more information on how to transform Minecraft into Farming Valley. 

7. World’s Dawn

World’s Dawn makes a strong argument as one of the games similar to Stardew Valley on Steam that resemble it the most. 

In fact, World’s Dawn feels so much like Stardew Valley that you probably could classify it as somewhat of a clone.

Just like Stardew Valley, the game has you looking after a constantly evolving village as you tend to your farm and expand it.

Along the way, you’ll get to meet all sorts of characters from all walks of life, giving you a myriad of things to do. Plus, the game has ever-changing seasons spicing up the gameplay.

Very similar but also different enough to separate itself from Stardew Valley, the game, World’s Dawn, is an excellent alternative for when you want to play a game like Stardew Valley. 

• Developer – Wayward Prophet
• Release Date – 2016
• Platforms – Windows

8. Recettear: An Item Shop’s Tale

Recceatear: An item Shop’s Tale might just be the best game like Stardew Valley that you’ve probably never heard of. 

A cult-classic Japanese indie title, the game revolves around the pair of Recette and Tear. These two are business partners who find themselves in dire need of cash.

However, instead of farming and scavenging, the game has you managing your own shop, retail store to be precise. But, despite the change in what you’re managing, the relaxing time-management mechanics remain. 

In addition to bartering with your customers, the game also has you roaming dungeons to find new loot to sell in your shop.

While this all feels similar to Moonlighter, the game, which is older than Moonlighter, by the way, has a different aesthetic and feel to it that’s enough to separate it from Stardew Valley and other similar games without feeling too foreign. 

• Developer – EasyGameStation
• Release Date – 2007
• Platforms – Windows

9. Farm Together

If Stardew Valley is all about making your small family farm big enough to feed a village, Farm Together lets you take control of a budding enterprise.

You’re not just building materials to farm animals and seasonal crops for a village here, your playing for an entire nation. 

The sheer number of crops and livestock that you have to oversee in Farm Together is staggering if not overwhelming sometimes.

There’s pretty much no limit to how large your farm turns out as you play through in this farming sim. It all boils down to how much you’re willing to spend for expansion, as well as for hiring people to help you out.

What makes Farm Together unique is that it runs in real-time. This means that it won’t take long for you to set multiple alarms just so you can harvest your crops at the right time.  Reminds us of harvest moon game stylistics.

It’d be tedious and annoying, but the cycle is so-so addicting and satisfying. 

• Developer – Milkstone Studios
• Release Date – 2018
• Platforms – Switch, PS4, Windows, Linux, macOS, Xbox One, more.

10. Graveyard Keeper

When it comes to darker takes on the Stardew Valley formula, there’s arguably none darker and more macabre than what the Graveyard Keeper does.

Instead of seeing you in control of a farm or a village, you’re in charge of your very own cemetery set in medieval times.

Although you’re still going to have to grow little patches of fruits and vegetables, as well as do the occasional errand for your neighbors, the game takes a turn for the supernatural surrounding a medieval cemetery. 

In-game, you’re tasked to keep the graveyard in tip-top shape, as well as perform autopsies, bury new dead bodies, and more. You’ll also spend time fishing, exploring creepy caves, and even dabbling in alchemy.

Based on the tiny build platform, you do a lot, from growing crops, making friends, to exploring a larger open-world than in other games on this list.

Protip: watch out for the carrot-munching donkey. 

• Developer – TinyBuild, Lazy Bear Games
• Release Date – 2018
• Platforms – PS4, Android, Switch, Xbox, more.

11. Voodoo Garden

Stardew Valley is not, by any means, complicated, but there are certain aspects to the game that could be considered stressful.

Because of that, some might feel the need for a more simplistic kind of Stardew Valley, in which case, Voodoo Garden fits the bill. 

This farming simulator is also an idle-clicker, which means that you can just let the game build and grow your garden for you.

Of course, there are still some active aspects to it. You can play the game manually to harvest more ingredients, grow crops, livestock, which you can then use to craft a voodoo potion or two. 

You can even make sacrifices to the dark lord, or whoever he or she is, and once the sacrificial animals die, their helper spirits assist you in taking care of your garden, so long as it’s not raining. 

All in all, this is a fun little clicker game that you can play while you’re away and on the off-chance that you start getting bored of playing Stardew Valley. 

• Developer – M. Hanka
• Release Date – 2016
• Platforms – Windows

12. Kynseed

Ex-Lionhead developers, who previously worked on the Fable franchise, banded together to create a sandbox life simulator in the form of Kynseed. 

The resulting early access title is nothing short of amazing. The game’s not as big or expansive as Stardew Valley. Or, at least, the farm isn’t.

But, almost the same game inside out, it carves up its own path by focusing more on the exploration part as you go on into ancient woodlands by your village and get to know the various myths surrounding the area. The world’s neither too large nor small, just about fits the game.

If you find Kynseed somewhat similar to Fable but in 2D form, we feel you. However, what makes the game different is that your characters grow old, have children, and eventually die as your control passes on to the offspring and this cycle continues. 

The idea here is to create a long-lasting family legacy by planting seeds, both literally and figuratively, that won’t bear fruit for generations to come.

Although not directly inspired by Stardew Valley, we think you’ll have just as much tranquil fun!

Oh, and there’s the beautiful art style to gawk at!

• Developer – PixelCount Studios
• Release Date – 2018
• Platforms – Windows.

13. Autonauts

If you’re more into delegating and automating menial tasks as you go on to conquer one planet after another, Autonauts will have you living out your dreams of becoming the ultimate micro-manager. 

Autonauts has you starting from small beginnings. You literally have to make everything from scratch, which is where the appeal of the game lies. Because you’ve worked so hard to build your automated farming empire from the ground up, you can’t help but feel attached to it. Not to mention, you’ll know better how to optimize it since you know all of the ins and outs already.

What sets Autonauts apart is how it requires you to learn a bit of coding and to craft items as well other than being a farming adventure at its core.

You’ll need to learn how to program your astronauts properly to make sure that your entire operation runs smoothly. 

But, just like Stardew Valley, no one’s forcing you to accomplish everything in one go, and you’re free to go through the game at your own pace while enjoying the art style. This is one of the best crafting games around, totally recommend having a go.

• Developer – Denki
• Release Date – 2019
• Platforms – Windows

14. Farming Simulator 19

If you find yourself focusing too much on the farming aspect of Stardew Valley, you might want to go all-in already and play Farming Simulator 19. 

In exchange, you’ll be treated to a wider variety of beautifully rendered crops, along with the necessary farming machinery to help you expand your farm to as big as it could possibly be in a lightweight farming adventure.

But, make no mistake, unlike other farming simulators, the game makes you work hard for wanting to expand your farm. 

Instead of focusing more on automating the process, Farming Simulator 19 puts you to work on the land itself.

You’ll find yourself having to learn every important farming-related aspect. This includes all the seeds and livestock, as well as everything else.

But, at the same time, it’s not just all hard work. Because Farming Simulator 19 is also one of the best multiplayer games like Stardew Valley as it lets you play with your friends in co-op mode and even go horse-riding together. 

Just as the name suggests, Farming Simulator 19 lets you live the real life of a farmer, both the relaxing and the back-breaking aspects of it. This is one of the great games for pastime we can recommend and we will!

• Developer – GIANTS Software
• Release Date – 2018
• Platforms – PS4, Xbox One, macOS, Windows, more.

15. The Island Castaway: Lost World

The Island Castaway: Lost World is one of the few free games like Stardew Valley that’s worth playing. And, even though the game does have micro-transactions and in-app purchases, they don’t get in the way of you enjoying the game. 

This Stardew Valley-like title is an amalgamation of three different genres. It’s not just a farming simulator, but it’s also an action-adventure title with hints of RPG elements and even strategy.

As the title suggests, the premise of the game is simple: a shipwreck leaves you stranded on a remote island and it is now up to you to lead a band of castaways to survival.

However, weary is the head that wears the crown, or so to speak. You’ll have to take care of every aspect of everyone’s survival, including building fish farms, planting crops, then harvesting crops, other than cultivating livestock, and more. 

It also certainly doesn’t help that there are monsters who will try and destroy everything that you have worked so hard for. 

• Release Date – 2018
• Platforms – Android, Windows.

16. Garden Paws

Garden Paws is a more animal-focused version of Stardew Valley where you’re tasked to take over the farm of your grandparents. All the while, you’ll have to balance it with gardening, running the shop, as well as raising animals.

Players can currently choose from a dozen creatures to play as they help rebuild the town, put up new shops, and unlock new places to go adventuring into. 

Think of this as like Animal Crossing mixed with Stardew Valley. 

• Developer – Bitten Toast Games
• Release Date – 2018
• Platforms – Switch, Windows, macOS.

17. Verdant Skies

From small country towns, Verdant Skies takes you to space. There, you’re tasked to help the small colony located on a planet known as Viridis Primus.

But, it won’t remain small for too long. Thanks to your efforts, others will start joining your colony. Each of them will bring their own specialties and expertise to the fold. 

From farming animals and even taming wild ones, you’ll also dabble in genetics.

In Verdant Skies, you’ll experiment using the genetic combiner machine to create the most resilient and efficient specimens.

• Developer – Howling Moon Software
• Release Date – 2018
• Platforms – Windows, Linux, macOS.

Conclusion

As you can see, Stardew Valley isn’t the only game that offers some sort of comfort and tranquility in its routine. There are other farming simulators and similar games, (like Animal Crossing) that offer almost the same gameplay elements and aesthetics.

With that said, we’ve rounded up some of the best games like Stardew Valley.

In doing so, we’re hoping we’ve given you at least one Stardew Valley alternative for you to play.