There is something special aboutStardew Valley. The combination of fluid gameplay, charismatic art, and infinite replayability has magic properties that bring joy in a way most games could not dream of.
Above all, the secret to games likeStardew Valleyis thatthey have heart.These games reward your time, whether you have 15 minutes or 5 hours a dayto spare.
This list compiles some of the few games that can recreate the recipeStardew Valleyperfected. None of them are the same asSDV, but that originality goes a long way.
15Minecraft
Handmade Everything
The blockiest game in history gives you free rein over the world, and you may enjoy a pacifist run that is all aboutbuilding a little farmand being a good neighbor.
Of course, building a homestead inMinecraftcomes with risks, considering certain exploding green friends, but such is life in cubeagriculture.
If you go down the modding route,packs like Harvest Valley specifically chaseStardew Valleymechanics. Agricraft, meanwhile, aims for a more realistic farming experience.
14Harvestella
A Beautiful Fantasy Harvest
Harvestella
“Final Fantasywith Farming” might sound like a weird pitch, butHarvestellatries to do exactly that.
Square Enix attempted to do something new in 2022, mixing elements of its classic fantasy RPG franchises with a quaint farming simulator.
Like any JRPG,Harvestellaleans more heavily on characters and storythan most items on this list, but it does not sacrifice homesteading for it.
The graphics stand out from the competition, with a more anime-inspired execution that fits perfectly with the busy butrelaxing gameplay.
13Spiritfarer
An Emotional Spiritual Journey
Spiritfarer
There is comfort afterdeath, or at least that is whatSpiritfarertries to explain.
This isan emotional journey about managing resources and guiding soulstothe afterlife, and the execution makes even the hardest of hearts melt with warmth.
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Your job as the spiritfarer is to welcome souls on your ship, care for them, and ensure they safely reach the Everdoor.
Few games capture the beauty of human interaction as poetically asSpiritfarer, making it stand out among cozy games.
12Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town
The Pinnacle of Harvest Moon
Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town
In 1999, Victor Interactive put outHarvest Moon: Back to Naturefor the PlayStation. In 2003, Marvelous Interactive made a remake calledHarvest Moon: Friends of Mineral Town, available on Game Boy Advance.
While the first two versions are broadly similar, the developers hit it out of the park with the 2019 remake titledStory of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town.
The remake added a lot of detail in the 3D rendition but did a stellar job ofkeeping the charm and vibes from the original.
Here, you may tend to your plants, raise animals, and enjoy a nice homemade meal after a dip in a warm spring.
There is some debate among fans on whether the remake made earning money too easy to be compelling, but defenders insist that thismore relaxed approachis beneficial to the overall vibe.
11The Sims 4
The Farm Life Simulator
The Sims 4
The beauty of a life simulator likeThe Simsis that your imagination is the limit.
This sandbox nature lets you mold the game to your desire and has all the tools to makeThe Sims 4a cozy homesteading game.
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The new The Sims 4 expansion also has an option to restrict NPCs from seeking further romance.
Should you require that specific “rags to riches” angle that makesStardew Valleyso satisfying, there are mods likethe Southstreet42 starter homesteadthat give you a rundown farm with a lot of potential but even more work required.
One thing that makesThe Sims 4great is thatyou can alter your playstyle throughout a save, allowing you to inject some modernity into the farm lifewhenever convenient.
10Roots of Pacha
Farming Before It Was Cool
Roots of Pacha
PlayingRoots of Pachais for people who miss the good old days. No, not the ones you are thinking of. Thereallyold days.
Roots of Pachasends you back to the Stone Age to build a community and guide the pioneers of human civilization as it evolves practically from scratch.
This isa more adventurous take on homesteading, by virtue of the nonexistent infrastructure, but it lets you sit back and appreciate the simple things in life.
Roots of Pachaalso has a co-op option so you can go enjoy the fruits and fauna with a friend.
Fallen Viking Homesteading
Picture fallen Vikings struggling to survive in a world much too big to tread alone. The picture reeks of struggle, but if you close your eyes and take a deep breath, you realize the beautiful smells of nature are there all the same.
Valheimisa survival sandbox game that gives you a big world, enough resources, and plenty of problemsto solve.
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Your aid is well-timed, healer.
The gameplay loop inValheimtakes you through different procedurally generated biomes inhabited by a boss. you’re able to only progress after kicking its ass, but the time between each grandiose engagement is remarkably similar toStardew Valley.
Valheimis perfect if you want cozy but also crave some action here and there, with combat mechanics that are much more evolved than the simplistic ones you can come across inStardew Valley.
8My Time at Portia
The Apocalypse Is Relaxing
My Time at Portia
The end of the world is not that big of a deal if you have some land and a can-do attitude.
My Time at Portiatries to bring that Studio Ghibli aura to a farming simulator that gives you plenty of room to explore on your own terms.
The setting inMy Time at Portiarevolves around helping the people around you while working to uncover some of the mysteries in the town.
It is not as emotionally charged as some of the entries here, but that makes it a perfect game to play regardless of your mood.
7Project Zomboid
Farm, Build, Survive
Project Zomboid
This might look entirely out of place, but it is on this list for a reason.Project Zomboidisa beautifully intricate homesteading simulator hiding in plain sight, so long as you can ignore (or entirely turn off) the zombie hordes intent on killing you.
Armed with a backpack and a dream,Project Zomboidlets you enjoy the apocalyptic wasteland, building a safe house that feels like a safe home, and crafting your way through the days.
You can fish, farm, carve, cook, and even trap animals, which is quite incredible for a game whose main premise is “don’t get devoured by the living dead”.
6Coral Island
The Chill Tropical Experience
Coral Island
Ever dream of living the best life in a tropical paradise? TryCoral Island.
This game has a beautiful art style, plenty of friendships and romances to forge, and gameplay that is so similar toStardew Valleythat it could pass for a spin-off.
Coral Islandshakes things up a bit by adding more NPCs, a proper main storyline, and the ability to explore underwater. There is something inexplicably cathartic about cleaning up the seas.
