If you’re yearning for a virtual getaway where tranquility meets creativity, look no further than the enchanting realm of games like Stardew Valley. These captivating titles whisk you away to charming pixelated landscapes, immersing you in immersive gameplay and captivating stories. Delve into the art of farming, explore vast worlds, form meaningful relationships with quirky characters, and embrace the joy of crafting and building. With their soothing and fulfilling experiences, these games offer a delightful escape from the daily grind, allowing you to unwind, find solace, and create your own virtual paradise. Get ready to embark on a journey of adventure.
What is Stardew Valley game?
Stardew Valley is a beloved farming game that people really enjoy. It has cute graphics, fun gameplay, and a big world to discover. In the game, players inherit a run-down farm and must work to restore it to its former glory by growing crops, raising animals, mining, fishing, and forming relationships with the townsfolk. The game makes you feel calm and relaxed, helping you forget about the busy and noisy world around you.
People choose similar games to Stardew Valley because they crave the same sense of tranquility, creativity, and satisfaction that comes from nurturing a virtual farm, building relationships, and embracing a simpler, more fulfilling virtual life.
Here are 8 best similar games like Stardew Valley
1. Forager
If you’re looking for special game because it’s not just like Stardew Valley, but it also takes inspiration from Terraria and Minecraft. It’s not only about crafting and building; there are also fun game elements like different skills and levels.
One great thing about Forager is that you don’t have to spend lots of time grinding, which some people find boring in farming and life simulation games. You start on a small island and use your crafting skills to make better tools. Here’s how the game works: you break rocks and collect plants to upgrade your equipment, so you can explore the maps faster. You unlock new areas one by one and the goal is to clear them efficiently. You can improve your sword, shovel, backpack, and even your character through a skill tree. The skills are divided into four categories: Foraging, Magic, Economy, and Industry.
Forager was developed by HopFrog and published by Humble Bundle. It was first released on April 18, 2019, for PC, and later on July 30, 2019, for Nintendo Switch and PS4, July 16, 2020, for Xbox One, November 6, 2020, for iOS, and December 9, 2020, for Android. So you can play it on PC, Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, or your mobile device.
2. Littlewood
If you like games with lots of little squares and enjoy Stardew Valley, you might also like Littlewood. It looks kind of like The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening.
In Littlewood, the story is a bit different. It seems like you finished a big adventure game where you defeated the final boss. Now, you become a magical hero who has to rebuild the town and make it nice again. You also get to have fun and relax after saving the world. But don’t worry, it’s not like the calm parts of Final Fantasy X. You still get to do farming, crafting, and talking to people, which are the usual things in this type of game. You can even change the land and make it look the way you want, like in Animal Crossing. Oh, and in this game, there are not only humans but also orcs, goblins, and other strange creatures.
Littlewood was made by Sean Young and published by Smash Games. It first came out on August 4, 2020, for PC, and then on February 26, 2021, for Nintendo Switch. So you can play it on either of those platforms.
3. My Time at Portia
If you’re looking for a game like Stardew Valley but in 3D, My Time in Portia is a great choice. Instead of pixelated graphics, it offers colorful and cute visuals. The story begins with your relative passing away, leaving you with a workshop to rebuild and the town to revive.
The game’s beautiful graphics will appeal to those tired of pixelated farming games. While it focuses on the work aspect of life simulation, the relationship building is not as detailed as in Stardew Valley, Harvest Moon, or Animal Crossing.
All these farming life simulators have fantastic soundtracks, and My Time in Portia is no exception. The music adds to the enjoyable experience of building, crafting, and grinding in the game.
If you enjoy My Time in Portia, you might also like My Time at Sandrock. It takes place in a desert community, offering a Wild West setting where you build a rugged city-state. Keep in mind that My Time at Sandrock is still in Early Access, but it’s already playable and enjoyable.
The game was made by Pathea and published by Team17 and Nuverse. It came out on January 15, 2019 for PC, and on April 16, 2019 for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. It later became available on Android and iOS on August 4, 2021, and is playable on PS, Xbox, PC, Switch, and mobile platforms.”
4. No Place Like Home
Every game on this list, except for one, is about peaceful farming. In those games, the environment is beautiful, with no pollution or contaminants. Everything is lively and colorful. However, No Place Like Home is different. It hits close to home, literally, because it focuses on Earth while everyone else has gone to Mars.
In No Place Like Home, you play as one of the few people who stayed behind on Earth while others moved to Mars. The Earth is in a state of chaos, filled with trash and pollution causing a lot of problems. Luckily, you have some tools to help you clean up the mess and even recycle it to rebuild your town and make Earth a better place to live again. Your goal in this game is to make Earth great again, which is a huge task. You will encounter combat situations where you have to fight against rogue robots. Apart from that, the game’s main focus is completing chores at home, which includes cleaning up everything around you. You will be directed throughout the game by a talking chicken, and there is a fascinating plot as you hunt for your father.
The game was developed by Chicken Launcher and published by Awaken Realms. It was released in March and is available on PC, Switch, PS, and Xbox platforms.
5. Farm Together
Farm Together is a game that’s perfect for parents who want to play a farming game like Stardew Valley with their kids. It’s also great for anyone who wants to share the experience of farming, crafting, and taking care of animals with someone else. Compared to other life simulation games, Farm Together is the easiest one and it’s designed for casual players. It’s okay to play at your own pace without worrying about difficult challenges like in Dark Souls, La-Mulana, or Ninja Gaiden.
In Farm Together, your crops won’t die if you forget to take care of them. The animals won’t die if you forget to feed them, and you won’t face any financial consequences if you’re not a great farmer. It’s like playing Cities: Skylines but for building a farm. It’s more about creating a beautiful farm rather than being a hardcore simulator. Farm Together is the only option for those who don’t want to deal with complicated things like moon phases and seasons to unlock certain animals or crops. It’s a great game for introducing non-gamers or young children to the hobby. It’s easy to understand, visually appealing, rewards patience, and allows for a lot of creativity without feeling like you’re doing all the hard work.
Farm Together was developed and published by Milkstone Studios. It was first released on October 12, 2018, for PC, followed by releases on January 18, 2019, for Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S, and on February 1, 2019, for PS4 and Nintendo Switch.
6. Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles
If you think the name of this game is long and complicated, don’t worry, the game itself is actually quite simple. Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles is like a simpler version of Stardew Valley.
In Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles, the story is straightforward. You play as a character that ends up stranded on the shores of a place called Gemea, which is being taken over by a dangerous fog called the Murk. Luckily, your character has a special ability to see and interact with magical creatures called sprites. Your task is to gather these sprites and use their powers to get rid of the Murk and save Gemea.
The main focus of the game is managing your farm in a relaxed and easygoing way. You can explore beautiful landscapes, gather materials, craft items, plant trees, and even go fishing. Although the gameplay may not be as deep as in Stardew Valley or Animal Crossing, Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles makes up for it with its fantastic 3D graphics and immersive audio.
The game was developed and published by Prideful Sloth, in collaboration with Merge Games and Nippon Ichi Software. It was first released on July 18, 2017, for PC and PS4, followed by releases on May 17, 2018, for Nintendo Switch, and February 27, 2019, for Xbox One. It is available on PC, Switch, PS, and Xbox platforms.
7. Graveyard Keeper
If you’re going through a goth phase, Graveyard Keeper is definitely a game worth trying. It may not be everyone’s taste, but the unique twist of tending to a graveyard instead of a farm should pique your morbid curiosity. This game takes farming to the dark side with no sunshine in sight.
Graveyard Keeper is not an easy game. The activities are not explained in a straightforward manner. It’s a more mature version of Stardew Valley, both in terms of themes and gameplay. There’s no hand-holding, and even the basic tutorial can be a bit challenging to understand.
In this game, you manage a graveyard in a medieval setting while also exploring other business ventures. You’ll have to engage in various activities to keep your finances stable. This might come as a surprise, as most other farming life simulation games tend to be more wholesome. Despite the macabre theme and cutthroat capitalism, there’s a romantic aspect to this game.
Graveyard Keeper was developed by Lazy Bear Games and published by tinyBuild. It was first released on August 15, 2018, for PC, followed by releases on June 27, 2019, for Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and PS4. The game is available on PC, Switch, PS, and Xbox platforms.
8. Sun Haven
This game, Sun Haven, is still being developed, but it’s available as an Early Access version. Even though it’s not fully finished, there is already a good amount of content for you to enjoy. However, keep in mind that there may be some rough experiences because the game is not complete yet.
In Sun Haven, you can engage in various activities like farming, fishing, fighting, mining, blacksmithing, cooking, and crafting. These activities are commonly found in this type of game. What sets Sun Haven apart is that you have the option to choose the race of your character. You can be a human, demon, elf, angel, elemental, naga, or amari. Additionally, the game supports multiplayer, so you can play with up to eight people.
The game offers a skill tree system, allowing you to further customize your character’s abilities and talents. This goes beyond just changing their physical appearance. Sun Haven is similar in gameplay to Stardew Valley, but it has more fantastical themes and motifs. Furthermore, there is a romantic aspect to the game, considering the different races you can choose from.
Sun Haven is developed by Nintendo EPD and published by Nintendo. It was released on March 20, 2020, specifically for the Nintendo Switch platform.
Conclusion
In conclusion, games like Stardew Valley provide a haven of tranquility and creativity for players seeking respite from the demands of everyday life. With their charming visuals, immersive gameplay, and engaging narratives, these games offer a delightful escape into virtual worlds where farming, exploration, and meaningful connections take center stage. In these games, you can take care of plants, explore new places, or just enjoy the peaceful atmosphere. They give you a break from your daily life and help you relax and find comfort. You can escape to a virtual world that is simpler and more satisfying. So go ahead, dive into these magical games and experience the calm and tranquility they bring. Let yourself get lost in their enchanting worlds and discover the peacefulness they have to offer.
You Might Also Like: