Sometimes, simulation games can be very heavy-going. Players often want a deep and realistic experience, which can mean a lot of complex menus and delicate stat adjustments to navigate. This doesn't have to be the case, though. Stardew Valley is a farming sim, of course, but the farming is fun and arcade-like in its gameplay. For some, this aspect of the game is secondary to the life sim elements, which bring to mind the likes of Animal Crossing.
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It's a game where you can meticulously plan out your first year, or take life at a slower pace and simply engage in the activities that appeal to you the most. It's as deep as you'd like it to be, really, and that's a sentiment shared by this collection of titles that are sure to appeal to Stardew Valley's many fans. There are also some fantastic titles in Early Access, such as Fields of Mistria, which are poised to be far more than Stardew Valley clones.
5 Sakuna: Of Rice And Ruin
Of Rice Farming And Scrolling Beat 'Em Up Action
Sakuna: of Rice and Ruin is a farming simulator that focuses exclusively on one particular type of crop: Rice, unsurprisingly. Now, rice management is a complicated process, with essential steps including threshing and careful monitoring of water levels, which could make for a less-than-riveting gameplay experience. Developer Edelweiss, then, mixed things up by adding a fun, arcade element to the core rice farming activities, as well as dividing the game into two distinct halves: Farming and 2D scrolling combat.
We play as Princess Sakuna, whose impetuousness has led to her banishment from the realm of deities. She now inhabits the Isle of Demons with a band of humans. As the only one of the group with the power to beat back these fiends, she must take on 2D scrolling platform levels rife with them, using her magical raiment to ensnare and pull herself to foes and a range of combat techniques to take them down. These levels grant all manner of resources that are crucial to the sections at the humans' farm, which Sakuna traverses from a 3D perspective. In turn, the quality and quantity of her rice crop pleases the humans and boosts her capabilities in battle. There are a lot of moving pieces to consider to bolster your rice crop, including the types of items used as fertiliser and the precise level of water (and timing of draining/filling it), but a lot of guidance is provided and each element is presented as a sort of arcade minigame to keep things manageable. With its secondary focus on combat, quirky characters to interact with and its cozy vibe, there's a lot for Stardew Valley enthusiasts to enjoy here.
4 Graveyard Keeper
Manage A Medieval Graveyard And A Farm
If you're looking for an additional challenge after mastering the many different mechanics of Stardew Valley, here's a title that will completely flip the script. In Graveyard Keeper, the protagonist is transported back in time through enigmatic means and takes control of a small plot of land. He doesn't simply grow carrots there, though, but takes on a different duty entirely: Running the graveyard of a Medieval town. There is also a farm to run, of course, but this macabre twist is the central concept of the game.
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The crop-planting, weed-busting action is very much akin to that of Stardew Valley, as is the game's visual style generally. A key difference (aside from performing autopsies on bodies and so on) is that Graveyard Keeper is rather more plot-oriented, focusing on the keeper's efforts to return home by gathering certain relics. In order to do so, he must follow a complex and quite lengthy questline, involving an array of NPCs. There are so many mechanics to engage with and a long tech tree to follow in the game, giving it a surprising amount of depth, and moral decisions to be made too. The social aspects aren't on the same level as those of Stardew Valley, and it's a slower-paced and more structured experience, but that could be just what players are looking for. There's a lot to take in, though, so beginners are advised to take all the tips they can get.
3 Roots of Pacha
Developing Stone Age Agriculture
If the Medieval setting of Graveyard Keeper is still a little too modern for you, Roots of Pacha will take you about as far back in human history as it's possible to go. It commits to the Stone Age setting right down to the cursor, which is a chunk of flint. The setting is the primary factor that sets it apart from Stardew Valley, because while the two titles utilize a very similar art style, they differ quite significantly in mechanics.
Mining in Roots of Pacha is a less intimidating prospect, because there are no enemies underground. No enemies to fight anywhere at all, in fact, which is sure to suit those who prefer a more calming and low-stakes experience. Much of your time is spent with your tribe, developing collective 'ideas' with which to move along the game's tech tree. The social aspects of ConcernedApe's iconic farming sim have more depth to them, but you still feel just as much a part of a town (or rather a settlement in this case). It's an interesting companion piece to Stardew Valley, or title to move onto afterward, because it does different things with the formula. One significant addition is animal taming, which sees you gaining the trust of various animals by playing a flute and attuning with them.
2 Farm Together 2
Share The Hard Work Around
A lot of the titles on this list embrace co-op play, but are not built around the idea as Farm Together 2 is. The system is rather more sophisticated than in the first game, and allows the players to expand and develop their farms in ways that other similar games don't. The new terraforming features, for instance, mean you aren't limited by a procedurally-generated layout as you may be elsewhere, and the central hub of the town provides more of a social space than the original game. It's more about interactions between fellow players, though, than between players and NPCs.
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It's one of the better-looking and more customizable takes on the genre, and with trains to take around your burgeoning farm, it's clear that it's on a larger scale than a lot of 'rival' titles. If you favor having fun with your friends over indulging in relationship-building elements with the townsfolk, this is a fun, arcade-like experience similar to Stardew Valley, but with slightly different trappings. There are also some very convenient automation options, with the chance to set the tractor to perform its duties by itself if you'd like to cut down on a little of the busywork.
1 Sun Haven
A Fantastical Twist On The Genre
Sun Haven, too, boasts a visual style that any fan of Stardew Valley will instantly feel at home with. The vital thing for each of these similar titles, though, is to have unique qualities that define them as something other than a simple retread. To that end, 2023's Sun Haven delves into the world of fantasy, adding the charming twist of dragons and magic spells.
The pixel work is stunning, and there's an enormous variety of looks and styles with which to customize your character. The multiplayer is very ambitious too, with support for up to eight players simultaneously. Overall, though, this is a title for those who would have liked Stardew Valley to have expanded its RPG elements, plotting, and combat a little more (some farming games have great combat after all). When you arrive in the town of Sun Haven, you're not just a new farmer who must fill their days however they please. There is a lot of that too, but primarily, you're on a quest from the mighty Elios, the Sun Dragon, to vanquish the darkness, which will take you on a lovely scenic tour to some other towns as well as your own.
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