Of all the farming/life simulators out there, no other game has had as much success as Stardew Valley. Created by a single developer, the game captivated players of all kinds with its cute pixel art aesthetic, heartwarming character stories, and surprising amount of depth. While it remains the king of the genre, sometimes it's nice to take a step into a completely different world, and with so many games out there, that purchase decision can be tricky, as players want to get the most out of their money while also playing a quality game.
Best Open-World Games If You Like Stardew Valley
If you fell in love with Stardew Valley's cozy gameplay loop, these open-world titles will hook you right in with similar features.
Thankfully, several free games that capture similar elements or themes as Stardew Valley, without ever asking players to spend a penny. There are simplistic sims that strip away all the complexity in the name of comfort, extensive RPGs that still maintain the cozy communal feel, and large open worlds where players can carve out a life for themselves surrounded by nature. For players who like to save their pennies, they will have more than enough fun with these games, regardless of whether they are adventuring across the landscape or fixing up their house.
Harvest Town
Farming And Charm On The Go
- Release Date: 9 Dec 2020
- Developer: AVIDGamers
- Platforms: iOS, Android
Harvest Town is an incredibly satisfying mobile farming simulator that feels so close to Stardew Valley that many players could mistake the two at a glance. The town begins as a rundown husk of its former self, and it is up to the player to restore it to its former glory. There's everything from crop cultivation to livestock raising to finishing, but aside from the traditional sim elements, the game also manages to infuse the world with some deep RPG mechanics that make every NPC come alive and allow the world to feel expansive yet compact at the same time.
The general gameplay loop is very similar to Stardew, as players progress by slowly building their home and interacting with the local villagers to build connections. There is also a big emphasis on helping others, as players will be rewarded with more than just lore for seeing some of the character storylines through to their end. With more than a few surprises along the way, and a constantly changing environment, every day in Harvest Town feels completely different from the last and gives players enough content to enjoy without spending a single cent.
Palia
Relaxing In The Home of Your Dreams
Palia
- Released
- August 10, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Alcohol Reference, Fantasy Violence, Mild Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Use of Tobacco
- Developer(s)
- Singularity 6, Inc.
- Genre(s)
- Simulation, MMO
Palia invites players into a bright and communal world where crafting, friendship, and discovery intertwine within a lush fantasy setting. The game is entirely free, but despite that, it is still an impressive life sim that manages to blend cozy exploration with satisfying home building, allowing players to construct homes, tend gardens, fish, cook, and uncover the forgotten history of ancient humans.
Upcoming Games Like Stardew Valley
Gamers who love Stardew Valley should keep an eye out for these upcoming titles.
Where Stardew Valley captures a quieter aspect of rural life, Palia transforms that experience into something far more communal. With multiplayer at the heart of the game, players are encouraged to work together right from the start, slowly mapping out the world and finding out all there is to know about it. The game really goes above and beyond with the customization options, as players have countless choices in terms of decorations and structures, allowing them to make the home of their dreams in this heartwarming fantasy world.
Notes From Province
RPGMaker Meets Comfy Village Sim
- Release Date: 13 Aug, 2022
- Developer: BoxFox Studios
- Platforms: PC
Notes From Province is a cutesy open-world RPG that pulls players into an intriguing world full of places to see and people to meet. The story is grand yet grounded, following Kyme's journey to find a new home while battling a powerful villain with the power to steal the blue from the sky. The game feels like a classic RPG in a lot of ways, but the focus shifts away from constant combat into more puzzle-like exploration, along with some more relaxing simulator mechanics like cooking and fishing.
Fans of Stardew will adore the character interactions, as each NPC has a rich backstory that unfolds over the course of the narrative. For those who really enjoy the more calming aspects of a simulator, there are plenty of gameplay elements that favor a slower, more simplistic approach to give players a break from the exploration and give them a chance to feel close to the world and the people within it.
Fallout Shelter
Surviving Together Underground
Fallout Shelter
- Released
- June 14, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen due to Mild Violence, Suggestive Themes, Alcohol Reference
- Developer(s)
- Bethesda Game Studios, Behaviour Interactive
- Genre(s)
- Simulation
Fallout Shelter puts players at the helm of an underground vault in the middle of the wasteland, tasking them with protecting an ever-growing settlement. Anything that players could imagine is possible in the vault, as they have all the tools they need to build whatever rooms and structures that the people require, while also having plenty of additional options to make the subterranean structure look and feel more like a home.
The game is a slight departure from more exploration-focused games in the genre, but it gives just as much satisfaction and feels equally relaxing for players who want to enjoy a simple gameplay loop without much chaos. Also, community is the name of the game in Fallout Shelter, with individual NPCs having their own specific needs that players can accommodate to raise happiness and make their apocalyptic life far less scary.
Sprout Valley
Shrinking Down The Peaceful Living Experience
- Release Date: September 12, 2023
- Developer: Zefrost
- Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PC, macOS, Linux
- Itch.io link
Sprout Valley is an adorable farming simulator that strips away a lot of the genre's complexity in the name of pure, uninterrupted relaxation. Players play as Nico, a cute little cat who wants nothing more than to live in peace, and with a load of islands to explore, they have plenty of choices for where to set up the perfect getaway. There's crop harvesting and ocean sailing, all within a calming world that is tied together by a straightforward yet intriguing story.
Games to Play If You Like Stardew Valley
For fans of Stardew Valley who love farming, crafting, and fun NPCs, there are plenty of life simulation RPGs out there to find and enjoy.
The game never strays into anything too intense. Players can take their time slowly growing produce and trading it with the various NPCs that are dotted around the seas. What makes the game so fun is the number of possibilities there are in such a seemingly small world. The islands are procedurally generated, meaning that no two playthroughs will be exactly the same, allowing the story to remain fresh and the gameplay to consistently feel rewarding again and again.
Cozy Farming Games To Play When You're Bored Of Stardew Valley
From Littlewood to Lemon Cake, be sure to play these cozy farming games once you get tired of Stardew Valley.