I put 200 hours into my Stardew Valley farm and then just… stopped. Not from boredom — I'd done everything, and nothing else felt right afterwards. If you're in that same farm-shaped hole, here are 12 games I've actually played, with honest verdicts on which deserve your evenings.
That Empty Feeling After Your Last Harvest
You've married your favourite villager, your wine empire prints money while you sleep, and the game has quietly run out of surprises. You close it, scroll your library, and everything looks grey by comparison.
I did what everyone does: bought three farming sims in one sale, bounced off all of them within a week. The problem wasn't the games — I hadn't figured out which part of Stardew I was actually missing. The farming? The villagers? The mines? Once I worked that out, picking the right next game got much easier. That's what this guide is really about.
My Honest Top 5 (For the Impatient)
- Want more Stardew, basically? Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town — the remake of the Harvest Moon classic that inspired Stardew.
- Want better graphics and proper multiplayer? Sun Haven. Rough launch, glad I didn't skip it.
- Want to cry? Spiritfarer. Seriously — keep tissues nearby.
- Want Stardew but darker and funnier? Graveyard Keeper. Medieval graveyard management, questionable morals.
- Only own a Switch? Animal Crossing: New Horizons. No farming, but the cosy daily rhythm is identical.
The full twelve are below — flaws included.
The Full List: 12 Games Like Stardew Valley, Honestly Reviewed
1. Animal Crossing: New Horizons
No farming, no combat, barely any story — and yet. You turn a deserted island into paradise: fishing, bug-catching, decorating, befriending villagers. What it does have is Stardew's daily rhythm — check in each morning, lose an hour without noticing. Decorators will adore it; goal-driven players might bounce off. Platforms: Nintendo Switch.
2. My Time at Portia
A 3D farming and crafting sim in a charming post-apocalyptic town. Inherit a workshop, take commissions, farm, mine, romance the townsfolk. It nails Stardew's "one more thing" days. Warning: the Switch port launched with real performance problems. Play it on PC — the definitive version by a mile. Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch.
3. Spiritfarer
You play Stella, ferrymaster to spirits crossing into the afterlife — farming, cooking and fishing while caring for spirit passengers with genuinely moving stories. The most emotional game here — I cried twice. Less of an endless sandbox than Stardew, but utterly unforgettable. Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch.
4. Graveyard Keeper
Stardew Valley, but you're running a medieval graveyard with flexible morals — farming, crafting and trading, then deciding how far you'll go to keep the business alive. The dark humour landed perfectly for me. Fair warning: it gets grindy mid-game, and the "ethical shortcuts" won't suit everyone. Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android.
5. Sun Haven
A fantasy farming sim with magic, monsters and three towns — RPG levelling and proper multiplayer added to the Stardew formula. I wrote it off after a messy early access launch — but it's fixed up since, and now one of the richest picks here. Best for farming with friends. Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch.
6. Coral Island
A gorgeous tropical farming sim with a lovely ocean clean-up storyline. Stunning art, great diverse cast. The launch was bumpy though — check recent Steam reviews before buying, like I did. Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S.
7. Dinkum
Made by one Australian developer: Animal Crossing meets the outback — bugs, farming, mining, crocodiles (yes, they're a problem). Still in early access so smaller in scope than Stardew, but the charm-per-pound ratio is off the charts. My favourite hidden gem here. Platforms: PC.
8. Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town
The remake of the Harvest Moon classic that inspired Stardew — like visiting the source. Pure old-school farming: crops, animals, festivals, marriage candidates, no combat or mining. No frills. If you want cosy simplicity and nothing else, stop reading and buy this one. Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One.
9. Rune Factory 5
Stardew with proper action-RPG combat and a fantasy epic woven through. Farm by day, fight monsters and tame them as farmhands by… also day. The pick for Stardew fans whose favourite part was the mines. Heads-up: the Switch version chugs in busy areas — PC runs smoother. Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PC.
10. Slime Rancher
A first-person rancher where you vacuum up adorable slimes on an alien planet, feed them and sell their "plorts". Simpler than Stardew — no villagers, no deep story — but caring for cute creatures is pure comfort. Great palate cleanser. Kids love it too. Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch.
11. Terraria
For Stardew fans whose favourite part was the mines, full stop. A 2D sandbox of digging, crafting, building and boss fights with near-infinite depth. No farming, no romance — but the "explore by day, build by night" rhythm scratches the same itch. Costs less than a takeaway and I've got 300 hours in it. Absurd value. Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android.
12. Minecraft
Farm, build, explore, or just wander. Creative mode is pure relaxation; survival adds gentle stakes. What it lacks is Stardew's heart — no story, no villager friendships. But for players who loved shaping their own farm exactly as they wanted, nothing beats the freedom. Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android.
Games Like Stardew Valley Compared
| Game | Farming | Platforms | Vibe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Animal Crossing: New Horizons | Light (gardening) | Switch | Ultimate cosy island life |
| My Time at Portia | Yes | PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch | 3D crafting town |
| Spiritfarer | Yes | PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch | Emotional and beautiful |
| Graveyard Keeper | Yes | PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, mobile | Dark comedy farming |
| Sun Haven | Yes | PC, Switch | Fantasy plus multiplayer |
| Coral Island | Yes | PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S | Tropical and gorgeous |
| Dinkum | Yes | PC | Aussie indie charm |
| Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town | Yes (pure) | PC, Switch, PS4, Xbox One | The original formula |
| Rune Factory 5 | Yes | Switch, PC | Farming plus action RPG |
| Slime Rancher | Creature ranching | PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch | Cute first-person fun |
| Terraria | No (mining focus) | PC, consoles, mobile | Deep 2D adventure |
| Minecraft | Yes | PC, consoles, mobile | Total freedom |
What I'd Actually Do With My Money
Don't pay full price for most of these — they sit in the £10–£25 range and go on deep sale constantly. I bought half this list at 50% off just by waiting a month.
If you only try one: Story of Seasons for pure Stardew comfort, or Spiritfarer if you want something that stays with you. The two I'd recommend without hesitation.
Skip for now: Coral Island at full price (check recent reviews first), and My Time at Portia on Switch entirely — PC or nothing.
One more thing: the 1.6 update added heaps of content, so if you haven't played in a while, your old farm might deserve one more season before you move on. No shame in going back. And if it's the daily ritual you miss most, our daily word puzzle tips give you a five-minute habit to fill the gap.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the closest game to Stardew Valley?
Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town — the remake of the Harvest Moon game that inspired Stardew, so the farming loop feels instantly familiar. Runner-up: Coral Island, which modernises the formula.
Are there any free games like Stardew Valley?
Not really good ones. Free alternatives tend to be mobile games stuffed with adverts and timers — the opposite of Stardew’s relaxed pace. Wait for a Steam sale; these drop below £10 regularly.
Can I play games like Stardew Valley on mobile?
A few. Stardew Valley itself has an excellent mobile port, and Graveyard Keeper, Terraria and Minecraft all have solid iOS and Android versions. The rest are PC or console only.
Is Animal Crossing like Stardew Valley?
They share cosy vibes, seasons and daily routines — that’s where it ends. No farming, no combat, no story goals; you set your own pace. Stardew fans who loved objectives sometimes bounce off within days; decorators play for years.
What should I play after finishing Stardew Valley?
Figure out what you’ll miss most. The farming? Story of Seasons. The villagers? Spiritfarer. The mines? Rune Factory 5 or Terraria. Picking by what you loved beats picking by review scores — I learned that the expensive way.
Is there a multiplayer game like Stardew Valley?
Sun Haven supports up to eight players, making it the best pick for a group. And Stardew itself has co-op — starting a fresh co-op farm with a friend gave me another 80 hours. Sometimes the best game like Stardew Valley is Stardew Valley. Need a palate cleanser between sessions? Try [Clickword](https://plusword.co.uk/what-is-clickword-the-addictive-word-building-game-explained/) — our word-building game is perfect for tea breaks between harvests.