It's hard to deny the influence and success of ConcernedApe's Stardew Valley. A deceptively simple and humble-looking indie game has defined a whole decade and more of gaming by bringing back the joy of a Harvest Moon-like gaming experience. It's cozy, it's addicting, and almost everyone has tried the game at least once.
Upcoming Game is Like a Horror Version of Stardew Valley
An upcoming 'cozy' game on Steam will combine Stardew Valley mechanics like social RPG systems, farming, and fishing with a unique horror aesthetic.
There's a lot that makes Stardew Valley special, and which can be hard to replicate, especially in an open-world format. Here are the best open-world games with Stardew Valley-like gameplay features.
Included are RPGs and open-world survival craft games, and any game that manages to tick as many boxes for Stardew Valley as possible and includes, but is not limited to: building, farming, decorating, mining, foraging, and fishing. Romance options are a bonus.
5 The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim
The Anniversary Upgrade Added Some Very Stardew Valley-like Features
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition
- Released
- October 28, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
How Skyrim is like Stardew Valley:
- Fishing
- Farming
- Marriage
- Decorating a house
- Cooking
Skyrim is not just an epic story about a chosen one. The game has a lot of potential to be just as cozy and addictive as Stardew Valley, thanks to some of its more passive activities that have been included throughout the years. Now, players can go fishing, make their own farms, and with the Hearthfire DLC, it's even possible to design and build a home from scratch. Homes, self-built or bought, can be decorated with loot and items players find while adventuring throughout the province.
Skyrim also gets the bonus point for romance, even if it lacks the depth of Stardew Valley. Still, players can settle down with an NPC or companion of their choice and adopt children in the Hearthfire DLC when they eventually tire of chasing after dragons and destiny.
To experience some of these features, the Anniversary Edition/Anniversary Upgrade and Hearthfire DLC are required.
4 Hogwarts Legacy
The Room of Requirement and Vivarium Hit a Cozy Stardew Valley Spot
Hogwarts Legacy
- Released
- February 10, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Avalanche Software
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Hogwarts Legacy's similarities with Stardew Valley:
- Keeping animals/ranching
- Foraging
- Crafting/cooking (potions, in this case)
- Decorating a room (conjuration)
Once players unlock the Room of Requirement, Hogwarts Legacy's Stardew Valley side starts to show. Using the Nab Sack, the Vivarium can be filled with a selection of fantastical beasts, from Unicorns to Graphorns to even Thestrals. It's like having a Stardew Valley farm, but with all the best Harry Potter universe creatures. Each beast produces valuable resources that can be used for gear upgrades.
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Outside of the Vivarium, the Room of Requirement can be used to grow potion ingredients and then brew potions and craft other items, similar to cooking and crafting in Stardew Valle y. With conjuration, players can furnish the room to look just the way they want, which is perfect for those who love furnishing and styling their Stardew Valley homes.
3 Palworld
Monster Collector Meets Stardew Valley
Palworld
- Released
- January 19, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Violence
- Developer(s)
- Pocket Pair, Inc.
- Genre(s)
- Open-World, Shooter, Survival
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X
- OpenCritic Rating
- Fair
Palworld's similarities with Stardew Valley:
- Crafting
- Mining
- Ranching
- Cooking
- Foraging
- Fishing
Those who also love Pokemon will enjoy the blend of farming and monster hunting Palworld is. The Technology tree, similarly to Stardew Valley, will have players level up first before they can unlock certain items and furniture. The crafting options in the game are incredibly vast and very resource-heavy, so mining, cutting trees, ranching, foraging, and so on are incredibly important.
What makes Palworld unique is that Pals are assigned to these tasks, which creates a whole system and network of multiple campsites around the world. Players who loved going big in Stardew Valley with massive farms and money-making systems will love how Palworld taps into that using the different Pal work suitabilities and each Pal's unique skills. For example, some are really good at Gathering, others are Mining powerhouses, and some can assist with the crafting and cooking speed of certain items through Kindling and Handiwork suitabilities. It's very reminiscent of the Junimo Hut in Stardew Valle y.
A fun-looking spin-off game called Palworld: Palfarm is in the works, and looks to tick even more boxes for those who love Stardew Valley-like games.
2 Minecraft
The Ultimate Farming, Crafting, and Building Experience Made Better With Mods
Minecraft
- Released
- November 18, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Fantasy Violence
- Developer(s)
- Mojang
- Genre(s)
- Sandbox, Survival
- Platform(s)
- 3DS, Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Wii U, PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PS Vita, Xbox One, Xbox 360
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
How Minecraft is like Stardew Valley:
- Mining
- Combat against hostile mobs in caves
- Farming crops
- Tending to animals
- Pets and horses
- Fishing
Minecraft is the ultimate blank canvas on which players can create whatever they like. There's a lot for Stardew Valley lovers to enjoy here: building your own house or base, exploring and mining in dangerous caves full of hostile mobs, farming crops like wheat, potatoes, carrots, and more, owning pets like cats and dogs after taming them, growing farm animals like sheep, cows, and chickens, and even riding horses. Players can also go fishing for both fish and treasure, become beekeepers, and trade with villagers.
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While the story and romance aspects are missing, there are a ton of mods that can add more substance to the game. However, a special mention goes to Pam's Harvestcraft, which significantly expands the variety of crops with options like eggplant, onion, cauliflower, leek, and more.
1 Fallout 4
Farming and Building in a Nuclear Wasteland
Fallout 4
- Released
- November 10, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M FOR MATURE: BLOOD AND GORE, INTENSE VIOLENCE, STRONG LANGUAGE, USE OF DRUGS
- Developer(s)
- Bethesda
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
How Fallout 4 is like Stardew Valley:
- Farming
- Decorating
- Crafting and cooking
- Romance
If Stardew Valley lovers don't mind dipping their toes into a grim, post-apocalyptic setting, then Fallout 4 is a surprisingly solid option. As players progress through the Minuteman faction questline, they can establish and grow various settlements around the Commonwealth. The settlement building tool lets players make houses, furniture, working stations, and farmlands for their settlers, and even defenses like turrets to keep the people safe against raiders. Some NPCs that players encounter during the game can also be invited to come and live in these settlements.
There's a ton to craft here, from weapons to chems to upgrading armor and the settlements themselves. Cooking stations also open up access to gnarly wasteland delicacies, like Deathclaw egg omelette and Squirrel on a stick. It's far from being the cozy experience Stardew Valley is, but it gets special bonus points for excellent romance with some of the game's companions.
-
OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 90 /100 Critics Rec: 99%
- Released
- February 26, 2016
- ESRB
- E for Everyone (Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Mild Language, Simulated Gambling, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco)
- Developer(s)
- ConcernedApe
- Publisher(s)
- ConcernedApe