Farming simulator Stardew Valley is an incredibly popular indie game that tasks players with taking over their late grandfather's farm. Upon moving to Pelican Town, these new farmers can raise animals, grow crops, make friends, and even fall in love. Stardew Valley is a game that's long and very flexible, giving players infinite options on how they want to structure their playthroughs.
While many farmers go solo, players don't have to start a new life on their own. Up to eight intrepid farmhands can play on one farm, sharing the world of Pelican Town and the land their crops are grown on. It offers a very similar experience to playing solo, still offering the same storylines, quests, items, and NPC interactions. However, playing in co-op mode does change certain aspects of the gamer experience, changing Stardew Valley in some ways for the better and for the worse.
Pro: Divide and Conquer
Stardew Valley is a game that requires the player to build skills in fishing, farming, mining, combat, and foraging. In a solo playthrough, it can take hours upon hours to max out all of these skills. One benefit of playing on a multiplayer farm is the opportunity to split up the responsibility of these tasks.
One player can focus on farming, giving them access to powerful items like Iridium Sprinklers, while another spends their time fishing, unlocking the maximum-level fishing rod and Ginger Island for the group. When farmers focus solely on a dedicated skill, they'll level much faster, but still be able to reap the benefits of their friends' advanced skills in other fields.
Con: Shared Bank Accounts
Fans of Stardew Valley have extremely mixed feelings about the default multiplayer setting that forces the players to share finances. Originally, this setting was the only option, but the ability to split finances became available in a 2019 update. This default setting can cause issues: One farmer spending more than the rest; each person needing to purchase the same items, like backpacks, with one pool of money; and tension between players being caused by money sharing.
Splitting the same shared pool of money may help everyone be more frugal and willing to contribute, but many players find it causes more problems than its worth. Now that it's optional, players should think carefully before starting their co-op farms — though, if they regret their decision, the setting can be changed in the Town Ledger in Mayor Lewis' house.
Pro: Speed Mining
Heading into the mines above Pelican Town is a treacherous endeavor. Beyond providing ore, stone, and gems, the mines are populated with dangerous and aggressive mobs. Going in alone can be risky, as some floors spawn waves of monsters that can overwhelm a player.
In Stardew Valley co-op, there is strength in numbers in the mines, and multiple farmers with pickaxes and swords mean a better chance against slimes and skeletons, as well as faster progress through individual floors with everyone's pickaxes searching for the ladder simultaneously.
Con: Individual Quests
No matter how someone plays Stardew Valley, they'll receive world quests either verbally, through cutscenes, or in the mail. With a multiplayer farm, every individual player receives these requests, which can be tedious. At the start of the game, every farmer is required to introduce themselves to 30 different villagers. Some quests are downright expensive, like bringing Kent a starfruit or Mayor Lewis truffle oil. When each quest has to be done multiple separate times, the time spent and the cost add up.
For gamers looking for a great online or local co-op experience, Stardew Valley is a good option. One of the biggest drawbacks is the lack of crossplay functionality between consoles. However, it makes up for that somewhat with its small file size and ability to run on macOS just fine. It's an affordable option, and players will have to decide for themselves whether the pros outweigh the cons.