Best Switch Games Like Stardew Valley

Stardew Valley was originally released in 2016 and quickly encapsulated audiences with its Harvest Moon-inspired farming simulation and simple yet enjoyable role-playing mechanics. The game came to Nintendo Switch in 2017, a year after its initial release, giving a new set of players the chance to lose themselves in the indie game's engrossing world.

Though there is a great deal to love about the title, those who have put hundreds of hours of playtime into Stardew Valley may be looking for something new. Thankfully, there are many other fantastic Switch games like Stardew Valley that fans can check out.

Updated on June 26, 2024, by Ritwik Mitra: Stardew Valley is one of the greatest farming sim games ever made, with the title's relentless charm and constant stream of content letting players enjoy an indie phenomenon that is still going strong to this day. It's easy to see why the hype for Haunted Chocolatier is through the roof, and players can't wait to see how Eric Barone's second game will enhance his legacy. Until this title releases, Switch players will be glad to know that there are many games like Stardew Valley available for them to check out.

11 Roots Of Pacha

A Game That Wears Its Stardew Valley Inspirations On Its Sleeve

A game that takes place in the Stone Age, Roots of Pacha lets players harvest resources and contribute to the progress of their clan in a new environment. Much like Stardew Valley, players start from humble beginnings before moving on to bigger and better things.

Players who donate the goods they find will attain Contribution Points that aid in the clan's progression. At its core, Roots of Pacha is a relaxing title that's perfect for those looking for games like Stardew Valley on the Switch.

10 Ooblets

A Sim Game That Combines Elements Of Stardew Valley With Monster-Catching

There are many life sim games with farming elements on the market, but the endearing charm and unique Pokemon-esque mechanics of Ooblets help the title to stand out. In this game, players arrive in the seaside town of Badgetown and obtain a plot of land that they must work upon to set up a successful farm.

Players can join a club, tend to their property, befriend the townsfolk, and take the help of the adorable Ooblets to automate various activities on their farm. It's easy to see why fans of Stardew Valley will feel right at home with what Ooblets brings to the table.

9 Littlewood

A Light-Hearted RPG With Stardew Valley-Esque Aesthetics

A single look at Littlewood will make the Stardew Valley comparisons clear as day. The game takes place in a world where the evil presence has already been beaten, and society is on the path to rebuild and achieve a sense of normalcy once again.

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Along with the usual gameplay of harvesting materials and constructing new buildings, players can also befriend characters and engage in a wealth of side activities that hammer in the life-sim elements of this game. Littlewood is the perfect game for fans who want to check out games like Stardew Valley on the Switch.

8 Slime Rancher: Plortable Edition

A Farming Simulator With A First-Person Perspective And A Host Of Adorable Creatures

Slime Rancher is an open-world life simulation and farming game that differentiates itself from Stardew Valley with its first-person perspective. The game was released in early access in 2016, with its full release coming in August 2017. The Switch version arrived a few years later, in 2021, under the name Slime Rancher: Plortable Edition.

Slime Rancher puts players in the shoes of Beatrix LeBeau, who has moved to a planet named Far, Far Range, where she finds, collects, and raises adorable organisms known as slimes. The PC version of the game scored an impressive 81 on Metacritic, and it was also nominated for Best Debut Indie Game at The Game Awards 2017.

7 Moonlighter

The Balance Between Store Management And Combat Is Captivating

Moonlighter is split into two main mechanics: store management and combat. During the daytime, the protagonist, Will, is a shopkeeper. However, Will isn't content with his simple shopkeeper life, so he decides to take on a series of dungeons.

The gameplay loop of Moonlighter involves obtaining loot by fighting in dungeons, using this loot to expand Will's shop and gain better equipment, and then using this equipment to conquer even tougher dungeons. When searching for games like Stardew Valley, Moonlighter provides a great alternative for those wanting an emphasis on combat.

6 Story Of Seasons: Friends Of Mineral Town

Features Fun And Lighthearted Farming Mechanics

Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town is a remake of the classic Harvest Moon: Friends of Mineral Town. The original Harvest Moon was released back in 2003 on the Game Boy Advance and quickly became one of the system's most beloved entries for its simple and enjoyable yet in-depth and addictive farm management mechanics.

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Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town gives the classic game a wonderful new look, similar to the remake of The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening. The game is an excellent choice for those who enjoy the farming elements of games like Stardew Valley on the Switch.

5 Astroneer

A Sandbox That Gives Players Complete Freedom In Ways Similar To Stardew Valley

Astroneer was developed by System Era Softworks and is a sandbox adventure game with no overarching objectives or storyline, giving players complete freedom to create their own goals and overall adventure.

The game takes place in a range of procedurally generated planets that players are free to explore, gather the resources within, and then craft a plethora of items. Players who love Stardew Valley's calming vibes and freeform sandbox gameplay will find Astroneer to be right up their alley.

4 Minecraft

A Game That Encourages Boundless Creativity

Realistically, if someone has played and enjoyed Stardew Valley, they likely will have tried the iconic Minecraft at one point or another. Still, it's worth including, as anyone who hasn't tried it yet might be about to play the perfect replacement for ConcernedApe's RPG.

Minecraft was originally released in 2011 and engrossed players by offering one of the purest open-world sandbox experiences released up until that point, with players having complete freedom to build their own world and craft their own story.

3 Terraria

Offers Familiar Pixel Art Visuals And Survival Mechanics

Terraria was released just a few months before Minecraft and has numerous similarities with its open-world, sandbox mechanics, and procedurally generated worlds. Despite its similarities, Terraria hasn't come close to the eye-watering sales figures of Minecraft, likely due to its 2D perspective, which often doesn't have the same mainstream appeal as 3D for modern audiences.

Although Terreria has always had to live in the shadow of Minecraft commercially, it is still adored by many gamers today. It's a no-brainer recommendation for fans who want to check out more games like Stardew Valley on the Switch.

2 Animal Crossing: New Horizons

A Cozy Life Sim That Is Perfect For Stardew Valley Aficionados

When thinking of games that one can relax with and enjoy over time, few series come to mind faster than Animal Crossing. The franchise originated in 2001 with a game simply titled Animal Crossing and has had four main series releases since, which have all been highlights of the social simulator and life simulator genres.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons doesn't try to reinvent the wheel, keeping intact the core building, social, and management mechanics that players have always loved about the iconic franchise. Stardew Valley owes a lot of its success to the social sim elements of this series that Eric Barone was clearly inspired by.