Stardew Valleyis a landmark game in the indie scene, garnering tens of millions of sales and establishing the cozy farming sim as a beloved sub-genre. Naturally, considering its huge success, people have already played it extensively, putting in hundreds if not thousands of hours into their customizable farms. Fortunately,Stardew Valleyinspired a plethora of new farming life sims, many of which either capture what made it great or, on a rare occasion, exceed it.
Many of these cozy games are some of thebest indie gamesever made, meaning they’re worth playing regardless of whether they manage to achieveStardew Valley’slevel of brilliance or come just shy of it. From offering magical twists onafamiliar farming formula to completely reinventing it,these life sims are the very best games to play for those who loveStardew Valley.
10Echoes of the Plum Grove (Unwound Games)
Stardew Valley With Consequences
Echoes of the Plum Groveisa combination of the very best parts ofDon’t Starvemixed with the best bits ofStardew Valley. Players live in Honeywood, a small town on an island packed with interesting villagers, mysteries to uncover, and crops to plant. There’s the typical farming sim gameplay akin toStardew Valley,in which players can grow and harvest crops, tend to various animals, and invest in better tools. However, beyond that, players must also prepare for the harsh winters, as should they fail to do so, they and the entire island could be at stake.
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Players can also get married, kill other villagers, uncover mysteries, befriend the various townsfolk, and more. Importantly, the other villagers can do exactly the same, as they’ll marry one another, have children, and ultimately die. This is whereEchoes of the Plum Grovetruly shines, asit puts a huge emphasis on the consequences of choice. However, while there is a lot to wrap one’s head around inEchoes of Plum Grove, it still manages to be one of thebest cozy games of 2024, thanks, in large part, to its colorful visuals and general lighthearted tone.
9Wylde Flowers (Studio Drydock Pty Ltd)
A Magical Life Sim
Wylde Flowersis a magical life sim that manages to blend both learning to become a witch with the cozy farm sim elements ofStardew Valley. However, what helps set it apart is its greater focus on story, as it puts players in the role of Tara, rather than allowing them to create their own protagonist.Wylde Flowersis all about Tara learning about who she is, her journey to become a witch, and her life in her new home.
During the day, Tara can farm, explore the town, and interact with the fully-voiced townspeople. There’s the option to romance several characters, as well as befriend the rest, and they’re all expertly written to help immerse the player further. However,at night, Tara will train hard to become a witch, including learning spells, flying on her broomstick, brewing potions, and more.Wylde Flowersis the perfect choice for those looking for thebest Nintendo Switch cozy games, or for a more narrative-focusedStardew Valley-like.
8Chef RPG (World 2 Studio)
All About Running A Failing Restaurant
Chef RPGtakes everything that makesStardew Valleyso great and makes it all about running a restaurant. Much like how players must revive a failing farm inStardew Valley,inChef RPG, it’s up to the player to save Le Sequoia, a restaurant in the gorgeous seaside town of White Ash Harbor. Of course, the path to doing so is completely up to the player’s discretion, as, with hundreds of recipes to collect, and dozens of people to meet, there are plenty of avenues to becoming the best.
Chef RPGlaunched into Early Access in 2024, and since then it has grown exponentially, adding many much-needed features and improving existing ones. With a restaurant to run and decorate, a plethora of cooking mini-games, rare ingredients to gather, a town to revitalize, and characters to meet,Chef RPGhas all the trappings of an incredible cozy game.
7Magical Delicacy (Skaule)
A Combat-Free Metroidvania-Lite
Magical Delicacy, unlike mostStardew Valley-likes, is not a top-down farming sim. Instead,it’s a Metroidvania-lite in which players take on the role of a witch running a restaurant. Players will take orders from the various townsfolk, gather the correct ingredients, cook the meal in their restaurant, and then deliver it. WhileMagical Delicacyis, at its heart, a cozy sim, there’s a strong focus on following the right recipe and ensuring that everything is perfectly cooked, which makes it a great fit for those looking for something a little more complex.
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A big part ofMagical Delicacyis gathering the right materials to craft each meal, and to do that, players will need to platform their way through the town of Grat. Of course, throughout their stay, players will unlock new abilities which will help them better navigate the town and unlock new areas.Magical Delicacyretains a lot of the charm and coziness ofStardew Valleywhile also being the right game for those wanting acozy game without farming.
6Spiritfarer (Thunder Lotus Games)
A Game About Looking After Spirits
Spiritfareris a heartbreaking exploration of life, death, grief, and the ability to move on. It follows Stella, a young girl tasked with helping ferry around spirits as they come to terms with moving on. She’ll need to build each of them a place to stay on her ever-expanding ship as well as various stations where she can craft or build things to make their stay as comfortable as possible. However, eventually, she’ll need to say goodbye and send the spirit off to the afterlife.
What makesSpiritfarersuch an incredible cozy game and a lot likeStardew Valleyis how players will build a connection with each and every spiritthey help. They’re packed full of personality, with every single one of them written beautifully. The stories they tell, the adventures they have with Stella, and their reflections on life are all heartfelt. Of course, there’s even the option to give them all a hug, which surely makesSpiritfarerthebest cozy game on mobile.
5Sun Haven (Pixel Sprout Studios)
Stardew Valley With A Magical Twist
Sun Haventakes what makesStardew Valleygreat and adds so much more to the experience, making it a staggeringly impressive game that could take players thousands of hours to truly experience everything. It’s a far more story-focused farming sim, although one that still retains all the coziness that comes with the genre. Players can tend to their crops which are affected by the four seasons, look after animals both real and fantastical - including werewolves - and romance all the 23 villagers.
What’s most impressive aboutSun Havenis its approach to towns and combat. It’s set across four different towns, each with its own architecture, villagers, and stories to tell. There are also mines filled with enemies and bosses which players can kill using a variety of weapons and abilities. There is so much more toSun Haven, from fishing to museum-filling, but it is all best experienced with fresh eyes. Offering a completely customizable experience,Sun Havenis the perfect game for those who want a little more game out of theirStardew Valley-likes.
4Before The Green Moon (Turnfollow)
A Nuanced PS1-Esque Life Sim
Before the Green Moonis a very unique farming life sim in terms of both its setting and its gameplay. Players venture to a small town surrounding a giant elevator that goes to the moon with the intention of buying a ticket for themselves and living up there. Of course, tickets don’t come cheap, so they’re given a place to stay and a farm to manage in order to earn money. Slowly, but surely,players will integrate themselves into the town, come to grow to love its people, and eventually question whether going to the moon is all that important.
There’s a lot aboutBefore the Green Moonthat makes it stand out, from its unique PS1-esque visuals to its approach to farming and managing crops. However, what makes it a truly delightful experience are the relationships that are made with the handful of characters who choose to live near the elevator. For those who want a farming life sim with a unique world and approach to storytelling,Before the Green Moonis absolutely the best choice.
3Disney Dreamlight Valley (Gameloft)
The Closest To A Triple-A Version Of Stardew Valley
Disney Dreamlight Valleyhas quickly cemented itself as one of the best farming life sims available on the market, thanks in large part to its impressive production values and strong use of its IP. This isn’t a simple Disney cash grab, as the characters, lore, and worlds of each of the films it pulls from are lovingly implemented. Every Disney character becomes someone that fans will delight in getting to know, as they all have their own unique personalities that help make Dreamlight Valley become a wonderful place to stay.
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From clothing to interior decoration,there is plenty that fans can customize inDisney Dreamlight Valley. Additionally, players will need to visit various islands populated by Disney characters from a certain film and will have to help them complete quests in order to get them to move to Dreamlight Valley. There’s a lot that makes it stand out from other cozy games while still maintaining the best parts of the genre and its clear inspirations, all of which make it one of thebest Game Pass cozy games.
2STORY OF SEASONS: Friends of Mineral Town (Marvelous Inc.)
It’s Important To Try The Original Experience
Whenever anyone thinks of playing a game akin toStardew Valley, the first place they should look is its inspiration:Harvest Moon.Any of the originalHarvest Moongames from the GBA, GameCube, and DS eras are a great choice, especially as they feature all the elements that makeupStardew Valley, including farming, relationships, some slightly magical elements, and more. However, for those who want a more modern take, it gets a little complicated.
The creators of theHarvest Moongames split, with one side, Natsume getting to keep theHarvest Moonbranding and Marvelous Inc. continuing the series' legacy under the new name ofStory of Seasons.TheStory of Seasonsgames are by far the better of the two, especiallyStory of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town, which is a remake of arguably one of the bestHarvest Moongames ever made.
1Fields Of Mistria (NPC Studio)
The Next Stardew Valley
Fields of Mistriais the new farming life sim indie darling that’s taking Steam by storm. It’s already sitting at an Overwhelmingly Positive rating, withthousands of reviews proclaiming it as the nextStardew Valley. It is getting all of this praise for a good reason, as its approach to characters, farming, and world design is impeccable. By far, its strongest feature is its many villagers, all of whom are beautifully written and interact with one another in meaningful ways.
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In many ways,Fields of Mistriais the closest one can get to playingStardew Valleyagain for the first time, especially thanks to its plethora of innovations and new features that help set it apart and often excel whereStardew Valleylags a little. For those who are wanting something almost exactly likeStardew Valleyjust with enough of a twist that it doesn’t feel too similar,Fields of Mistriais the ultimate choice.
