5 best games like Stardew Valley in 2024

Stardew Valley holds a dear place in my heart. Unregrettably, this wholesome and charming game took hundreds of hours of my life. This pixelated farming-social simulator offers the perfect blend of fun and relaxation. While Stardew Valley may initially seem barebones, it has quite an engaging storyline, in-depth farming mechanics, from planting crops to building greenhouses, a mesmerizing set of romanceable characters, and more.

The latest Stardew Valley 1.6 update has made many new content additions, giving more incentive to old players like me to get back to our farms.

If this farming sim isn't your cup of tea, but you want something similar, check out the recommendations we've made below.

Note: This article is subjective in nature.

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5 Games like Stardew Valley you can try in 2024

1) Coral Island

Get down into the Coral Island (Image via Humble Games)

This island getaway is a slice of life island life sim. In Coral Island, you forage the lands for resources, raise animals, catch fish, and mine various precious minerals. As you thrive and clean up the litter around the land, you will see your island return to its former glory.

Aside from the main farming sim, this game is popular for its in-depth relationship system that lets you form deep bonds with other islanders. As you unearth the locals' stories, you'll transform your patch of paradise from sad seeds into a lush, bountiful spread; much like the town hero role you play in Stardew Valley.

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2) Sun Haven

Get lost in the fantastical Sun Haven (Image via Pixel Sprout Studios)

Sun Haven is Stardew Valley mixed with a fantasy RPG. At the start of the game, you get to choose and customize your character from an array of mythical races like fairies, elves, dwarves, and more. Once you have a character, manage a lush farm, tend to fantastical animals, and set up your corner of the fantasy.

The game offers a classic pixelated farm sim with an engaging story, crafting mechanics, and interactable characters. Sun Haven is a unique title that truly brings the fantasy to life. If you want a game that embodies the fantastical nature of Stardew Valley and takes it to the next level, this title is for you.

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3) Traveller's Rest

Make a happening inn (Image via Isolated Games)

Unlike the other titles on the list, this is not a farming sim. But still, you have to forage, farm, and craft your way to become a culinary master. Instead of building a farm of your own, you build an inn and strive to make it the most thriving place in the area. You get to reshape and customize the rooms of your inn to your heart's content.

The game's main challenge is to please the crowd of patrons by cooking up unique dishes tailored to their peculiar palates. Cater to their wants and your inn will soon become a community hub. Traveller’s Rest is highly inspired by Stardew Valley, featuring many fleshed-out and lovable characters.

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4) Slime Rancher 2

Become a Slime Rancher (Image via Monomi Park)

Returning to the slime ranch, get ready for new digs on Rainbow Island's Far, Far Range. If Pokemon ever made a farming sim, it would be like Slime Rancher 2. The game focuses less on the townsfolk this time around, but plenty of landscape to explore and a ranch to expand to your slime-wrangling heart's content.

Once again, Beatrix LeBeau will need to build various pens for her slimes and grow crops and chickadoo treats to keep the Slime population plump and satisfied. If you played Stardew Valley before and wished it had a bigger map, Slime Rancher 2 is the answer.

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5) Palia

Wholesome yet mysterious (Image via Singularity 6 Corporation)

Most farming games are a solo journey, but Palia isn't like most games. It mixes the farming sim genre with the MMO genre and brings a breath of fresh air. Log in to a public or personal server, and your pixelated homestead will be teeming with real players to chat and cooperate (or compete) with.

It's a grind fest in true MMO fashion, but upgrading tools, nurturing relationships, and acquiring enough wood for that sweet new furniture piece provides a strangely relaxing loop. Also, much like Stardew Valley, the in-game story of Palia is quite intriguing. With the MMO aspects added to the game, it truly feels like a living world.