The 23 best Stardew Valley mods to shake up your playthrough

Regardless of being launched again in 2016, Stardew Valley continues to be going sturdy. However even the best-designed video games may be tweaked to your liking utilizing mods. New gamers would possibly determine they like a recolored look, whereas these with tons of of hours of sport time is perhaps trying to find an expanded expertise. Both method, we’ve gathered among the finest Stardew Valley mods to provide you tons of choices to your subsequent playthrough.

Nonetheless, first, you’ll have to get arrange for modding. These mods are predominantly for these enjoying on a PC, though the Steam Deck and Android variations of Stardew additionally help some mods. You’ll want an extra piece of software program, known as SMAPI, which may be downloaded from Nexus Mods. There may be additionally a pleasant set of directions for putting in and utilizing it obtainable on the Stardew Valley Wiki.

For fairly just a few mods, you’ll additionally want Content material Patcher, so it’s price setting that up as effectively. Simply unzip the folder contained in the Mods folder that was created routinely by SMAPI.

Congratulations! You’re able to dive into the fantastic world of Stardew modding.

A be aware on Stardew Valley model 1.6

In March 2024, developer Eric “ConcernedApe” Barone launched Stardew’s 1.6 replace, which modified many issues within the sport — and, on the again finish, impacted rather a lot for modders. Though many mods have been up to date accordingly, others are now not appropriate with the 1.6 model of the sport. Some are within the strategy of being up to date, whereas others have unofficial patches, however some will stay unfixed.

We’ve up to date this text to make sure all of the suggestions are totally appropriate, and tried to switch any incompatible mods with one thing related the place obtainable.

Nonetheless, should you’d like to make use of an incompatible mod, you possibly can nonetheless play the 1.5.6 model of Stardew Valley, which ought to keep away from any points. To entry legacy Stardew Valley on Steam, right-click on the sport in your library and choose “Properties.” Within the “Betas” tab you possibly can choose in to the 1.5.6 model. This could imply that older mods work once more.

Our newest replace added a bunch of mods and eliminated some that at the moment are deprecated or don’t work with Stardew Valley 1.6.

Picture: Poltergeister/Nexus Mods

Many Stardew Valley mods merely make small modifications to how the sport appears to be like, and Seasonal Outfits is a well-liked instance. Its subtitle is “Barely Cuter Aesthetic,” so it’s not right here to overtake something, however it does tweak NPC sprites in order that they’ve completely different garments relying on the climate, in addition to giving them particular appears to be like for the Flower Dance and Spirit’s Eve festivals. It’s an excellent place to begin if you wish to give the sport a bit extra selection with out altering it an excessive amount of.

Picture: Airyn, tenthousandcats, minervamaga

Given how a lot illustration this mod provides to the sport, it’s arguably extra than simply an aesthetic change. It may not have an effect on the gameplay instantly, however it makes Pelican City extra inclusive as NPC mods add a broader number of character races, disabilities, and physique sorts. On prime of that, Numerous Stardew Valley provides outfit choices like seasonal modifications, pageant suits, and even maternity clothes.

Picture: Plurffle/Nexus Mods

It’s all the time a pleasant shock to be wandering round operating errands at Pierre’s or handing out items to your beau and seeing a bunny or hen hanging out doing their very own factor. To get extra of that feeling, this mod provides a complete host of latest animals to inhabit the valley. Deer within the forest, geese on the pond, and crows within the graveyard make the entire place really feel extra alive. And on the seaside, Pelican City can lastly have pelicans of its personal!

Picture: DaisyNiko/Nexus Mods

The intense colours of fundamental Stardew Valley are actually cheerful, however recolor mods give gamers tons of different palettes and seasonal moods to select from. DaisyNiko’s Earthy Recolour brings the entire sport down right into a extra muted, grounded palette that’s simpler on the eyes. It additionally replaces the dig spot in order that it grows a clover as a substitute of these bizarre worms from the bottom sport, which is a pleasant contact.

Picture: Lydocia/Nexus Mods

Sadly, a variety of Stardew’s recolor mods have been impacted by the 1.6 launch, and it may be jarring to play with an incompatible visible impact, as newer sprites added within the replace will seem unchanged and look misplaced. Hueless Haven is an easy recolor, however it’s appropriate with the present model of the sport, and it brings every thing all the way down to a extra desaturated look.

Picture: Otterlyadorable/Nexus Mods

Stardew’s livestock are nice, however there’s a lot extra selection in real-world cows, sheep, pigs, and goats. This mod means that you can select between Highland cattle or a Texas Longhorn, for instance, relying on whether or not you wish to reside your British desires or turn into a cowboy rancher. It additionally provides you the flexibility to switch your sheep with alpacas, which are available wild colours, like pink, blue, and inexperienced.

Picture: Wildflourmods/Nexus Mods

This mod was once known as Wild Meals Faerie Backyard, however its identify has been up to date together with 1.6. Whereas there’s some foraging in vanilla Stardew, this mod bumps that up significantly with dozens of latest gadgets to seek out all throughout the map. Identical to actual foraging, these seasonal surprises are thrilling to stumble throughout, and canopy every thing from springtime cherry blossom petals to autumn mushrooms. And the identical creator has mods for turning these finds into teas, jams, and extra (a few of that are nonetheless within the strategy of being up to date for 1.6).

Picture: CherryChain/Nexus Mods

For those who can’t get sufficient of the kitchen, why not attempt cooking outside? Whereas vanilla Stardew has the Cookout Equipment that can assist you accomplish that, it doesn’t seize the identical feeling as cooking over a fireplace. This mod will mean you can check out some acceptable recipes at a comfy campfire so that you don’t must trek all the best way residence earlier than getting a scorching meal. You may not have the ability to make something significantly connoisseur, however every thing tastes higher eaten within the open air.

Picture: aedenthorn/Nexus Mods

Can’t determine whether or not to romance Shane or Abigail? Need to make a large polycule out of the city? Simply wish to hang around along with your favourite NPC as your roommate? Free Love permits all of this and extra, within the identify of making extra advanced relationships between your farmer and the townspeople. It’s primarily based on, however supersedes, the sooner A number of Spouses mod, which did greater than it mentioned on the tin; it additionally added vital options like “Allows you to kiss all your spouses as many instances per day as you want, as a result of severely.” So true.

At time of writing, the modder has retired, however there’s an unofficial model for 1.6 is within the works.

Picture: MizuJakkaru/Nexus Mods

Because the names counsel, these twin mods add extra crops and extra flowers, respectively. Precisely what number of is as much as you — the fundamental packs add an excellent handful, however there are additionally further ones that add issues like fruits and herbs that up the numbers much more. The creators are additionally engaged on making further artisan items and recipes as a way to make use of all the brand new veggies, fruits, and blooms.

Earlier than we get into the larger, full expansions obtainable for Stardew Valley, it’s price mentioning that lots of the hottest mods are far more humble, however no much less worthwhile. Among the hottest mods on Nexus introduce quality-of-life modifications, together with the flexibility to get a much bigger backpack and see real-time NPC places on the map. A few of them go slightly extra in depth, just like the Lookup Something mod, which will provide you with a ton of simply accessible details about sources and extra, and a few allow you to merely skip the fishing minigame. (A private thanks to that one.) If there’s any type of annoyance you face whereas enjoying the vanilla sport, it’s price taking a second to go looking whether or not somebody has mounted it. They in all probability have.

Picture: FlashShifter/Nexus Mods

Ultimately, you’ll run out of issues to do in Stardew. You’ll have accomplished all of the group heart quests, befriended all your neighbors, had two completely satisfied youngsters, and earned thousands and thousands in gold. However you possibly can push that endgame second far, far down the road with Stardew Valley Expanded. This mod provides a complete city’s price of NPCs, places to discover, occasions, quests, crops, and sure, even fish. Modder FlashShifter wrote on the official Nexus web page that he needed to recapture the sensation of Stardew’s finest moments by creating extra of them for the skilled participant, and the recognition of this mod actually means that it was a hit. And as a bonus, numerous different mods are appropriate with Stardew Valley Expanded, because of its reputation, together with Ridgeside Village (see beneath).

Picture: lemurkat/Nexus Mods

East Scarp is one other content material enlargement mod that provides a seaside city to discover. There, you could find new NPCs, gadgets, and extra. However in addition to including further townsfolk to get to know, East Scarp additionally works as a basis for different mods that add but much more pleasant faces, which may be discovered on the Nexus web page as effectively.

It’s additionally price noting that many of those enlargement mods are appropriate with each other, so you possibly can add a number of new areas and their related NPCs and trinkets all of sudden. For instance, when you have Stardew Valley Expanded, you too can add East Scarp, which shall be accessible by way of one of many new bridges added in Expanded.

Picture: Rafseazz, mamaesh/Nexus Mods

Ridgeside Village is one other main enlargement, opening up a brand new city accessible by cable automobile. As you would possibly count on, which means a complete lot extra NPCs to make mates with, in addition to new quests, occasions, and gadgets to flesh out the endgame. You would possibly even discover romance up within the mountains!

Picture: Aimon111/Nexus Mods

Stardew’s Witch’s Swamp is a late-game space already, however should you’re on the lookout for extra to do within the endgame, this mod expands it right into a base for brand new fish, crops, and forage gadgets, together with some new related quests. It even expands on the mysterious NPC who used to look right here for less than a short time.

Picture: neosinf/Nexus Mods

Why restore the valley the old style method when you possibly can do it with mysterious nature magic — and switch right into a dragon when you’re at it? Stardew Druid is an adventure-focused mod that provides contemporary quests and new NPCs, in addition to the flexibility to hold out a number of sorts of rites to interact with Pelican City in brand-new methods.

Different really useful mods

These mods nonetheless come extremely really useful, however, as beforehand famous, on the time of writing they haven’t been up to date to work with Stardew Valley’s 1.6 model. This may have numerous results; if it’s an aesthetic mod, for instance, it could nonetheless work with many features of the sport, however not have an effect on something that’s been added in the latest main replace.

If you wish to use these mods to their fullest impact, you possibly can nonetheless choose in to the 1.5.6 model from the Properties menu on Steam.

Some modders may additionally replace their mods later, so should you’re curious it could be price checking in the event that they’ve been made totally appropriate.

Picture: junimods/Nexus Mods

The animals scattered round Pelican City assist it to really feel alive and in tune with the character round it. Elle’s City Animals jazzes them up, with a number of choices together with dozens of latest birds and 42 butterfly variants. You too can randomize which of them seem if, like me, that looks like an unimaginable choice to you.

Picture: Hesper/Nexus Mods

For a barely extra intense aesthetic change, do this mod, which swaps out the entire wildlife for stunning pastel variations. I’m an enormous fan of the spring look, with a number of shades of blossom bushes — and don’t overlook the enormous, house-sized mushrooms.

Picture: ohodavi/Nexus Mods

If the usual pixel faces of the bachelors and bachelorettes of Pelican City aren’t fairly your fashion, it’s anime portraits to the rescue. This mod by OhoDavi is the one of the in style, making Alex appear like a sports activities anime protagonist and Haley like a magical lady. However there are tons of of different choices obtainable to fit your preferences.

Picture: junimods/Nexus Mods

There’s rather a lot to do in Stardew Valley — however there might all the time be extra! This mod (a 1.6-compatible model of the New Barn Animals mod), for instance, provides to the number of animals you possibly can maintain in your farm. In addition to giving pigs, sheep, goats, and cows cute new sprites, it provides a few new choices to your barn, too. These received’t act any in another way, however you’ll nonetheless have the ability to obtain your desires of turning into an alpaca or deer farmer!

Picture: bblueberry/Nexus Mods

This mod totally overhauls Stardew’s kitchen-related particulars. You’ll obtain Grandpa’s previous cookbook within the mail, and as you would possibly count on, it should have a bunch of recipes inside. These recipes are completely reworked from the bottom sport, to verify they’re all worthwhile when it comes to buffs and perks. However the mod provides much more than that, too, together with Cooking as a talent you possibly can enhance, a brand new frying pan device you possibly can improve, contemporary crops, and even the flexibility to burn your meals — though you possibly can flip that function off should you like!

Picture: Hisameartwork, TrentXV/Nexus Mods

For those who’re one of many individuals who enjoys fishing in Stardew, reasonably than a type of who (like me) finds it hopelessly troublesome, Extra New Fish is for you. It provides 140 contemporary fish to be caught, together with rays, clownfish, and new sorts of eels. You possibly can even catch koi and goldfish and put them in a tank in your own home with this appropriate mod. There are a few added quests for the later sport, too, so that you received’t become bored with fishing anytime quickly. (Additionally, I’m in awe of your talent.)

Picture: Max Vollmer/Nexus Mods

Reached the underside of the mines? What concerning the coronary heart of the forest? Deepwoods provides a brand new late-game, harmful, procedurally generated space to discover. There are monsters lurking there and chances are you’ll simply get misplaced for good, however there are additionally secrets and techniques, surprises, and invaluable sources obtainable to the courageous ranger who can survive the shady bushes.