5 Online Alternatives for Stardew Valley Fans

When it comes to successful indie games, there is no metric by which Stardew Valley has not performed exceptionally well. According to a 2018 article in VentureBeat, Stardew is one of the most commercially successful indie games ever released, with 3.5 million purchases being clocked by then (a figure that has only grown substantially larger since).

Stardew is popular partly because of the thoughtful ways in which the game improves on previous titles in the genre as can be seen in the various guides and tips, something that the game’s inventor has said was crucial to his motivation for developing it. While Stardew offers countless hours of fun and hilarity, especially with the active modding scene, you might be wondering if there is anything else like it that you can try out.

If so, we have got you covered. Read on to find out our favorite alternatives to Stardew Valley, should you feel like mixing things up a bit.

1. My Time at Portia (Switch Game)

Developed by the award-winning Chinese studio Pathea Games, My Time at Portia is a beautifully rendered 3D game that combines the building strategy of Stardew Valley with the rich interactions of Animal Crossing.

In the game, you create your own character who, much like in the plot to Stardew, is tasked with taking over a neglected workshop that some family members used to own and turn it into the town’s most successful business.

You need to grow crops, fix up the establishment, and befriend the locals. Oh, and did we mention that the whole thing takes place in the aftermath of a nuclear apocalypse? This is a role-playing game with more than a few twists up its sleeve.

2. Violet Evergarden (TV Show)

Not all of the best alternatives to Stardew Valley take the form of PC games. If you want a TV show that perfectly captures the same atmosphere, joy, aesthetics, and setting of the game, then you might want to consider bingeing on Violet Evergarden, a Japanese-language anime series that is now available on Netflix.

The show revolves around a ghostwriter called Violet, who moves to the remote countryside to help with some memoir writing. The animation, music, and pacing will all transport you to the Valley, making for some ideal lazy viewing when you’re not playing the game.

3. Castle Builder II (Online Slot)

Another alternative to Stardew Valley can be found in the increasingly popular genre of online slot games, where players can place bets and spin digital slot reels for real cash prizes. One recent slot game that will appeal to fans of Stardew Valley is Castle Builder II, which is available via numerous international online casino platforms. This game perfectly combines online gambling with the most popular elements of world-building roleplaying games, with 15 different kingdoms to explore, 75 castles on offer, and a vast cast of more than 300 characters that you can interact with. If you want to try a game that offers the best of the genre while also allowing you to win real money prizes, take a look at the Castle Builder II online slot.

4. Moonlighter (PC Game)

Moonlighter takes the setting and the general atmosphere and aesthetics of Stardew Valley and throws in a little bit of high-octane action to boot. In Moonlighter, which is the work of the Spanish indie studio Digital Sun, you play Will, the owner of a somewhat faded general store.

While your goal is ostensibly to revive the fortunes of the family store, what Will really wants is to be out there slaying monsters and marauding through the supernatural underworld. Luckily, you can do both. In order to succeed in Moonlighter, you must take the treasures that you find when slaying demons and sell them in your store, growing your business and eventually transforming the fortunes of your town through the use of building mods.

5. World’s Dawn PC Game)

World’s Dawn is an immensely popular PC game from the teeny tiny indie studio Wayward Prophet. By virtually any measure, this is the game that most closely resembles Stardew Valley. The style, goals, gameplay, soundtrack, and vision of the game are all bound to appeal to anyone who loves Stardew. That being said, World’s Dawn retains a vibe all of its own, one that guarantees you will find this a fresh and engaging gaming experience.

In World’s Dawn, you are transported to a beautiful and sleepy seaside village, where your goal is to start a new life on an old farm, building up your estate and making a success of it. The game is a gorgeous and serene experience, while the well-written cast of characters makes for some surprisingly poignant and gripping gameplay. This is a game that any fan of Stardew Valley is bound to appreciate.

If you feel like you have exhausted Stardew Valley and need something similar yet fresh, there are the best options out there for you right now.