I’ve been farming in Pelican Town since 2016. Hundreds of hours, more farms than I can count, and at least one save file I’m still too emotionally attached to delete. So believe me when I say I know the post-Stardew slump. You finish your community center (again), you marry Sebastian (again), and suddenly every other game feels… a little empty.
The good news? The farming sim genre has absolutely exploded since Stardew first came out, and there’s a game out there for whatever part of Stardew you love most. Maybe it’s the quiet rhythm of watering crops at sunrise. Maybe it’s diving into the mines. Maybe it’s just the townspeople. So instead of throwing one big list at you, I’ve sorted these games like Stardew Valley by the thing that keeps you coming back to Pelican Town in the first place.
(And yes, I’m still waiting on Haunted Chocolatier too. Until ConcernedApe gives us a date, this is what I’m playing.)
If You Love the Farm and the Town
These are the closest you’ll get to the classic Stardew feeling: a run-down plot of land, a town full of neighbors to win over, and a calendar full of festivals. If you just want more Stardew, start here.
1. Fields of Mistria
If you only try one game from this list, make it this one. Fields of Mistria officially launched its 1.0 version in August 2026, and it’s the game I’ve been sinking my evenings into lately. You move to the little town of Mistria after an earthquake leaves it in rough shape, then spend your days farming, mining, fishing, and slowly helping rebuild the town. There’s a magic system too, which adds a fun new layer to the usual farming sim routine.
What really gets me is how familiar it feels without being a copy. The 90s anime-inspired pixel art is gorgeous, the townspeople have real personality, and the pacing has that same “just one more day” pull that Stardew does so well.
Play this one if you:
- Want the game that feels the most like Stardew without actually being Stardew
- Love pixel art with a cute anime twist
- Like a little magic with your farming
Where to play: Steam
2. Coral Island
Coral Island takes the Stardew formula and drops it on a tropical island. You’ll farm, raise animals, and get to know a huge cast of over 70 townspeople, but you’ll also dive into the ocean to clean up coral reefs, which might be my favorite twist on the genre. The whole game has an environmental theme that’s woven in really thoughtfully, and the 3D art style is bright and cheerful in a way that makes it feel like a vacation.
Play this one if you:
- Want Stardew’s structure in a lush 3D world
- Like having a lot of characters to befriend (and romance)
- Would rather be at the beach right now (same)
Where to play: Steam | PlayStation | Xbox
3. Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar
Before Stardew Valley, there was Harvest Moon, and Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar is a lovely reminder of where it all started. This remake of the classic DS game centers on a weekly bazaar where you sell everything you’ve grown, raised, and made. Setting up your stall and haggling with customers is weirdly satisfying, and it gives every week a goal to work toward.
Play this one if you:
- Have nostalgia for the old Harvest Moon games
- Love the selling side of farming as much as the growing side
- Want a classic, gentle farming sim
Where to play: Nintendo Switch | Steam
4. Sun Haven
Sun Haven is what you get when Stardew Valley goes full fantasy. You’ll still farm, fish, and befriend villagers, but you’ll do it across three different towns full of humans, elves, demons, and more. The skill trees are a big highlight here. You get a lot more control over how your character grows than you do in Stardew, which is great if you like to min-max even in your cozy games.
Play this one if you:
- Love fantasy settings and choosing your own race
- Like skill trees and building your character exactly how you want
- Want a big world to explore with friends
Where to play: Steam | Nintendo Switch
If You Love the Mines and the Adventure
I know a lot of farmers who’ll happily skip a whole season of crops to go fight slimes on floor 120 of the Skull Cavern. If that’s you, these games put a little more adventure in your farming.
5. Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma
The Rune Factory series has always been the farming sim for people who also want to swing a sword, and Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma is the series at its best. You’ll restore villages across a world inspired by Japan, fight real monsters in real-time combat, and (of course) farm and fall in love along the way. It’s a lot more action-packed than Stardew, but it never loses its cozy heart.
Play this one if you:
- Spent more time in the mines than on your farm
- Want romance with a side of monster fighting
- Like games with a strong sense of place
Where to play: Nintendo Switch | Steam
6. Luma Island
I’ve already called Luma Island the ultimate co-op life sim in my list of cozy co-op games, and I stand by that. You can farm and raise little creatures, but you can also take on a profession, solve puzzles, and dive into temples full of treasure. The best part is the choice of game modes, so you can turn the danger way down or way up depending on your mood. (Console players: PS5 and Xbox versions are on the way later in 2026.)
Play this one if you:
- Want a farming game with real dungeons to explore
- Play with friends (it’s great with up to 4 players)
- Like picking how challenging your cozy game should be
Where to play: Steam
7. Core Keeper
If your favorite part of Stardew is going deeper and deeper into the mines, Core Keeper is the game for you. The entire game takes place underground. You dig, mine, build a base, grow crops in the dark, and slowly uncover a huge cavern full of secrets. It’s basically the mines from Stardew stretched out into a whole adventure, and it’s a blast with friends.
Play this one if you:
- Love the mines more than the farm (no judgment)
- Like base building and crafting
- Want a game you can play with a big group
Where to play: Steam | Nintendo Switch | PlayStation | Xbox
If You Love the People (and the Romance)
Let’s be honest: for a lot of us, Stardew Valley is really a dating sim with a farming problem. If the townspeople are what hooked you, these games put relationships and story front and center.
8. Wylde Flowers
Wylde Flowers is one of the most story-driven farming sims out there, and it’s fully voice-acted, which still delights me every time. You play as Tara, who moves to the island of Fairhaven to help her grandmother and finds out she’s a witch. By day, you farm. By night, you join the coven. Every character in town has a real story to tell, and it’s easy to get attached. (It also made my list of the best witchy games for good reason.)
Play this one if you:
- Want a farming sim with a real, finished story
- Love voice acting and getting to know a whole town
- Are drawn to all things witchy
Where to play: Steam | Nintendo Switch | PlayStation | Xbox | Apple Arcade
9. Kynseed
Kynseed, made by veterans of the Fable series, has one of the most unique ideas in the genre: time actually passes. Your character grows up, gets older, and eventually passes the farm down to their kids. It feels like a storybook, with plenty of fairy-tale magic and some genuinely odd characters. It’s a little quirky and a little bittersweet, and it’s perfect if you’ve ever wanted your farm to feel like a family legacy.
Play this one if you:
- Like the idea of a farm that spans generations
- Enjoy fairy tales and folklore
- Want something a little offbeat
Where to play: Steam | Nintendo Switch | PlayStation | Xbox
If You Want Stardew, but Different
Feeling a little farming-sim fatigue? Fair. These games take what makes Stardew great and twist it into something new.
10. Roots of Pacha
What if you weren’t inheriting a farm, but inventing farming? In Roots of Pacha, you live in the Stone Age, and your clan is discovering farming, animal taming, and new ideas for the very first time. People love to call it “prehistoric Stardew,” but it really stands on its own, especially in co-op.
Play this one if you:
- Want a fresh twist on the classic farming formula
- Love charming pixel art
- Are looking for a great co-op game to play with a friend
Where to play: Steam | Nintendo Switch | PlayStation | Xbox
11. Dinkum
Dinkum swaps Pelican Town for the Australian outback. You start out in a tent and slowly build a whole town from scratch, attracting new residents as you go. There’s farming, fishing, bug catching, and mining, so it’ll feel familiar to both Stardew and Animal Crossing fans. And the wildlife is a lot more dangerous than a few slimes. (Watch out for the crocodiles.)
Play this one if you:
- Like building a town from nothing
- Love a mix of Stardew and Animal Crossing vibes
- Want a fresh setting you don’t see in other farming sims
Where to play: Steam | Nintendo Switch
12. Moonstone Island
Moonstone Island is part farming sim, part creature collector, and part deck-building card game, which sounds like way too much until you actually play it. You’ll explore floating islands on your broom, befriend spirits, and battle them using cards. It’s one of the most surprising games on this list, and it’s a great pick for anyone who’s always wanted Pokémon and Stardew to have a baby.
Play this one if you:
- Love collecting cute creatures
- Enjoy card games or deck building
- Want a farming sim that’s a little weird (in the best way)
Where to play: Steam | Nintendo Switch
13. Rusty’s Retirement
Rusty’s Retirement is the tiniest farming game I know. It literally lives on the side or bottom of your screen while you do other things. You play as a retired robot who builds a team of little helper bots to automate the farm for you. I love keeping it open while I work. It’s cozy background noise in game form, and it’s surprisingly satisfying to watch your farm run itself.
Play this one if you:
- Always set up sprinklers before anything else
- Want a game to keep running while you work or watch something
- Love the idea of a farm that basically takes care of itself
Where to play: Steam
14. Dave the Diver
Okay, there’s no farming in Dave the Diver. But hear me out. You’ll dive the deep sea by day to catch fish and run a sushi restaurant by night, and that “plan your day, do the thing, see the results” loop scratches the exact same itch Stardew does. It’s also hilarious.
Play this one if you:
- Loved fishing in Stardew (truly, the most divisive minigame)
- Want gameplay that mixes chill moments with bursts of action
- Have a goofy sense of humor
Where to play: Steam | Nintendo Switch | PlayStation | Xbox
Which One Are You Planting First?
Stardew Valley will always have a special place in my heart, but there’s never been a better time to branch out. Whether you want the closest possible match (Fields of Mistria, every time) or something totally different, there’s a new farm out there waiting for you.
And if you’re not quite ready to leave Pelican Town? I get it. Try installing a few Stardew Valley mods. It’s the easiest way to make an old favorite feel brand new.
Games Like Stardew Valley FAQs
What game is the most like Stardew Valley?
Fields of Mistria. It has the same mix of farming, mining, fishing, festivals, and townspeople, plus beautiful pixel art and a few fresh ideas of its own. It left early access with its 1.0 launch in August 2026.
Are there games like Stardew Valley on Nintendo Switch?
Yes, plenty! Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar, Sun Haven, Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma, Core Keeper, Wylde Flowers, Kynseed, Roots of Pacha, Dinkum, Moonstone Island, and Dave the Diver are all on Switch. For more, check out my list of the best cozy games for Nintendo Switch.
What are the best co-op games like Stardew Valley?
Coral Island, Sun Haven, Luma Island, Core Keeper, Roots of Pacha, and Dinkum all let you farm with friends. I’ve rounded up even more in my list of the best cozy co-op games.
Are there mobile games like Stardew Valley?
Stardew Valley itself is on iOS and Android, and it plays surprisingly well on a phone. Wylde Flowers is also on Apple Arcade if you have it.
Is Haunted Chocolatier out yet?
Not yet. ConcernedApe still hasn’t announced a release date for Haunted Chocolatier, and in his January 2026 update he made it clear he’s not rushing it. In the meantime, every game on this list will keep your hands busy.
