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Play Overview
Stardew Valley (2016) is a farming simulator where you also work to develop friendships with the other townsfolk. Play involves exploring the world, making decisions about your farm and incrementally turning it into a thriving business. It stands out for how this farming challenge is the backdrop for all manner of stories and adventures as you make your way in the world.
You choose which type of farm you want to start working on and what your character looks like. On the surface, with pixilated graphics, it looks like a simple farm simulator. However, players are soon drawn to the wider world, people and relationships that make the valley tick. Along with the daily grind of cultivating, ploughing, planting and harvesting you also get to explore the town, meet people who need your help and go on quests into the dangerous mines.
As you progress you discover all manner of different interweaving local stories. When you know the townsfolk well enough you get more detail about their backstories and what brought them to the valley. You can even influence their decisions and affect how things turn out for them.
The result is a game that is less about farming wealth and more about generosity and community value. There is a surprising amount of depth both to the farming work and the lives of the characters you meet.
Our examiner, Jo Robertson, first checked Stardew Valley 5 years ago. It was re-examined by Oli Hawkins and updated yesterday.
You choose which type of farm you want to start working on and what your character looks like. On the surface, with pixilated graphics, it looks like a simple farm simulator. However, players are soon drawn to the wider world, people and relationships that make the valley tick. Along with the daily grind of cultivating, ploughing, planting and harvesting you also get to explore the town, meet people who need your help and go on quests into the dangerous mines.
As you progress you discover all manner of different interweaving local stories. When you know the townsfolk well enough you get more detail about their backstories and what brought them to the valley. You can even influence their decisions and affect how things turn out for them.
The result is a game that is less about farming wealth and more about generosity and community value. There is a surprising amount of depth both to the farming work and the lives of the characters you meet.
Our examiner, Jo Robertson, first checked Stardew Valley 5 years ago. It was re-examined by Oli Hawkins and updated yesterday.
Kids not old enough for this yet? There are lots of games similar to Stardew Valley. Here are some similar younger-rated games:
Play Style
This is an Adventure, Communication and Sequencing game with Action, Collecting, Narrative, Role-Play, Simulation and Strategy elements. You can play with 1 to 4 players in the same room or as a 4-player online game. You can play local multiplayer on the Switch via wireless mode, but only if you each have your own Switch and copy of the game.
You can play online co-op via the menu. You need to open the farm to other players via the Settings tab in the Inventory:
You can play online co-op via the menu. You need to open the farm to other players via the Settings tab in the Inventory:
- PC - Connect via Steam friends co-op join screen.
- PlayStation 4 - Connect via PlayStation Plus in the co-op join screen.
- Switch - Connect via Nintendo Online account to people on your friends list via the Join tab.
- Xbox One - Connect to other players via Xbox Live Gold. Multiplayer without a subscription isn't supported.
You can play this game in the following styles:
This has been enjoyed by families in the following styles:
Duration
Play Time: This game will take between 56 hours and 80 and a half hours to complete. This is a game you can pour hours into if you wish. The open-ended approach to mastering the farming and relational side of the game means that total play time will vary greatly.
Benefits
This game is good if you want to:
- Play games good for autistic diversity
- Speak freely to other players
- Play games not needing fine motor control
- Play games created by one person
- Compete On Separate Devices
- Find digital play to support well-being
This game has helped players develop their Disposition as part of the following pathways:
Age Ratings
Content Rating
Users Interact: The game enables players to interact and communicate with each other, so may expose players to language usually associated with older rated games.
Rated for younger players in the US. Rated ESRB EVERYONE 10+ for Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Mild Language, Simulated Gambling, Use of Alcohol and Use of Tobacco. Some quests require players to explore caves and battle "cartoony" enemies (e.g., jelly creatures, crabs, flying monsters). From a top-down perspective, players use swords to briefly strike creatures and deplete their health meters. A handful of creatures emit small splashes of blood when defeated. One area contains a casino in which players can wager coins on slot machines and blackjack-style card games. During the course of the game, characters are occasionally depicted smoking pipes or cigarettes; players can also drink mugs of beer, sometimes resulting in a temporary “tipsy” status effect. The word “damn” appears in the dialogue.
The game was originally rated PEGI 7 for occasional mild non-realistic violence towards human characters. Violence towards human characters is not detailed. When a human character is hit they do not respond either audibly or physically. When eventually defeated a character will spin off into the distance and disappear.
The more recent version of the game includes "a casino location and trade in-game money for tokens which can then be used to bet on various casino games such as blackjack and slots with detailed instructions on how to play." This resulted in a PEGI 12 rating.
Skill Level
9+ year-olds usually have the required skill to enjoy this game. Still, it's important for parents and guardians to consider the maturity required to process the game content. The understated visuals and slower progression in the game make it suitable for children with the patience and skill to persevere. The two-player mode can be a good way to get younger children into the game when played with a parent, guardian or older sibling. Still, some parents tell us that children as young as 5 years old enjoy this. "My daughter was playing Stardew Valley before she could read what the people were saying, but it didn't matter to her."
Our Game Pathways reveal how 6-year-olds play this game:
- 6-year-old: Co-reading
Account Rating
- You need PlayStation Plus to play online with PlayStation Vita.
- You need be 18-years-old to to subscribe to Xbox Live Gold for online play, but can then configure family accounts for younger players to play online with Xbox One.
- You need be 18-years-old to subscribe to Nintendo Online, but can then create accounts for children of any age to play online with Nintendo Switch.
- You need be 18-years-old to subscribe to PlayStation Plus for online play, but can create sub-accounts for younger players of 7-years or older to play online with PlayStation 4.
Costs
Stardew Valley usually costs £4.99 to £12.49.
There are the following additional costs associated with this game:
It's important to set up your accounts and devices appropriately. More information is on our Financial Resources page.
Stardew Valley
 | Xbox One | £11.99 | – | Free Xbox Game Pass |
| PC | £12.49 | – | Free Xbox Game Pass |
 | Switch | £10.99 | – | – |
 | PC | £10.99 | – | – |
| Mac | £10.99 | – | – |
 | PS4 | £11.49 | – | – |
 | Android | £4.99 | – | Free Google Play Pass |
 | iOS | £4.99 | – | Free Apple Arcade |
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You need a subscription to play online:
- You need to purchase a Nintendo Online subscription to play online with Nintendo Switch.
- You need to purchase a PlayStation Plus subscription to play online with PlayStation 4.
- You need to purchase a Xbox Live Gold subscription to play online with Xbox One.
It's important to set up your accounts and devices appropriately. More information is on our Financial Resources page.
Game Details
Release Date: 26/02/2016, updated in 2021
Out Now: Amazon Fire, Android, Mac, PC, PS Vita, PS4, Switch, Xbox One and iOS
Skill Rating: 9+ year-olds
Players: 1-4 (4 online)
Genres: Adventure, Communication, Sequencing (Action, Collecting, Narrative, Role-Play, Simulation and Strategy)
Accessibility: 24 features
Components: 2D Overhead, Day and Night, Grid, Open World and Pixels
Developer: Concerned Ape (@ConcernedApe)
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Written by parents for parents, the database complements the in-depth discussion about video game addiction, violence, spending and online safety in the Taming Gaming book. We are an editorially independent, free resource without adverts that is supported by partnerships. |
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