Puzzle & Sandbox · 2010s
Stardew Valley
A farming-life role-playing game built almost entirely by one person: seasons, crops, fishing, mining, festivals, and a town of neighbors with their own seasons of life. It moves at the speed of a deep breath.
| First released | 2016 |
|---|---|
| Developer | ConcernedApe (Eric Barone) |
| Original platform | PC (Windows, Mac, Linux) |
Why it matters
It became the definitive one-developer success story and revived the cozy life-sim category that Harvest Moon seeded. Its free-update generosity set a community-relations standard few studios match.
Play it today
Available on PC, all current consoles, and mobile; major free updates continue years after release.
Start here
Plant parsnips, meet the townsfolk, and don't optimize — the game rewards wandering as much as planning. Keep one chest of 'maybe useful' items; the first year is for learning the rhythm.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stardew_Valley — release date, solo development, reception
- https://store.steampowered.com/app/413150/Stardew_Valley/ — current PC edition
Sources for this page were checked 2026-09-21.