Games Like Stardew Valley (2026): 10 Cosy Farming Sims

Stardew Valley has a way of taking over your evenings. You water the crops, chat to the neighbours, tell yourself you'll stop after one more day in the game, and suddenly it's midnight. When you've seen most of what it offers, it's natural to go looking for something with the same cosy feel.

Here are ten games like Stardew Valley, listed in no particular order and sorted from A to Z. Some are farming games and some swap the farm for a workshop, a graveyard or a ranch. Every detail comes from each game's own Steam store page, so I've kept the descriptions short and left out anything I couldn't confirm there. If you'd like a wider choice of cosy titles, my guide to cosy games for relaxed evenings is a good next stop.

Farming sim alternatives at a glance

In the free to play column, Yes means the game's own store page lists it as free to download, and No means it isn't. All ten here carry a No, so you'll need to check each store page in your own country before you decide. Store listings change, so don't rely on this table alone.

Game	Platforms	Good for	Free to play
Coral Island	Windows (Steam)	Farming plus restoring a coral reef by the sea	No
Fields of Mistria	Windows, Linux (Steam)	Colourful farming with a lively town and romance options	No
Graveyard Keeper	Windows, Mac, Linux (Steam)	Dark comedy management with a graveyard to run	No
Littlewood	Windows, Mac, Linux (Steam)	Slow, relaxed town rebuilding after a big adventure	No
My Time at Portia	Windows, Mac (Steam)	Workshop crafting and building in a friendly town	No
My Time at Sandrock	Windows (Steam)	Workshop life in a sunny desert settlement	No
Potion Permit	Windows, Mac (Steam)	Being the town's new alchemist and healer	No
Roots of Pacha	Windows, Mac, Linux (Steam)	Farming and community building in the Stone Age	No
Slime Rancher	Windows, Mac, Linux (Steam)	Ranching colourful slimes on a faraway planet	No
Sun Haven	Windows, Mac (Steam)	Farming mixed with magic, quests and co-op play	No

Ten cosy farming and life sim games to try after Stardew, A to Z

Coral Island

Best for: Players who want the daily farm routine with an ocean twist, plus a town of villagers to befriend and a reef to look after.

Fields of Mistria

Best for: Fans of cosy farm routines who like a bright, hand-drawn look, a friendly town and plenty of characters to get to know.

Graveyard Keeper

Best for: Players who love crafting and day-to-day chores but fancy a funnier, stranger setting than a sunny farm.

Littlewood

Best for: People who want a gentle, low-pressure game about rebuilding a village, making friends and pottering about at their own pace.

My Time at Portia

Best for: Players who enjoy gathering materials and turning commissions into machines, with a cast of neighbours to help along the way.

My Time at Sandrock

Best for: Fans of crafting and town life who want a desert setting, a bigger story and a community that grows as they work.

Potion Permit

Best for: Players who'd rather mix potions and help sick villagers than plant crops, in a pixel-art town full of quirky neighbours.

Roots of Pacha

Best for: People who like the idea of a farm game set long ago, where the whole clan works together and learns new skills.

Slime Rancher

Best for: Players who want something different from crops, with a first-person ranch, exploring and a lot of cheerful, bouncy slimes.

Sun Haven

Best for: Players who want a farm with fantasy touches, such as spells and mythical places, and the option of playing with friends.

What to look for in a farming game you'll enjoy

Games in this style look alike from a distance: a small town, a daily routine and a lot of gentle jobs. Up close they differ a great deal. Before you pick one, think about which part of the farming life you'd like more of.

• The core loop. Some games centre on growing crops. Others lean on crafting, mixing potions, mining or looking after creatures.
• The people. If chatting to villagers and getting to know them is the part you love most, look for a large cast and plenty of events.
• The pace. Some games run on strict day timers. Others are relaxed and let you wander. Think about whether you want to feel busy or calm.
• The look. Pixel art, hand-drawn scenes and 3D worlds all feel different, so check the screenshots on the store page.
• Playing with others. Co-op can turn a quiet farm into a shared project. Check the store page for multiplayer details before you assume it's there.
• Your device. Every game on this page is listed on Steam for computers, so check your own machine against the system requirements on the store page.

Farming sim styles: which suits which player

• Classic farm and town games suit people who like planting, harvesting and slowly getting to know a community.
• Crafting and workshop games suit tinkerers who enjoy collecting materials and building things to order.
• Story-led adventures suit players who want a plot to follow as well as a routine.
• Odd-one-out management games suit anyone who loves the chores and the loop but wants a different setting.
• Ranching and creature games suit those who'd rather care for animals than crops.

If you like the idea of a farm game with no internet needed, my list of farming games you can download and play offline looks at options for different devices.

Questions to ask before you pick a Stardew-style game

• Does the store page say the game works offline, or does it need a connection?
• Will my computer run it comfortably? What do the system requirements say?
• Is it early access or a finished release, and what does the developer say about updates?
• Do I want to play alone, or is co-op or multiplayer important to me?
• What age rating does the store give it, if a child may play too?

Getting started with a new farming game

A few habits help you settle into a new game without feeling overwhelmed.

1. Read the opening tutorial slowly. Most of these games drip-feed their systems.
2. Pick one or two goals each day rather than trying to do everything.
3. Talk to every villager early on, because they often lead to quests and tips.
4. Don't worry about doing it 'right'. The best farm games forgive slow starts.
5. Check the game's settings for controls, text size and accessibility options.

A note for parents about farming and life games

Cosy games often look child-friendly, but the content can vary. Some include dark humour, romance or combat. Check the age rating on each game's store page, look at what the game says about online play, and talk with your child about what they're playing.

Mistakes people make when hunting for games like Stardew Valley

• Installing several at once and never settling into any of them.
• Expecting a clone, then feeling let down when a game has different systems.
• Skipping the store page and finding the game isn't available for their device.
• Ignoring early access notes and expecting a finished experience.
• Forgetting to check the age rating before handing a computer to a child.

Do you make mobile or PC games? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.

Choosing your next farming sim after Stardew Valley

Think about the part you'd miss most, whether that's the crops, the villagers, the crafting or the calm. Pick one or two games that match, play for a few evenings, and keep the one that makes you smile when you open it. If you want to compare more cosy ideas first, life simulation games on Nintendo Switch is another place to browse.

Frequently asked questions

Are there games exactly like Stardew Valley?

No game is an exact copy, but many share the farm, town and relationship ideas. Each adds its own twist, such as crafting, magic, a graveyard or a ranch. Try a couple to see which twist you enjoy.

Are games like Stardew Valley free to download?

Every game on this page is listed with a No in the free to play column, which means its store page doesn't list it as free to download. Check the store page in your country for the current details.

Can I play these farming games offline?

Single-player farming games often work offline, but it depends on the game. Check the store page and the developer's notes before you rely on it.

Are farming sim games suitable for children?

Ratings differ from game to game. Look at the age rating on each store page, check any online features, and play together first if you're unsure.

Do these games work on a phone?

The ten games on this page are listed on Steam for computers. If you want phone games instead, check the App Store or Google Play for what's available on your device.