Skip to main content
Join The Community
- Join our community
11
Premium Benefits
24/7
Access Available
21K+
Active Members
Commenting
Join the discussion
Exclusive Articles Coming Soon
Member-only articles
Weekly Newsletters
Weekly gaming & entertainment news
Member Badges
Earn badges as you go
Exclusive Competitions
Members-only prize draws
Curated Deals Coming Soon
Tech and gaming deals worth grabbing
GET COMMUNITY ACCESS QUICK
For the quickest way to join, simply enter your email below and get access. We will send a confirmation and sign you up to our newsletter to keep you updated on all your gaming news.
By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
FIND OUT ABOUT OUR MAGAZINE
Want to subscribe to the magazine? Click the button below to find out more information.
Find out more
GET Community ACCESS QUICK

Join the GamesRadar community for quick access. Enter your email below and we'll send confirmation, and sign you up to our newsletter.

By submitting your information, you confirm you are aged 16 or over, have read our Privacy Policy and agree to the Terms & Conditions. Geographical rules apply.

Background
Welcome to GamesRADAR+ Community !
Hi ,

Your membership journey starts here.

Keep exploring and earning more as a member.

MY ACCOUNT

Badge picture
Earn your first badge
Read 1 article to unlock your first badge.
Keep earning badges
Explore ways to get more involved as a member.
Latest Games News

Latest Games News

Breaking gaming news and updates

Read Now
Latest Games Reviews

Latest Games Reviews

Expert verdicts on the newest releases

Read Now

See what you’ve unlocked.

Explore your membership benefits.

Explore
Member Exclusives

Stay Ahead with GamesRadar+

Get the biggest gaming news, reviews, and releases straight to your inbox.

Explore

Sign Out
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+
US EditionUS CA EditionCanada UK EditionUK AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Games
    • Game Insights
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • Big Preview
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
    • Genres
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
    • Franchises
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
  • Hardware
    • Insights
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Buying Guides
    • Computing
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
    • Accessories & Tech
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Video
    • Video
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
  • Home
  • Games
    • View Games
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • Big Preview
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • View Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • View Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • View TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • View Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • View Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • View Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
  • Hardware
    • View Hardware
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Buying Guides
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • View Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Video
    • View Video
    • Video
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
Trending
  • Summer Preview
  • Prime Day deals
  • New Games 2026
  • Best gaming tech
  • GTA 6
  • Submit your clips. Win prizes
Jump To:
  • Top tips
  • Cheats & mods
  • Co-op
  • Fish
  • Gifts
  • Mastery
  • Rare finds
  • Special events
Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more


By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful


Want to add more newsletters?

GamesRadar+

Every Friday

GamesRadar+

Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them.

GTA 6 O'clock

Every Thursday

GTA 6 O'clock

Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts.

Knowledge

Every Friday

Knowledge

From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon.

The Setup

Every Thursday

The Setup

Hardware nerds unite, sign up to our free tech newsletter for a weekly digest of the hottest new tech, the latest gadgets on the test bench, and much more.

Switch 2 Spotlight

Every Wednesday

Switch 2 Spotlight

Sign up to our new Switch 2 newsletter, where we bring you the latest talking points on Nintendo's new console each week, bring you up to date on the news, and recommend what games to play.

The Watchlist

Every Saturday

The Watchlist

Subscribe for a weekly digest of the movie and TV news that matters, direct to your inbox. From first-look trailers, interviews, reviews and explainers, we've got you covered.

SFX

Once a month

SFX

Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month!


Join the club

Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.


An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
  1. Games
  2. Simulation Games
  3. Stardew Valley

Stardew Valley guide to everything there is to know about life on the farm

Guides
By Ford James Contributions from Grace Dean last updated 3 September 2025

Our complete Stardew Valley guide will walk you through the essentials

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Stardew Valley
(Image credit: ConcernedApe)
Jump To:
  • Top tips
  • Cheats & mods
  • Co-op
  • Fish
  • Gifts
  • Mastery
  • Rare finds
  • Special events
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
0
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Subscribe to our newsletter

Our Stardew Valley guide is here to help you out with all aspects of the game, as there are many different layers to this farming simulator and it can be difficult to keep on top of everything. It's up to you where you want to focus your time as this adventure is very open-ended, so we've got tips and tricks to cover every scenario – whether you're tending to your crops, building relationships, making a small fortune, or just kicking back and relaxing within the cute scenery.

So, whether you’re a veteran looking to elevate your gameplay even further, or a newbie overwhelmed by the amount of activities on offer in Stardew Valley, this ultimate guide will point you in the right direction. We’ve laid out all the top tips, info, and even cheats, as well as how to find some rare items to really maximize your gameplay. After all, you wouldn’t want to miss out on all the potential Stardew Valley has to offer.

Tips

The buy menu at Pierre's General Store in Stardew Valley

(Image credit: ConcernedApe)

Our Stardew Valley tips reveal all there is to know about making money quickly, investing in crops, fishing, mining, which sections of town to unlock first, and more. They're an essential read for anyone jumping into the game for the first time. The most crucial time is your Stardew Valley Year One, and luckily we've got a guide on how best to tackle that momentous time in your game journey and plan the future for your farm.

Latest Videos From
Watch full video here:

Cheats and mods

Stardew Valley

(Image credit: ConcernedApe)

By following our Stardew Valley cheats and Stardew Valley mods guides, you'll open up a world of opportunity within the game. We're talking infinite money, easier fishing, staying up past the 2am curfew, a chest labeling system, and even rideable bears. While it's meant to be a relaxing game, sometimes Stardew Valley can become quite stressful as you juggle the many tasks at hand. So, you can ease the workload with these helpful cheats and mods. Don't worry, we won't tell on you.

Co-op

Two players work together on a farm in Stardew Valley

(Image credit: ConcernedApe)

Learning how to use Stardew Valley co-op and multiplayer will not only make farming a hell of a lot easier, but it's just a lot of fun. It's a fan-favorite feature for good reason as friends can join you on a local, online, or split-screen to really up the enjoyment factor of the game. Or, enjoy every aspect of Stardew Valley in your alone time. It's totally up to you, but looking into co-op will at least have you prepared if you do want to play with friends.

You may like
  • Cozy Stickerville box on a wooden surface This cozy board game feels just like Stardew Valley, and it's my favorite of 2026 so far
  • A player looks out at a ringed planet in Starfield on PS5 9 Starfield tips to help you chart space
  • A Stardew Valley character Stardew Valley player commits to beating the chill farming sim in the least chill way: at 50x speed

Fish

The fish inventory in Stardew Valley

(Image credit: ConcernedApe)

When it comes to Stardew Valley fish, there's a lot to catch. But, catching them isn't as simple as casting your fishing rod nonchalantly into the sea. There's a huge variety of fish to catch and numerous factors in play as to whether you'll achieve it or not. Luckily, our guide will take you through how to catch all the different types of fish, teach you about the different rods, and even explain the best way to catch unique legendary fish. 

Gifts

The social tab in Stardew Valley

(Image credit: ConcernedApe)

Handing out Stardew Valley gifts is a wonderful way to form friendships, and maybe even love, in the game. But, it requires a certain finesse, especially considering there's 12 eligible bachelor and bachelorette NPCs available to marry. You'll want to forge solid relationships with the Stardew Valley villagers, and the best way to do that is through gift giving. The only real issue is, they all tend like different things (aside from a list of Universal Likes and Loves). In our guide, we've got all the intel on how to give out the best gifts and win over the hearts of the villagers.

Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Mastery system

Where to find the Stardew Valley Mastery Cave

(Image credit: ConcernedApe)

The Stardew Valley Mastery system was introduced in the 1.6 update, giving players the chance to unlock a whole lot more after reaching level 10 in the five main core skills; Farming, Mining, Fishing, Foraging, and Combat. It can be a little complicated to get your head round, especially since you've first got to find the Mastery Cave, but our guide will help you on your way. It's most certainly worth your time for the additional perks and tools you'll earn. 

Rare finds

Stardew Valley Prismatic Shards

(Image credit: ConcernedApe)

There's a bunch of rare items to find including Stardew Valley Prismatic Shards, Stardew Valley Golden Walnuts, Stardew Valley trinkets, and Stardew Valley sea jelly. As you can see though, we've got you covered with guides delving deep into how you find these relics and special items across the map. It's not going to be easy, but with our guides it'll definitely be achievable. 

Special events

Stardew Valley green rain

(Image credit: ConcernedApe)

The 1.6 update bought some new special events that occur in the game, such as the Stardew Valley green rain. While our guide will reveal more, if you're on the hunt for Stardew Valley moss, you'll definitely want to learn about this mysterious weather. There's also opportunity each day to wake up to something else a little unusual and that's the Stardew Valley mystery boxes. They'll drop at random, but there's plenty more to know than that. Finally, the Stardew Valley bookseller pays a visit every so often. Luckily, it's a calendar date and he's got a lot to offer.

© GamesRadar+. Not to be reproduced without permission

CATEGORIES
Nintendo Switch Android iPad iPhone Xbox One PS4 PC Gaming Platforms Nintendo Mobile Gaming Xbox PlayStation
Ford James
Ford James
Social Links Navigation
Freelance Writer

Give me a game and I will write every "how to" I possibly can or die trying. When I'm not knee-deep in a game to write guides on, you'll find me hurtling round the track in F1, flinging balls on my phone in Pokemon Go, pretending to know what I'm doing in Football Manager, or clicking on heads in Valorant.

With contributions from
  • Grace DeanFreelance Writer

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.

Read more
Cozy Stickerville box on a wooden surface
Board Games This cozy board game feels just like Stardew Valley, and it's my favorite of 2026 so far
 
 
A player looks out at a ringed planet in Starfield on PS5
RPGs 9 Starfield tips to help you chart space
 
 
A Stardew Valley character
Simulation Games Stardew Valley player commits to beating the chill farming sim in the least chill way: at 50x speed
 
 
A Stardew Valley character
Simulation Games ConcernedApe says future Stardew Valley update might let you cheat on your spouse
 
 
Crimson Desert: Macduff looking out into the distance during the new game, Crimson Desert.
RPGs The ultimate Crimson Desert guide for exploring Pywel
 
 
Stardew Valley Sandy
Simulation Games Stardew Valley 1.7 update leaks "are fake," confirms ConcernedApe – including Harvest Moon-style romance rivalries
 
 
Latest in Simulation Games
Fractured Blooms character stands in field
Simulation Games This farming sim horror demo is better than anything you'll play during Steam Next Fest
 
 
Grow a Garden 2 codes
Simulation Games Grow a Garden 2 codes (June 2026) and how to redeem them for free seeds
 
 
A Stardew Valley character
Simulation Games Stardew Valley player commits to beating the chill farming sim in the least chill way: at 50x speed
 
 
Elephants in Planet Zoo 2 surrounded by GamesRadar+ summer preview article badging
Simulation Games "We don't want to simplify it and make it easy, that's not where we're at": Planet Zoo 2 developer on approachability, animal improvements, and all new habitats
 
 
a young boy lays on a grass hill reaching up at dragonflies
Simulation Games All hail the real game of the show for Xbox: this anime-inspired life sim with some of the best art around
 
 
A fish on a cutting board getting butchered
Simulation Games Indie devs behind viral fishing game say "AI slop" clones helped promote the real thing
 
 
Latest in Guides
Arc Raiders raider in skull cap
Third Person Shooters How to complete the Arc Raiders Forgotten Relics event
 
 
Path of Exile 2 character classes lined up to be hanged at gallows
Action RPGs When is the full release date for Path of Exile 2?
 
 
Three masked attendees of the Black Banquet in DBD
Horror Games DBD The Black Banquet release date and details
 
 
Frank Stone, who comes to Dead by Daylight in the latest roadmap
Horror Games What's in the DBD roadmap for 2026?
 
 
A lake in the middle of a Badlands Minecraft biome
Minecraft All Minecraft biomes and new additions
 
 
Grow a Garden 2 codes
Simulation Games Grow a Garden 2 codes (June 2026) and how to redeem them for free seeds
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. A cropped closeup of Adwale in Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced
    1
    Assassin's Creed Black Flag remake has good news for completionists: "no achievements can be missed"
  2. 2
    The UK government is reportedly using GTA Online to learn about "people's lived experience"
  3. 3
    Marvel's Spider-Man 2 gets its first update in over a year as Brand New Day suit hits PS5 and PC
  4. 4
    The Last of Us star says no one recognized him on set of The Death of Robin Hood: "People were like, 'Who's that guy?'"
  5. 5
    Treyarch confirms Call of Duty: Black Ops 1 and 2 are "being ported to PlayStation"

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • Terms and conditions
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Careers
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...