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  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 by Grace Dean
Last updated 3 September 2025

Our complete Stardew Valley guide will walk you through the essentials

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Stardew Valley
(Image credit: ConcernedApe)
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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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Ford James
Ford James
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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 Dean Freelance Writer

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