Games like Stardew Valley are not easy to find. Sure, there are games like it out there — Stardew builds on a rich legacy of farming and cozy games — but there’s that unique feeling of joy when you enter the world of Pelican Town and all your worries just drift away.
Stardew, luckily, offers hundreds if not thousands of hours of gameplay, so if you just started, you don’t have to think about this just yet. But I played it to 100%, tested all farm types, romanced all romanceable characters, tried it on my PC, phone, PlayStation, SteamDeck (each time starting a new farm). Stardew Valley is my comfort game, and I experienced virtually everything Stardew has to offer. If this is you as well, it might be time to move on (at least until the next big update comes along).
And because I love the cozy genre and I’m always on the lookout for something new to help me relax, I played a lot of games like Stardew Valley, looking for that same high. So I bring you my list of favorites, sorted by what you liked most in Stardew, so you can easily find your next favorite.
Fields of Mistria
| Platforms | PC |
| Price | From $14 |
| Release Year | 2026 (was in early access since 2024) |
| Developer | NPC Studio |
This game has been ignored a lot, mostly because it’s early access (until August 2026), but it’s worth your attention because it does everything Stardew does and more. I loved it so much, it’s probably one of my favorite games out there right now, and I might even like it more than Stardew (blasphemy, I know; but true).
It has adorable graphics, fun characters, and a sense of community I simply haven’t felt anywhere else. The romanceable characters are also super good-looking and have such varied dialogue that you’ll be hard-pressed to hear them say the same thing twice. They’re friendly, remember things that happened before and participate in your quests which makes the whole game feel so much warmer.
If you’re looking for your new obsession, I cannot recommend this one enough. And if you want details, some cute gameplay photos, and more, check out my full Fields of Mistria review.
| Best For | Someone said Stardew on crack, and I agree |
| Romanceable Characters | Yes; 10 standard marriage candidates + 2 special candidates (12 total), open to any gender |
| Activities | Farming, Fishing, Foraging, Mining, Cooking, Crafting, Catching bugs, Diving, Swimming |
| Combat | Yes, in the mines |
| Multiplayer | No (but maybe in the future) |
Coral Island
| Platforms | PC, PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox |
| Price | $30 (but it’s on Xbox Game Pass as well) |
| Release Year | 2023 |
| Developer | Stairway Games |
Coral Island, at first sight, may feel a little too familiar to Stardew Valley (apart from the art style), but it’s actually quite unique and so much fun. It has a heavy focus on cleaning up the ocean, and that’s a big part of the storyline. In fact, it was one of my favorite parts of the game, cleaning up the reef, finding treasures, and spotting mermaids.
The art style is also completely different. It’s very Disney-ish cartoon-ish in my opinion, and it looks great. The characters are fun, as well as the festivals. The only thing I have to say is that sometimes I felt like an outsider to the community rather than a part of it. Like there are events and cutscenes where the MC (you) doesn’t even feature, which can leave you with a bit of an “outsider looking in” feeling.
That said, I find it fun how diverse this game is, and how much it leans into the romancing angle. See my full review of Coral Island here.
| Best For | If you want something just like Stardew, but with mermaids! |
| Romanceable Characters | Yes, 27 characters, and you can date and marry the same gender |
| Activities | Farming, Fishing, Foraging, Mining, Cooking, Diving/Reef Restoration |
| Combat | Yes |
| Multiplayer | Yes, up to 4 people |
Story of Seasons
| Platforms | Switch, PC, Xbox, PlayStation (older games on Nintendo 3DS or via emulators) |
| Price | $40 to $50 per game |
| Release Year | As Harvest Moon in 1996, remakes from 2014 onwards |
| Developer | Marvelous Inc. |
Story of Seasons is a classic, and you’ll love it if you want a simple, gentle experience with farming, fishing, tending to animals and maybe falling in love. The art style is quite unlike Stardew Valley but it’s adorable and very pleasing to the eye. There are several Story of Seasons games, and a lot of their elements overlap and are similar (like fishing, farming, etc.) so here are my favorites and what they do best:
- Friends of Mineral Town — This is just a simple, relaxing farming sim with some romance options. Entirely wholesome.
- Grand Bazaar — In this one, you restore and liven up the Grand Bazaar with your farm and animal produce. You can also fish and build relationships with people (and romance them), plus the world is packed with things to do. Probably my favorite of the set.
- A Wonderful Life — In this one, you get to build your farm and place in Forgotten Valley through generations and watch your character grow and change through time.
- Pioneers of Olive Town — The focus of this one is more the community and some magical aspects; perhaps the weakest one of the set, but I liked it well enough and found it relaxing.
Overall, all of these games are great, but they can feel a little dated and barebones compared to Stardew or Coral Island. There’s also some drama with the developers and publishers splitting up and these games losing the Harvest Moon name. I’m not 100% on what happened, but I enjoy the games all the same. So, if you’re okay with all of that, I would highly recommend them, especially Grand Bazaar.
| Best For | Cozy, gentle experience of farm sim |
| Romanceable Characters | Yes, from 8 (in A Wonderful Life) to 20 (Grand Bazaar) |
| Activities | Farming, fishing, animal raising, exploration, selling, restoring, etc. |
| Combat | No |
| Multiplayer | Not really |
Harvest Moon: Winds of Anthos
| Platforms | Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and5, Xbox and PC |
| Price | Around $50 |
| Release Year | 2023 |
| Developer | Natsume Inc. |
Winds of Athos starts out just like any farming sim, but then the more you play the more you unlock and realize just how packed with content it is. You find a message in a bottle from the Harvest Goddess and your job is to restore towns and help sprites to rebuild these communities.
It’s truly relaxing and fun to play, especially since you can roam around and pet random animals in forests, even get them as pets. And if you know me, you know I love to forage and explore, so I really loved this aspect.
That said, the beginning is a little slow and it can leave you feeling kind of detached from everything. I also don’t think the characters were written all that well, but maybe I’ve been spoiled for choice with excellent storylines in farm and life sims, so you might not even notice.
| Best For | Exploring different towns and rebuilding communities |
| Romanceable Characters | Yes, 10 |
| Activities | Farming, Ranching, Foraging, Exploration, Sailing |
| Combat | No |
| Multiplayer | No |
My Time at Sandrock
| Platforms | PC, PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch |
| Price | Around $30 + it has a free demo you can get |
| Release Year | 2023 |
| Developer | Pathea Games |
The concept of My Time at Sandrock is similar to My Time at Portia — it’s 300 years after the apocalypse and you arrive at this town as its new builder to help revive this community. The world is somewhat different from what you’re used to in SV, with a cowboy/steampunk flavor I liked, and the core loop is not exactly like Stardew, but it’s cozy nevertheless and extremely fun to play, especially with all the twists and turns the overarching story takes.
My Time at Sandrock not only gives you 21 unforgettable characters to romance, but it also allows you to go on dates with them and properly develop your relationship in a way that feels realistic and fun.
Overall, I found the romance aspect of this game so refreshing because the characters can get jealous, they can confess to you, they can flirt, etc. so it’s a really dynamic sort of experience. Plus, all of the characters look so good you’ll be spoiled for choice (and good luck deciding who to go after!).
| Best For | Dates, romance, great characters |
| Romanceable Characters | 21 characters, fully open to any gender, no restrictions. |
| Activities | Crafting, farming, fishing, building, exploring, etc. |
| Combat | Yes, and lots of it |
| Multiplayer | Yes, up to 4 players |
Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma
| Platforms | Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation, and Xbox |
| Price | $60 normally |
| Release Year | 2025 |
| Developer | Marvelous Inc. |
One piece of advice before we begin — if you played Rune Factory before, you might not like this game as much, but if you’ve never tried this series before, then this game is an excellent starting point! But with that out of the way, this is one of my favorite entries in the series, though it’s technically a spinoff.
You play the game as an Earth Dancer who is tasked with restoring the power of the gods. You get some farming, foraging, fishing, and all the usual stuff, but then you also get combat that feels good and purposeful. And the game goes to some strange and wonderful places — for example, you might get to ride a dragon or visit a sky island.
There’s a lot to explore, with four towns based on four seasons, so plenty of different crops and characters to develop, and if you ever want to just roam around, you can assign farming duties to the villagers you meet.
This game allows you to date multiple people and explore many relationships without having to deal with jealousy at all. Plus the storylines you get are truly fantastic and sometimes surprisingly emotional.
| Best For | Dating multiple people and having adventure |
| Romanceable Characters | 16 total, full same-gender marriage support, including same-sex couples having children via a special in-game mechanic. No jealousy when dating multiple people. |
| Activities | Farming, Fishing, Foraging, Mining, Combat, Cooking, Crafting |
| Combat | Yes |
| Multiplayer | No |
Moonstone Island
| Platforms | Switch, PC, mobile via Crunchyroll Subscription |
| Price | $20 + free demo |
| Release Year | 2023 |
| Developer | Studio Supersoft |
Moonstone Island is a cute creature collector/life sim game, which is a combo I quite enjoyed. There’s an overarching plot (or a quest, really), but there’s no rush to complete it and the world won’t end if you take your time. The islands you have to explore are procedurally generated, which I loved, but getting to them is a bit tedious (which I loved less).
There’s a bit of romance in here too, though no heart events, and the characters are pretty well written too, with a little bit of depth. You can also design your home, which was fun to do, though there aren’t like a ton of options. That said, this game is relatively young and the updates are still coming along, so there may be more in the future.
| Best For | If you like collecting creatures and TCG games |
| Romanceable Characters | 11 characters, no gender restrictions (to my knowledge) |
| Activities | Farming (light), Foraging, Alchemy, Creature-Taming, Card-Battle Combat |
| Combat | Yes |
| Multiplayer | No |
Potion Permit
| Platforms | PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, mobile |
| Price | $40 + free demo |
| Release Year | 2022 |
| Developer | MassHive Media |
Potion Permit is one of my absolute favorite games ever! It’s so cozy but without being boring, and it combines all of the elements I love in other games to make something that feels practically made for me. So, let me sell it to you.
In Potion Permit, you’re sent to a small town that doesn’t like modern medicine, and your job is to heal the mayor’s daughter, and then eventually everyone else as needed. To do all of this, you have to diagnose illnesses, forage for ingredients, fight off monsters and make potions. The more you heal people, the more they will trust you.
All the characters are beautifully written (there are many cutscenes), and you can even romance some of them. Unlike in other games, the ages of romanceable NPCs range from 18 to 50 so plenty of diversity in that sense.
| Best For | Lighter combat and fun foraging and alchemy |
| Romanceable Characters | 6 characters, no restrictions on gender, but no marriage, dating only (for all) |
| Activities | Combat (light), Crafting/Alchemy, Foraging |
| Combat | Yes |
| Multiplayer | No |
Harvestella
| Platforms | PC and Switch |
| Price | $60 (but on discount often) |
| Release Year | 2022 |
| Developer | Square Enix |
Okay, so as an RPG/action game, Harvestella is not that great. As just a farming game, not so great either. But put it together, and it kind of works. I found it incredibly relaxing and kind of “brain-off”, while having beautiful graphics, soothing music and a genuinely enjoyable story.
I would recommend this to anyone who only has a little time to play because you can do it in short bursts, and anyone who liked Final Fantasy or its aesthetics, but wanted it to be more chill and less combat-y. This is just a perfect combo of that, and if that’s what you’re looking for, I hope you enjoy!
| Best For | Relaxing gameplay, just enough combat to be fun but not too much |
| Romanceable Characters | 9 candidates, gender-open character creation, no gender lock on romance. |
| Activities | Farming, Combat, Job-Class Progression, Exploration |
| Combat | Yes |
| Multiplayer | No |
My Time at Portia
| Platforms | PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, mobile |
| Price | $30 |
| Release Year | 2019 |
| Developer | Pathea Gams |
Though My Time at Portia is widely considered worse than My Time at Sandrock, it’s still a very good game, and a personal favorite because it’s the first one I played in the series. And same as My Time at Sandrock, it has a really unforgettable cast of characters where you can truly feel like you belong with them, and like your efforts are making an impact in the community.
It’s slow paced, and felt really tactile on my Steam Deck. That said, it can feel a little unpolished and unfinished at times, so be mindful of that. You could skip straight to Sandrock, but this one is well-worth playing too.
| Best For | If you love feeling like your gameplay has impact on the characters |
| Romanceable Characters | 28 candidates, no restrictions on gender, divorce and remarriage possible |
| Activities | Crafting, Building, Combat, Mining, Light Farming |
| Combat | Yes |
| Multiplayer | No |
Littlewood
| Platforms | PC and Switch |
| Price | $14 |
| Release Year | 2020 |
| Developer | Sean Young |
Littlewood asks the question: what if the epic fantasy quest was already over — and now it’s time to build the town back up, sip tea, and make friends? It’s like Stardew Valley but even more relaxed, with no combat, no pressure, and a whole lot of charm. You’re the hero who saved the world… and now you’re figuring out what comes after.
Instead of running a farm, you’re designing and managing a whole town — placing buildings, decorating, gathering resources, and wooing quirky townsfolk who all seem to know you. It’s all about chill vibes and cozy progress, with a pixel art style that’s as soothing as its music.
| Best For | Relaxing, very cozy, tons of great characters |
| Romanceable Characters | Virtually all residents are romanceable, and no gender restrictions |
| Activities | Farming (light), Building, Social/Friendship, Decorating |
| Combat | No |
| Multiplayer | No |
Roots of Pacha
| Platforms | PC, Switch, Xbox, PlayStation |
| Price | $25 |
| Release Year | 2023 |
| Developer | Soda Den |
This is like Stardew Valley but set in the Stone Age, and somehow even more relaxing. The focus on the community is big here — you’re supposed to do things for the betterment of your clan and help invent new concepts. The map is really big and fun to explore as you progress, the farming is fun, and I think I liked the graphics even better in Roots of Pacha than in Stardew Valley.
It has great romanceable options, well-written characters and good storylines. There’s really no pressure in it at all, it feels built for you to play it in peace and have a relaxing time. I truly recommend this one to anyone who loves Stardew and is looking for another game to obsess over.
| Best For | Anyone looking for a game exactly like Stardew, but with even more focus on the community |
| Romanceable Characters | Multiple candidates, full same-gender support confirmed |
| Activities | Farming, Foraging, Crafting, Clan/Community Building |
| Combat | No |
| Multiplayer | Yes, up to 4 players |
Dinkum
| Platforms | PC and Switch |
| Price | $22 + free demo |
| Release Year | 2025 |
| Developer | James Bendon |
Dinkum is like if Stardew, Minecraft and Animal Crossing had a very Australian baby. There are elements of each of these games in here, but the end product feels surprisingly unique and charming. You get to farm a little, explore a little, get chased by monsters a little, all through a world inspired by the Outback (which also feels quite cozy).
The best part, for me, was that you get to build a town and expand it. As you do that, people get happier and more people join, even tourists sometimes decide to stay depending on how good of a job you do, and so I really loved this aspect of the game.
I enjoyed my time with Dinkum, though I played it solo, and I hear it’s more fun with friends. Give it a try if this sounds up your alley!
| Best For | Expanding and building the town, making people happier |
| Romanceable Characters | No dating/marriage system |
| Activities | Farming, Fishing, Mining, Building, Exploration, Ranching |
| Combat | No |
| Multiplayer | Yes, up to 4 players |
Sun Haven
| Platforms | PC, Nintendo Switch |
| Price | Around $25 |
| Release Year | 2023 |
| Developer | Pixel Sprout Studios |
I put off playing this one for way too long because I assumed it was just another Stardew clone with a fantasy skin, and I was wrong to sleep on it. Sun Haven is its own thing. It has four distinct towns (including an elven forest and a monster city), 23 marriage candidates, and a full RPG skill tree for combat, mining, fishing, farming and exploration that actually makes you feel like you’re playing an action-RPG that happens to also have crops.
There’s no stamina system, which took some getting used to (I kept waiting to get tired and just… didn’t), and the sheer scope of it means it can feel a little overstuffed at first. But once I got past the initial overwhelm, I was hooked.
| Best For | Someone who wants Stardew’s coziness but with an actual fantasy epic |
| Romanceable Characters | Yes; 23 across four towns |
| Activities | Farming, Fishing, Mining, Combat, Magic, Crafting, Cooking |
| Combat | Yes |
| Multiplayer | Yes, up to 8 players |
Fae Farm
| Platforms | PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S |
| Price | Around $40 |
| Release Year | 2023 |
| Developer | Phoenix Labs |
Fae Farm is gorgeous, one of the prettiest games on this list, all soft pastels and glowing fae magic. The farming itself is mostly standard (your tools auto-equip depending on what you’re interacting with, so an axe pops out for wood and your watering can fills automatically), but magic gets woven in through a separate wand/staff you use to fight your way through dungeons, plus a handful of spells like Vortex that speed up harvesting and foraging.
Once you unlock fairy wings, exploring the island becomes a joy. Double-jumping and gliding around Azoria is some of the most fun traversal in any farming sim I’ve played. I do need to flag something important though: the online multiplayer was shut down in September 2025, so if “farm with three friends” was the whole appeal for you, that’s gone now — it’s single-player only going forward.
Phoenix Labs also laid off most of its dev team in early 2025, and the game is now being maintained by a smaller outside studio, so don’t go in expecting big new content drops. Worth noting too that several reviewers found the romance options here pretty thin compared to genre staples — it’s here, but it’s not the game’s strong suit.
| Best For | If you always wished the Wizard played a much bigger role in Stardew. |
| Romanceable Characters | Yes; 6 candidates, regardless of player gender |
| Activities | Farming, Fishing, Mining, Animal Care, Crafting, Potion Brewing, Decorating |
| Combat | Yes (light and beginner-friendly) |
| Multiplayer | Yes; online and local co-op for up to 4 players |
Final Thoughts
I hope you’ve found a game to love on this list, and definitely something that reminds you of Stardew Valley and scratches that same itch. If you’re still not sure where to start, my top recommendation is Fields of Mistria and I might have liked it even more than SV.
If you want to explore more cozy games, here are some places you can do that:
- I have more than 60 cozy games on this list, sorted by genre so you can easily find what you’re looking for.
- Some of my favorite coffee shop cozy games are here.
- And I love these amazing cooking and restaurant games.
- If you’d like something for your phone, these are my favorite cozy mobile games (most are free).
- Fall is the perfect season for gaming, and you can find the best autumn games here.
- And if you love simple but entertaining games, I recommend trying some of these merge games.
