Stardew Valley is one of those games with a vibrant modding community. For non-console players, mods are often an integral part of the gameplay experience, but for others, it can be hard to know where to get started looking for mods to add to their game.
From gameplay overhauls to aesthetic refreshes, to practically adding an entire sequel, Stardew Valley has mods of all types. This list focuses on mods that add depth to existing gameplay while staying true to the heart of what makes Stardew Valley Stardew Valley.
10/10 NPC Map Locations
This mod was created by Bouhm and Pathoschild, and not only does it revamp the map to more closely match the actual overworld, but it adds the locations of NPCs. The icons even move around as the characters do, so no more pulling up the Stardew Wiki to remember where Maru is on the 17th of Winter at 2 pm.
Currently, this mod is available in 10 languages including English, and there are no known conflicts with other mods. It's an open-source project, and anyone is free to help out or build on what's already there.
9/10 Gift Taste Helper
This mod by nexusmods user Tyler adds a helpful tooltip in two places: the calendar and the social menu. Using this mod, when you hover over an NPC's birthday on any of the in-game calendars or hover over them in the social UI, it will display a list of all the "loved" items you have given them in the past.
It can be really hard to keep track of all the characters' preferences, and you can only have so many wiki pages open at once before you start to lose your mind. It is very nice to be able to get a bit of useful information without having to navigate to another section of the game UI entirely. Currently, this mod is available in three languages including English.
8/10 Canon-Friendly Dialogue Expansion
Once you've been playing Stardew Valley for a while, or if you've been playing it obsessively for every spare minute for three days straight, you start to notice dialogue repetition. It happens. This mod by Ben and ParadigmNomad adds a whopping 2600 new lines of dialogue across the 34 main NPCs.
Not only does it take into consideration the canon dialogue, but it is built to blend in seamlessly with it. All the new dialogue matches with the established lore and characterization, and it takes into consideration your relationship level with each individual NPC. Plus, they've added new dialogue for the second and third years of the festivals.
7/10 Babies Take After Spouse
This mod by lakoria is a must-have if you are one to get overly attached to your fictional children. Not only does this mod make your children look like your Stardew Valley spouse, but it also adds new clothes and hairstyles for your precious kids.
The mod creates unique masculine and feminine toddlers based on each potential spouse, and it also includes some options based on some of the other NPCs in town. The possibility of having your in-game kids look like their grandparents is something I don't think very many of us considered. All in all, it's the most expansive child customization option for the game.
6/10 Happy Birthday
All the NPCs have a birthday, so why shouldn't you? Now you can! With this mod by Alpha_Omegasis, your farmer now has their very own birthday. The best part is that it's not just for flavor. Alpha_Omegasis added custom interactions and cutscenes that make this a fully integrated feature.
Parents writing you a letter on your birthday? Check. Well wishes from the villagers? Check. Your spouse even has a special cutscene at a certain point, but no spoilers here. This mod also adds some incentive to befriend all the NPCs--there's a special birthday surprise waiting for you once you get to five hearts with them all.
5/10 Skip Fishing Mini Game
Everyone say "thank you, DewMods" for creating the mod we all need sometimes: no fishing mini-game. We all have our limit when it comes to that thing, and for some of us that limit is an absolute zero.
So when you reach your fishing limit, download this lovely mod and breathe easy. Enjoy your farm life and complete the community center's fishing bundle without wishing for your computer to explode every time that jumpy fish escapes your grasp.
4/10 Bathroom After 2nd house Upgrade
The fact that your farmhouse has no bathroom has bothered all of us at some point. But be bothered no more, as DevilBro has solved the problem and gotten all the plumbing taken care of. Not only that, but they've made it an absolutely lovely place to be in.
While most of the bathroom DevilBro created is decorative, the bathtub/pool is functional. Like the bathhouse, resting in your own tub restores your energy and allows you to complete more tasks throughout the day. It is much more convenient to bathe in your own home than it is to trek up to the train station area.
3/10 Part Of The Community
You're farming their food, you're running their errands, and yet it takes so much work to build up a relationship with all the NPCs. You've got seven pages of the wiki open, you can only give each villager two gifts a week, and you can't find anything anyone likes anyways.
Thanks to Space Baby, there are now some new ways to increase friendship with the community of Pelican Village. Through your regular gameplay and NPC interactions, the villagers will gain a little affection for you as they see you being an active and kind member of the community.
2/10 Pet Interaction
Your cat or dog wanders your farm. It's adorable, but it's not enough. Jahangmar knows what the people want. They want their pet to be able to follow them everywhere, and jahangmar provided. Now your furry friend can come into town with you and be a menace to the local bird population.
Of course, they aren't service animals, so they can't come into buildings with you, but they are well trained and will wait outside until you return. You can play with them too if you've got a stick on you. Just be sure not to accidentally hit them with your tools or get them wet.
1/10 Child Age Up
It's Stardew Valley year 10 and your children are still toddlers. You wish you could talk to them, you wish you could take them to the movies, send them to school. Alizsabeth has made this possible. Your kids will not only talk to you, but have schedules, and Alizsabeth is working on expanding it in the future.
It requires some supporting mods as well, but you can find those through the mod's download page. The extra steps are worth it for the expanded child gameplay. You'll get to see your little ones grow to be members of the community you've spent so much time rebuilding.