There are many reasons why people love Stardew Valley. Some love it for farming, others for mining. Some are obsessed with the characters and spend all their time working to get closer to them. Others are focused on the overarching plot and try to keep a balanced mix of the various gameplay aspects. It's a game with many things to love, and the diversity of its player base reflects that.

With that in mind, it's hard to find any game exactly like Stardew Valley. No other game has its exact blend of art, story, character, and gameplay. This list contains ten games that inspire the same sense of peace, while still needing you to put in work to get the rewards. Some are more focused on crafting and resources, while others are about completing tasks or finding romance. No matter what brought you to Stardew Valley, here's something here for you.

10 10/10 Terraria

A building in Terraria.

If you're a fan of the exploration and resource gathering of Stardew Valley, you will want to check out Terraria. It's a 2D front-view game with a pixelated art style. It's got charm, it's got NPCs you can talk to, and it's got combat that advances the plot of the game.

Terraria has a procedurally generated world and functions similarly to a Metroidvania in its gameplay style. However, it does have multiple difficulty modes, so if you just want to explore without the stress of monsters you totally can.

9 9/10 Townscaper

A town built in Townscaper.

This is a game all about relaxation. Just push buttons and build a cute little town. Or a huge city. Switch between all the colors of the rainbow and fill out the endless waters of the empty game world with brick walkways and charming back gardens and rooftop patios.

The only decisions you need to make in this game are how big you want your buildings, what color, and how close or far apart they are from each other. Unfortunately, you can't change the architectural style, but the art style is so cute and there are so many different combinations you can create that you hardly notice.

8 8/10 Untitled Goose Game

Untitled Goose Game geese play music for an NPC.

If you are a harbinger of chaos who likes crossing things off your to-do list, this will be your new favorite game. Chase after the NPCs utilizing your dedicated honk button have a picnic, overflow sinks, and destroy prized flowers. The town is your canvas and crime is your brush.

There's no crafting in Untitled Goose Game, but each new area of the town has its own little collection to complete. And you get to be mean to people without feeling bad because you are a goose, which can be a nice change of pace from Stardew Valley where the point of the game is to be nice. And if you're lonely, bring a friend.

7 7/10 Dream Daddy

Amanda, Maxwell, Brain, and Daisy from Dream Daddy.

One of the best parts of Stardew Valley is getting to know the various NPCs, finding out their backstories, and getting special cutscenes with them. Whether you're befriending them all or trying to date the whole town, it's the characters that make the game feel so alive.

Dream Daddy is a dating sim where you are a single dad, and you move to a new neighborhood filled with other single dads. Its a dad-4-dad romance with colorful characters that you will be excited to learn more about. You also get to build your own dad, and you have a teenage daughter who is just the best.

6 6/10 Kindergarten

The playground from the game Kindergarten.

If you were ever wondering what Stardew Valley-type humor would be like if it was a horror game, you'll want to take a look at Kindergarten. It's funny, it's dark, it has multiple collections and endings, and you play as a kindergartener. It is quite gruesome at times, even with the pixel art, so keep that in mind if you're thinking about playing it.

Kindergarten heavily relies on the choices you make and tiny branching decisions. Even if you think you're making the wrong choice, chances are that you've simply stumbled upon an alternate path. Or you've found a new way to die because that also happens.

5 5/10 Monster Prom

The four player characters from Monster Prom.

A game where you date literal and figurative monsters, what could be better? This is another game with a higher maturity rating than Stardew Valley, but if you are interested in romancing colorful characters with dirty humor you will definitely want to give this game a try.

Monster Prom has multiple secret endings, both attached to the main dateable characters, and routes that let you date some of the minor characters. One even involves bringing a computer to life and taking him to prom. Monster Prom also has a multiplayer mode, and you have every opportunity to help or hinder your friends.

4 4/10 Minecraft

Minecraft Steve walking with a dog.

The OG, the classic, it's Minecraft. You can mine, you can explore, you can befriend all kinds of creatures. It's all square, what's not to love? It doesn't have the same linear, narrative storytelling as Stardew Valley, but it is filled with lore and the echoes of what came before you.

If you are looking for more of the Stardew Valley in your Minecraft build yourself a home base near a village of Villagers. Establish yourself as part of the community and let your fondness for their noises grow, even if you really can't understand them.

3 3/10 Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Isabel and Tom Nook, Animal Crossing: New Horizons.

If you have a Nintendo Switch, Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a fantastic purchase. You befriend cute animal villagers, you can grow crops and cook, you decorate your little house, and you can customize your island. There is so much you can do it can be overwhelming at times.

There's no big storyline, but the game plays in real-time so you check in on your friends and your virtual home for a little bit every day, or a couple of times a week. It's a task and resource management game that keeps pace with your real life, and you can always find something relaxing to do.

2 2/10 A Short Hike

The landscape of A Short Hike.

A Short Hike is a tiny open-world game. Yes, you read that right. You play as a bird trying to get a cell phone signal in a tiny, rural town, and the only place you can get it is at the top of the small mountain the village is nestled in. In order to get to the top, you have to earn special feathers to increase your jumping and gliding abilities.

There's no set order to the game, and no wrong way to go about it. You can spend all your time playing it finding all the various NPCs, digging up treasure, or laying beachstick ball (yes that is a real thing in the game). It is a peaceful, relaxing game that makes you feel really good about people.

1 1/10 Spiritfarer

Gwen and Stella hugging, Spiritfarer.

In Spiritfarer, you take over for Charon and ferry spirits to the other side. Of course, it's not that simple, as the spirits have to come to terms with what happened to them in their life before they're ready to move on. You will have to complete their requests and be by their side as they face the hard emotions they have ignored for so long.

You'll spend your time in between story beats fishing, collecting resources, cooking, tending to your garden, sheering sheep, and smelting metals. You will get lost, in the best possible way, in all the little tasks you'll need to complete in order to help the spirits in your care.