Stardew Valley is an indie farming simulation RPG that was released on PC in February 2016 and then ported for everything but Nintendo…until today. As of October 5, 2017, you can now download it off the Nintendo Switch eShop, and for just $14.99. In Stardew Valley “Switch” (it’s the same game), you just inherited your grandpa’s huge yet messy farm plot in a place called – you guessed it – Stardew Valley, as well as his dirty, worn-out tools and some pocket change (thanks a lot, Gramps). So you leave your cushy office job to live the life of a farmer, but there’s way, way more than just tending to your farm and making bank; you find yourself mining and crafting, flirting with the locals to get married, even fighting monsters such as mummies and things called “Shadow Shamans.” It’s totally up to you and the possibilities are near endless.
This game is a great entry into the world of farming sims and Stardew Valley may just leave you wanting to till other fertile fields on your Nintendo consoles; here are a list of the top 5 not-to-be-missed series for beginning farmhands!
Harvest Moon
The original farming simulator by Natsume! Stardew Valley’s creators were actually inspired by the Harvest Moon series. It all started in 1997 with Harvest Moon for the SNES but the series took an unfortunate downward spiral after Magical Melody dropped for the GameCube in 2006. Have no fear though, I’m here to point you in the right direction when it comes to which Harvest Moon titles to give a shot:
- Harvest Moon 64 (1999, Nintendo 64)
- Harvest Moon: Friends of Mineral Town (2003, Game Boy Advance, 2015, Wii U)
- Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life (2003, GameCube)
- Harvest Moon: Magical Melody (2006, GameCube, 2009, Wii)
These games offer you a great combination of farming, customization and role-playing. And if you’re looking for an updated version, check out Harvest Moon 3D: A New Beginning on the Nintendo 3DS (2012). It’s pretty decent for a modern Harvest Moon. But whatever you do, do NOT bother with Harvest Moon: Light of Hope which came out this past summer (2017) for the Nintendo Switch. It’s dreadful.
Story of Seasons
The Story of Seasons series is the continuation of the Harvest Moon series under a different name due to getting acquired by Marvelous Inc. (formerly Natsume) and then localized by their American publishing brand XSEED Games. It’s a good thing the games are still being brought to the West, because both existing titles, Story of Seasons (2015) and Story of Seasons: Trio of Towns (2017), for the Nintendo 3DS are a joy to play. This series is basically a prettier-looking, smoother (though less traditional) Harvest Moon experience, which is similar to Stardew Valley, with the ultimate goal of working with your fellow farmers to make your town famous.
And if you like Story of Seasons, get hyped because XSEED Games announced they are big fans of the Nintendo Switch and will be developing their upcoming games for it.
Fantasy Life
Now, if you’ve taken a liking to the combat side of Stardew Valley more than the farming side, then do I have a game for you: Fantasy Life (2014) by Level-5 on the Nintendo 3DS. You choose from one of twelve “Lifes” (classes): Alchemist, Angler, Blacksmith, Carpenter, Cook, Hunter, Magician, Mercenary, Miner, Paladin, Tailor or Woodcutter, and then set out on a quest to either save the kingdom or just build a successful life for yourself, or both. The combat, crafting, exploring, customization, building, etc. are all simple and fun. Similarly to Stardew Valley, the choice is yours every step of the way and don’t worry, you can change your Life whenever (as long as you’re not in the middle of a quest!)
P.S. Fantasy Life Online, the sequel, is coming soon.
Rune Factory
Marvelous, Natsume and XSEED Games are behind the Rune Factory series, described by one of the producers as the “Harvest Moon where you wield a sword.” It all started with Rune Factory: A Fantasy Harvest Moon (yes, it’s actually called that) in 2007 on the Nintendo 3DS. You farm it up, craft it up and build up relationships with the other villagers as you do in Stardew Valley but the game mainly focuses on the action part – delving through dungeons and fighting anything that looks at you the wrong way. And instead of purchasing livestock you befriend monsters in dungeons. Cool, right?
If you’re intrigued, all the titles are good but Rune Factory 4 (2013) on the Nintendo 3DS is the newest and is a total banger. Unfortunately it is currently unknown whether the series will ever see additional development.
Terraria
Last but not least, Terraria. This 2D sandbox developed by Re-Logic came out of nowhere in 2011 on PC and made serious waves before hitting the Nintendo 3DS in 2015, then the Wii U in 2016. It’s like the lovechild of Minecraft and Metroid. You start off in a freshly generated world with basic tools and then go crazy. There’s caves with minerals to extract, materials to build an empire out of, vendors to attract and fill your empire with, different biomes to explore and awesome equipment and insane weapons to craft or find and then use to demolish loads of monsters (including bosses) coming your way. It takes the endless possibilities of Stardew Valley and kind of multiplies it by infinity for countless hours of fun.
And if you’re too busy with Stardew Valley Switch or the other great games in this list, there’s no harm in waiting it out because 505 Games (the publisher) announced in February 2017 that Terraria is coming to the Nintendo Switch real soon.
So, back to playing some more Stardew Valley Switch? Or, will you be taking a swing (with your sickle, because farming) at one of the great titles on this list?
Definitely gonna pick up Stardew Valley at some point. Was waiting for it to come to the Switch first. Feels like a game I’d want to play on the go rather than something that’s tethered to my tv.
HELLO POSSIBLE LEAK PLEASE BE REAL
Reliable Information, not saying im a worker for nintendo and all that other bull crap but ye:
– Theres a counterpart UB for Sticky
– 4 New Alolan Forms
– One last trailer this month showing off a UB event dimension. (2018 Event)
– No gyms but there is a place that acts as a Gym Simulator where different days of the week the interior changes to match diff iconic gyms like Lt Surges (Ryuku) and Pryce’s Ice Path (Lillie)
The following mons get Z-Moves:
Kommo-O
Togedemaru
Mimikyu
Lycanroc shared
Legendary Beasts shared
Pikachu (3rd Z Crystal)
Silvally
Bewear
And Oricorio – shared
thats all I have, you don’t have to believe me but just know I wouldn’t waste my time for anything.
Did you copy this from 4chan or not?
Judging be the first paragraph I’m sure it was, a lot of those from 4chan start like that
Yep I did
But I want it to be real since this is a cool leak
Eh……I’m sure I trust a “leak” that comes out right after we get news. Most of the time it’s just people taking what we already know and using that to make up some kind of rumor
Oricorio z move!?!? Can we please have that!!! Please I need Z move for my Josephine
😀
Yeah a gym that transforms into other gyms buy what porpoise does it serve? It’s just weird
And not much of a fan of Bewear and the legendary beasts sharing a move. And I feel like UBs deserve a shared Zmove, they already have a ability so
The gym thing seems like a battle facility
Bewear deserves a Z-move
Sounds fake.
Hm, part of me wants to believe this
3rd Pikachu?
Magical Melody is literally my fave game I’ve ever played. It’s so homey, nostalgic, and full of beautiful music with a love for nature and town life. Please please please check it out.
Oh yes Terraria, I love that game, haven’t played in years but I definitely had a real fun that game!
Love it!
Im already obsessed with this game. It’s very overwhelming at first, but I love it! So glad it’s finally on the switch <3
Also, how did you not mention freakin animal crossing??!
I’m obsessed too
Wait nvm
this is interesting i guess. terraria is put here which sorta turns me off of stardew valley unfortunately. also dinofries is new right? never heard of that user
It’s nothing like Star few other than maybe the art style is similar
It has a ‘similar’ crafting system, light combat and material collection system though, Stardew drew some influence from Terraria in its gameplay design.
Terraria is fun af and I totally recommend it if you have someone to play it with
ive played terraria before lol
Yeah he’s “new” but has worked with us in the past 🙂
Very in depth and interesting article. Kinda odd timing especially since we just got some Pokemon news, but it’s whatever.
Sounds like fun games, but I would never play it. I don’t play games besides Smash, and Pokemon. Sooooo I’m out. But I do say it caught my interest
Man I just saw Pikashunium Z move and reminds me why I love Z moves. The animations of everything looks so good. It just gives more life in the game for me. Megas are cool and probably have more affect on everyone, but they seemed really lifeless. These Z moves (especially the unique ones) are just amazing to witness the trainers interact with the Pokemon. Both beings creating mass amounts of energy through dancing to form a really powered up version of a move! Such a great addition. I’m gonna miss signature z moves after gen 7 is done.
Good morning~
Yo whats up guys its sparce here
Lemme grab that shpleen and use it as a ladle for my tasty soups my dude
PASTYCAKES MOTHER F**KER
Spam
Ingredients:
Pork with Ham, Salt, Water, Modified Potato Starch, Sugar, Sodium Nitrite.
Nutrition facts:
Serving Size: 2 oz (56g); Servings: 6
Calories: 180 ; Total Fat: 16g (24.62); Saturated Fat: 6g (30); Cholesterol: 40mg (13.33); Sodium: 790mg (32.92); Total Carbohydrates: 1g (0.33); Dietary Fiber: 0g ; Sugars: 0g ; Protein: 7g ;
Oh come onnn this is a good shitpost
It might be, shortly after you’ve eaten it.
;3
U 4got da beez
Boom i revived the jungle, I’m going green to save the world
Body….pain…..bones….muscles sore and brittle, need to be loosened up…
I totally forgot Stardew was today and I do need a new addiction
Tbh, Stardew Valley doesn’t interest me in the slightest. I’m just not into life simulator games (With the exception of Animal Crossing). I don’t hate it tho.
Simulator games are the best
http://i0.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/000/754/886/ea3.jpg
i can’t find it but there’s a video of a fantasy orc going home and playing a human simulator
It’s a little different from what i’m used to but its growing on me
At first there was a weird crackling down from my switch speaker (which terrified me but it seems to be gone now)
I just need to learn the lay of the land and understand what i’m supposed to do
Hellooo.
Not a fan of these types of games, heck i don’t even care for animal crossing
Kbye, banned.
Want me to get the banishment catapult?
O shite no
Seriously though, I don’t see how a game without any plot and is just lame stuff like fishing and mining could be fun
well people like the routine and chores, gives them something to work on from the ground up and let flourish
eh I don’t though
well then sod off i wanna plant some god damn azaleas
Kk
Have you ever played those games? They have the most ridiculous premises, but once you start playing you’ll get sucked in and BAM you’re spending two hours a day of your life managing your farm/town.
How could we forget these two games:
Animal Crossing: New Leal – Similar because it has the same relaxing nature, where you can do nothing really wrong whatever you do, with also a goal of collecting a ton of stuff and just improving your town.
Farming Simulator – If farming is your thing but you hate having to use the hoe all the time, this game is for you! Plow very large fields, drive around with over hundreds possible tractors, use all advanced machinery there is in the world! Has features such as 360 crop rotation, augmented plows and more!
You’re forgetting Pokemon X and Y
Hello? The berry farm dude
I did like that they tried changing up berry farming, though it could get annoying at times.
We all know that was more exciting than the actual game
I’m not gonna get this simply cause I have like twenty other games on my mind rn
I’m just not interested
I’m not very good at simulated life, better than I am at real life though tbh.
I want to make a Boulevard of Broken Memes remix
Uggghhhh, I have a bunch of tests to take today
AAAY
OH GOD NOT THE BEEEEES
CCCCCCCCC?
D
EEE-RECTION
Brave Bird
Braver Bird: Higher damage, more recoil
Even Braver Bird: Guaranteed OHKO, Kills the user
Bravest Bird: OHKOS every single opponent but the user actually fucking dies
I want a Cyclone Dive attack
and a new Rock attack that makes contact (or let Aerodactyl learn Head Smash)
Anyone here ready the Pokemon Sun and Moon Playthrough web Comic? It’s really funny