Top 5 Suggestions for Stardew Valley Switch Lovers

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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?

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852 thoughts on “Top 5 Suggestions for Stardew Valley Switch Lovers”

      • I actually have to agree here tbh, the areas Clefairy inhabit are secluded enough it seemingly doesn’t have much competition (like what happened with Alolan Vulpix), and Mount Hokulani doesn’t have anything around it that particularly threatens Clefairy’s way of life (like Alolans Sandshrew).

        And it’s not as popular to warrant an Alola Form as Raichu, nor is it domesticated in universe enough to warrant an adaption that way

        Reply

      • Maybe originally Clefable landed in Alola, and as they traveled to other regions they changed, so Alolan Clefable is Fairy/Psychic and more Cosmic

        Reply

    • Just from the ones I know so far, he’d probably use

      Fire Hare Starter (Fire)
      Swingler (Dark/Flying)
      Hundeuxtrois (Fairy/Dark)

      Reply

      • Fire Starter he’d meet when it tries to race Pikachu, and as Ash would be super impressed with its speed he’d capture it. Starter agrees because it wants to train and become faster than Pikachu.

        Swingler steals Ash’s Pokédex in its first form (Chactac) and its pretty much just Ash catching it to get his Dex back

        Hundeuxtrois was used by an evil team member but Ash looked after it once it was released and helped it become less aggressive and more trusting

        Reply

        • Ooo I can explain mine too
          -Chichee: Early Regional Bird capture, but he does manage to help out it family a bit in the episode by collecting foods when the mama bird is sick.
          -Razoon: Ash discovers that a wild Razoon has been stealing food and other resources from all across the city and Ash and his friends track it down till they discover its only stealing to feed a small group of young Wild Pokémon that can’t fend for themselves and after a bit of time passes and Pokémon are left with Nurse Joy. Razoon decides to join Ash due to his passion and Spirit.
          -Pybbit: Finds a wild one and attempts to capture it because impressed by its speed and tenacity (a Snivy like episode) also shows that Razoon and Pybbit rival for Ash affection as his better Pokémon
          -Coykit: Ash finds an injured one alone in the forest and they overcome great lengths to escape the forest relying only on each other to get out. (It is very much like Rockruff in terms of personality)

          Reply

    • Hmmmmm
      Definitely he’d catch a Sproot my grass starter
      Regional bird Shardinal
      Dojoey a scrappy Normal/Fighting type or Comboa
      Alegio a water alligator that fights with barbs
      Luckee the pseudo legend p
      That’s all I can think of

      Maybe Grimgoyl

      Reply

        • Well naturally he’d find a Shardinal trying to peck his brains out and will be an early capture will very little confrontation

          Sproot are notoriously social Pokemon and would naturally buddy up with ash if he shows it the slightest attention, perhaps meadow break and it wanders up to him

          Dojoey and or Comboa naturally pugnacious Pokemon would challenge Ash on the spot or he would witness them battling and be impressed

          Alegio found in the water via a fishing episode

          And Luckee I see as either an egg or some kinda rare encounter

          Reply

    • I’m late but:
      Cavursus – Grass/Rock Starter, final form of Bearine which probably would try to protect Pikachu from something and get hurt.
      Superine – Fighting/Fairy, evolution of Comibook Which Maybe saw Ash as some sort of a Hero and wanted to travel with him
      Pyraqua – Fire/Water, evolution of Heatfish, he’d catch it in a fishing ep
      Resnowcue (name needs changing) – Normal/Ice helped Ash when he got Lost in mountains, later Sister Joy gave him to Ash
      Żubrrior – Fighting/Steel, final form of Euson, the Euson egg was given to him by the Żubrrior that gave birth to it before the third gym, kinda Ash’s ace

      Reply

  4. Ok Stardew Valley isn’t making me happy
    I am wasting so much energy with little to no profit
    I haven’t even seen a damn piece of Iron and it’s already a week past summer,
    No buildings I can’t find how to build a well or a silo or anything because I’m not making any gold or I don’t have any mats
    I honestly think this is just not for me…

    Reply

    • Iron is only found later in the game (mines 40+), don’t expect to find it by the first week of Summer year 1. Robin the carpenter lets you build a silo, the same way you can upgrade your house. Check for construct buildings when you’re talking to her.
      And just farm the money growing crops (melons, red cabbage), use your time to dig up stuff that looks like three worms with the hoe, forage stuff at the beach and in the forest with the Wizard tower, and occasionally go to the mines (often redoing the same five floors for ease). You’ll often get recipes that you can’t craft or that are not useful to craft until waay later in the game. The game’s only designed so that you need to go through at least two years to have decent access to most stuff.

      Reply

    • You really don’t need a well, just fill up your watering can at the pond. Also grind to level 40 of the mines to get iron so you can build sprinklers. That’s what I did.

      Reply

    • Ugh stupid swear filter.

      You really don’t need a well, just fill up your watering can at the pond. Also grind to level 40 of the mines to get iron so you can build sprinklers. That’s what I did. Also this is just one of those games like animal crossing where you’re not gonna make a crap ton of money right off the bat.

      Reply

      • At least in animal crossing and minecraft I know how to do stuff…
        I just feel so in the dark and not in control its really messing with me

        Reply

  5. Deathly Hallows ✔

    – Watched both parts together to have complete experience having read the book
    – And what a great film and ending. IMO the best 2 films of the saga easily
    – It had everything literally. Film was so action packed and nail biting that I was on the edge throughout
    – Extremely serious & mature plot but it gave me that “Epic grand adventure” feel like this is it, eveything is being put on the line here, this is make or break
    – Acting was amazing, theming and cinematography/visual effects were astoundingly good..battle of hogwarts comes to mind!

    – The plot itself was masterful thanks to the book. You have Harry and co. on the run in a now very dangerous Dumbledore/Ministry less world trying to find life threatening horcrux’s all the while Voldemort amassing an army! Wow!

    – What I liked that unlike the prev films you didnt have a few moments of action and drama against evil, the entire film was jam packed e.g. Gringotts, Battle at Hogwarts, Nagini at Godrick Hollow, Malfoys mannor, the wedding, 7 Harry’s scene, Luna’s house..all where portrayed really well

    – I loved how we revisited so many places we had earlier in the film e.g. Gringotts, Chambers of secrets, Requirement room, Olivanders shop, Ministry, AND especially Godrick hollow! It was the culmination of the saga and nostalgic indeed

    – Battle of hogwarts was epic, action packed but nostalgic you felt an attachment with the school when it was being attacked

    – And seeing all the characters go was sad as well

    – 19 years later was a sweet end and great for fans like me :]

    Best films period.

    Reply

  6. Completely off topic with Stardew but it’s still Pokemon related so who cares.
    Just finished off Silver and the Johto League with my team of:
    Typhlosion, Quagsire, Umbreon, Heracross, Crobat & Miltank

    Also did Gold the other day too (still Johto league – I started Silver first but had to wait to grind Eevee’s friendship). Gold team is:
    Feraligatr, Ampharos, Bellosom, Sudowoodo, Xatu & Piloswine

    Next stop is completing Silver up to beating Red then completing allI can for the dex without trading etc before doing the same on Gold

    Really hope they release Crystal sometime in the future – already got my team planned out and it’s all Pokemon except one that I haven’t used before, and it’ll be one of my hardest runs in a main game before:
    Meganuim, Espeon, Lanturn, Donphan, Ariados, Skarmory

    Reply

      • They’re on the same 3DS unfortunately but that would be interesting to see which team is better. I mean I have no idea how I would set up that – would have to have a friend who knows about Pokemon take one team while I take the other and fight till there’s a winner.
        I mean also they’ve all got in game movesets, so I would have to make the competitive – i.e.. make Umbreon into a defensive stall wall/Crobat a revenge killer, Miltank a healthy tank etc

        Reply

  7. I have some questions about DS’s
    First off if I got a new SD card will all my old one transfer on to the new one or would I need to do that in some other way?
    If I put in a new SD card does that mean my themes and money won’t transfer over?
    Is there Tax on Gold and Silver VC? (Cause I think I want to get it and my brother too, but if there’s Tax he has to get a $20 card, cause they weirdly don’t make $15 E-Shop cards (even though most VC games only cost $10 or less and you need stupid tax)

    Reply

  10. HOW THE HELL DOES PSYWAVE DO SO MUCH DAMAGE
    It’s one thing for me to lose to bad luck but when the opponent gloats and acts like a jackass that’s where I lose my temper

    Reply

  13. There is no greater Pokemon album than Totally Pokemon. It’s so great! Released during one of the best times of the series it’s clearly the superior soundtracks

    Reply

  14. I’m curious what are your top 10 favorite legendaries (I know its hard with the new UB’s)
    1. Solgaleo. What’s not to love about this majestic creature? It has a nice sleek metal white body. Represents the sun. This thing literally RUNS through space which is much cooler than Lunala flying. It’s Signature move is also amazing Sunsteel strike. The move that slam’s whole Body at the user with the force of a meteor. Thats like meteor mash but twice the power

    Reply

    • Zekrom- My first legendary ever, I just love its design and how it’s implemented in the story, like, no other legendary has such relevance into the story just like Zekrom and Reshiram did imo

      Aand its signature move is rad too

      Reply

      • Eh I feel like doing a list

        1) Zekrom
        2) Shaymin
        3) Arceus
        4) Keldeo
        5) Victini
        6) Kyogre
        7) Yveltal/Xerneas
        8) Lunala
        9) Articuno
        10) Lugia

        Reply

    • This is an easier top ten compared to some others, but it was still pretty hard in some cases. Either way her are my top 10 in no particular order. That said my most favorites are closer to number one so take that as you will. lol
      1)UB Adhesive
      2) Raikou
      3) Lugia
      4) Ho-oh
      5) Dawn Wings Necrozma (a way for me to get both Lunala and Necrozma in lol)
      6) Nebby….er I mean Cosmog
      7) Darkrai
      8) Reshiram
      9) Yveltal
      10) Xurkitree

      Reply

        • Regigigas has been my favorite ever since the DP days, I’m not really sure why. Its design is just really cool to me, and I like that it’s a sort of leader to the Regi trio. I also like the concept and design of Necrozma, the whole prism and light refraction thing is really neat. I’m really glad it’s getting the focus it deserves in USUM!

          Reply

    • Why would the new UBs make it harder when UBs aren’t legends ? ? ? ? ?

      Nah but in all seriousness it has to be Tapu Lele, such a simple but sweet design + the whole ‘cute but one of the most vicious Pokémon’ is also p. cool

      Reply

  15. Just beat Superstar Saga! I got 100% blocks and beans but didn’t get 100% music because there’s no way I’m going to grind enemy encounters that much. I’m happy to report that this is a beautiful and worthy remake of an incredible game. The lighting and new models are what particularly stand out, but it all just feels like it’s been “remastered” with very little retouching. I don’t know how they did it. For anyone who hasn’t played this game before, PLEASE do, it will change your life. Maybe.

    Reply

  18. What if all UBs got prevos/evos? Not gonna happen, but fun to think about
    Nihilego could have either a prevo or an evo
    Evo idea: Tantumego Poison/Psychic a powerful mind controller, not an empty mind container, design looking more like Lusamine than like Lillie
    Prevo Idea: Nisipura pure Rock a transparent shapeless squid
    Buzzwole and Pheromosa could have a shared prevo
    Larfight Bug/Fighting- a small orange larva with sticking out legs and arms
    Xurkitree prevo
    Seercoot Elextric a Snake like wire
    Celesteela prevo
    Princesteel Steel/Flying a smaller less detailed Cele
    Kartana prevo
    Sheethin Grass/Steel a sheet of paper with colourful shapes that look like Kartana’s face
    Guzzlord prevo
    Hanger pure Dark, a Munchlax sized guzzlord with fewer arms and teeth
    I have No ideas for the new ones

    Reply

    • Buzzwole and Pheromosa shouldn’t share a prevo, they’re far too different

      Polypess/Pessilyp (Pessimist + Polyp), Nihilego styled polyp

      Buzzmol and Phersome (Buzz + Smol, Pheromone + Winsome), which more resemble real mosquitos and cockroaches but still look like their evos

      Wirine (Wire + Vine, sounds like ‘Wiring’ like ‘Xurkitree’ sounds like ‘Circuitry’)

      Just the first three because I’m busy rn

      Reply

  19. When your two favorite shows are coming back within two days of each other so you decide to shitpost about it on a Pokémon website because everybody’s being so quiet and you have the attention span of a goldfish

    Reply

    • Dragon/Water would make sense, Bug however I’m not really seeing. We don’t have any Bug type Gastropods, we have on Fire to Fire/Rock line and one Water/Ground line and then the Goomy Dragon line.

      Reply

    • Being Dragon/Water type would be quite nice actually, but in my opinion, pure Dragon still works fine, is based on a folclore half dragon half mollusc thingy, and molluscs aren’t necessarily water, are they? I mean, probably any gastropod that came before Goodra was water type if there was any…

      And I don’t see its preevos being bug types at all really, they look like slugs, but that’d make them more water type than anything really

      Reply

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