Stardew Valley has established itself as one of the best farming games of all time. Whether you're revitalizing your tiny plot of land, exploring the countryside, or chatting it up with neighbors, the indie game offers surprising depth — and it only grows more compelling the more you play.

Most people are first drawn to Stardew Valley by its gorgeous graphics. The adorable pixel art style embodies the game's whimsical charm, capturing every villager, animal, and plant in a unique way. It's also fun to watch as the world changes with the seasons, transforming the colorful countryside into a winter wonderland as the snow begins to fall. And since the graphics are so undemanding, Stardew Valley has been able to launch on numerous platforms, bringing the farming action to more than 20 million players.

Once Stardew Valley charms you with its graphics, you'll be introduced to a farming simulator that doesn't skimp out on complexity. Developer ConcernedApe gives players incredible freedom to develop the land as they see fit. From growing corn or raising cows to keeping bees or cultivating pineapples, there's no shortage of ways to make your farming dreams come true. As you dive deeper into the game, you'll discover ways to automate your setup, letting you go fishing, explore dungeons, help your fellow villagers, and participate in seasonal festivals.

Stardew Valley has seen dozens of updates over the years that brought fresh new content, but if you're ready to seek out greener pastures, there are plenty of other games to consider.

Here are 10 games like Stardew Valley to play next, listed by Metascore.

Minecraft (XB360)

Metascore: 82
Best for: Fans of free-form adventures
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Minecraft isn't exactly a farming sim, but it gives you unprecedented freedom to explore an endless landscape and build your own settlement. That could mean a gigantic fortress, simple cabin, or picturesque homestead. When you're not out in search of precious resources or slaying deadly beasts, the game gives you plenty of tools to craft your own farm — with animal breeding and crop growing both common ways to acquire useful materials. If you ever get tired of playing solo, there's a robust multiplayer mode that lets you dive in with a few friends.

"A masterful piece of contemporary game design and a richly rewarding experience suitable for all ages." — X-ONE Magazine UK

Rune Factory 4 Special (Switch)

Metascore: 81
Best for: Fans of farming sims and JRPGs
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It's not the newest Rune Factory game on the market, but Rune Factory 4 Special remains one of the best. This version of the game offers the standard Rune Factory 4 experience but also adds the Newlywed Mode, in-game cutscenes, and plenty of other quality of life updates. If you're unfamiliar with Rune Factory 4, it's essentially a mash-up of JRPG and farming game, letting you grow crops and monsters, head out on fishing expeditions, mingle with locals, or take part in deadly combat as you unravel a mysterious story.

"Absorbing, packed with content and unique features. If you ever thought about combining farm management and JRPG, this is your game." — Vandal

Slime Rancher (PC)

Metascore: 81
Best for: Fans of adorable FPS games
Where to buy: Steam
Also available on: PS4, Switch, XB1

Slime Rancher is played from a first-person perspective and follows the adventurous Beatrix LeBeau. The rancher has set out to explore a land far away from Earth and is looking to become a bona fide slime rancher. To do this, you'll need to learn and grow more than 150 unique slimes, harvest resources from your surroundings, and take on missions from more experienced ranchers. The entire game is filled with adorable new creatures around every corner, and there's always something new to discover. It's a strange concept for a game, but one that works surprisingly well — especially if you love its combination of farming and exploration.

"Slime Rancher oozes personality and style, being a clear labor of love. It comes highly recommended and is sure to please young and old alike." — Meristation

Terraria (XB360)

Metascore: 81
Best for: Fans of 2D exploration games
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If you're a fan of 2D platformers and Stardew Valley, Terraria could be your new favorite game. It sets you loose in a dangerous 2D world with little direction, letting you explore, mine, craft, and battle against a slew of monsters on your own terms. You'll unlock powerful gear as you make your way deeper into the game that will in turn give you access to higher level areas. Farming isn't a large part of the game, but with the freedom to build anything you can imagine, creative players will find ways to turn a barren plot of land into a field teeming with crops.

"A genuine action-platformer game. It is also a survival adventure and a RPG. And above all, is a great 2D sandbox game with amusing gameplay options." — 3DJuegos

Farming Simulator 22 (PS5)

Metascore: 75
Best for: Fans seeking an authentic farming experience
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Farming Simulator 22 is arguably the most realistic farming sim on the market. You'll have access to machinery from more than 100 real-life brands to help you harvest acres of crops or tend animals. There's also a variety of locations to choose from, including the Mediterranean or Midwest US. When you're not farming, you'll be able to customize your farmer, upgrade your homestead, build new structures, or join in on some multiplayer. If you enjoy the base game, there's plenty of DLC to check out that offer even more authentic farming action.

"An uncompromising simulation experience, which makes its relaxed rhythms and the vast range of contents its proud distinctive element." — Everyeye.it

Bear and Breakfast (PC)

Metascore: 73
Best for: Fans of relaxing, atmospheric gameplay
Where to buy: Steam
Also available on: N/A

Bear and Breakfast isn't just a great name, it's also the entire premise of this eccentric RPG. You'll play as an adorable bear that's trying to start a bed and breakfast. You're given the ability to modify just about every inch of your building, with dozens of ways to customize each room and improve your guests' stay. Keeping your visitors happy is only part of the challenge, as you'll also need to take on quests to unlock new items for your bed and breakfast. There's a fun storyline to work through too, which will introduce you to tons of memorable characters as you step deep into the mysterious forest surrounding your home.

"Bear and Breakfast offers players a pleasant collection of activities, interlaced with a wholesome story and lovable characters in a whimsical nature-filled world." — Gfinity

My Time at Portia (PC)

Metascore: 73
Best for: Its incredible variety of life-sim activities
Where to buy: Steam
Also available on: iOS, PS4, Switch, XB1

My Time at Portia shares a lot in common with Stardew Valley. Its graphics look radically different, but your time is still spent growing crops, chatting up the locals, raising livestock, crafting new gear, and exploring a colorful world. The game starts by introducing you to your Pa's old workshop. It's in serious need of renovations, and the only way to bring it back to its former glory is through a ton of hard work. The setup is standard for the farming sim genre, and My Time at Portia doesn't do too much to innovate on the established formula, but it's a great option for farming enthusiasts seeking a new plot of land.

"Combine hunting, mining, building and romancing with a fascinating setting and an involved narrative, and I can see myself continuing to go back to play more." — TheSixthAxis

Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town (Switch)

Metascore: 71
Best for: Fans of quirky, nostalgic farming sims
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Its graphics leave a bit to be desired, but folks willing to look past the shortcoming will find Pioneers of Olive Town to be one of the best farming sims of the past few years. You'll head to Olive Town, a small settlement founded by your grandpa. And (no surprise), it's up to you to take over the farm and make a living off the land. Pioneers of Olive Town stands out from the crowd due to its seasonal events, as you'll take part in more than 200 local festivals. You can also check out some exotic locations such as a floating island and volcano.

"You can expect the same charming and wholesome aesthetic from this game much like all those that came before it." — Comicbook.com

The Sims 4 (PC)

Metascore: 70
Best for: Fans seeking a life sim with less farming
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If the social aspects of Stardew Valley were your favorite, you won't want to miss out on The Sims 4. It's a big departure from previous installments, this time with a heavy emphasis on the RPG and social elements. Create your Sim with hundreds of customization options, put together your dream home, then help them develop a variety of skills and partake in dozens of hobbies. You can also share your creations online with others. Despite launching in 2014, The Sims 4 community is absolutely thriving, and there's no shortage of ways to join in on the action.

"The Sims 4 is unique in its genre and this new release is perfect for both fans of the series and beginners." — Meristation 

Graveyard Keeper (PC)

Metascore: 69
Best for: Its dark sense of humor and "farming" gameplay
Where to buy: Steam
Also available on: iOS, PS4, Switch, XB1

It's a bit darker than other games on this list, but Graveyard Keeper follows the same basic outline as most other farming games. But instead of growing plants, you're dealing with corpses. Your goal is to run a profitable medieval cemetery by any means necessary. There's a wide degree of freedom as to how you achieve that goal, and deep strategy chops make it easy to spend hours honing the perfect business plan. When not working on your cemetery, you can take on quests, explore dungeons, and gather resources littered throughout the dreary landscape.

"Patient players will find a lot to like in its wealth of well-developed diversions, fantastic art and music, and pitch-black comedic aesthetic." — GamingTrend