Discovering the Best Stardew Valley Mods for PC
One of the great advantages of playing Stardew Valley on PC is the ability to enhance your experience with mods. While the developer, ConcernedApe, has consistently introduced various updates, there are still numerous quality-of-life improvements that the player community has created.
Finding the right mod setup is crucial. You don’t want to jeopardize the effort you’ve put into your farm over countless hours with cheat codes, yet you may want to track where NPCs are located on the map. It’s all about striking the perfect balance—select the mods that suit your needs while maintaining a sense of progression. Before delving into the best Stardew Valley mods, let’s go over how to install them.
How to Install Stardew Valley Mods
To start, you’ll need SMAPI, a tool that automates the modding process. This program launches every time you start the game on Steam and creates a mods folder in your Stardew Valley directory, where you can place all your mods. You can download SMAPI and find detailed instructions on their official site.
In addition to SMAPI, you will also need to download Content Patcher from Nexus Mods. This utility allows you to replace in-game visuals, like the barn animals in the mod we’re about to discuss. Just copy the Content Patcher folder into the Mods folder created by SMAPI and follow the specific installation instructions for each mod.
1. Bear Mount Mod
While horses are great for getting around Stardew Valley, wouldn’t it be fun to ride a bear instead? The Bear Mount mod lets you choose from a brown bear, black bear, panda, or even a skeleton mount. You can also switch the stable’s food to honey, a nod to Winnie the Pooh. While it defaults to a brown bear, you can change this in the config file. There’s even an option to customize your saddle and reins for that true bear-riding experience.
Check out the Bear Mount on Nexus Mods.
2. Ghibli Critters Mod
Want to add some magic inspired by Studio Ghibli films to Pelican Town? The Ghibli Critters mod replaces the game’s wild animals with charming critters from these beloved films. Make sure to have the latest Content Patcher for this mod. You’ll see familiar faces like Kodamas from Princess Mononoke and No Face from Spirited Away. It adds a delightful touch to your farming life.
Explore the Ghibli Critters on Nexus Mods.
3. Elle’s New Barn Animals Mod
Search for "Elle’s" on Nexus Mods and you’ll find a delightful range of creature replacements for your farm animals. The highlight is undoubtedly her New Barn Animals collection, which allows you to swap out cows, sheep, and goats for a wide variety of deer and alpacas. Plus, you’ll have an impressive 18 skin options for pigs to choose from!
After installing, launch the game once to create a configuration file, then change the names and colors of the animals as desired.
Discover Elle’s New Barn Animals on Nexus Mods.
4. CJB Cheats Menu
The CJB Cheats Menu and Item Spawner can be both a blessing and a hindrance. While they can humorously sidestep the hard work put into the game, they also allow you to enhance your gameplay significantly. You can finish quests instantly, gain unlimited stamina and health, and even spawn items in droves. It’s perfectly integrated but be warned: using them could spoil the sense of accomplishment.
Check out CJB Cheats Menu on Nexus Mods.
5. Automate Mod
If you’ve committed to the Artisan career path and find yourself overwhelmed with jars, kegs, and machines, the Automate mod is your solution. This mod automatically pulls resources from a connected chest to nearby machines and returns the finished products back to the chest. Maintain your farm’s aesthetic by linking machines in a way that suits your layout.
6. NPC Map Locations Mod
With the NPC Map Locations Mod, you can easily track where villagers are located throughout Stardew Valley. This feature saves you the hassle of searching online or guessing where NPCs may be at any given time. However, it may not always indicate their availability for transactions, so keep that in mind.
View NPC Map Locations on Nexus Mods.
7. Tractor Mod
Want to clear your farm with style? The Tractor Mod allows you to drive a tractor around your land, making it easy to gather resources. Build a tractor garage by visiting Robin with the necessary materials, and soon you’ll be cruising through your farm.
Get the Tractor Mod on Nexus Mods.
8. Chest Label System Mod
If you have chests scattered across your farm, the Chest Label System will assist in organization. You can label each chest to indicate its contents for easier management. Hovering over a chest will reveal its name, streamlining your inventory process.
Explore Chest Label System on Nexus Mods.
9. Gift Taste Helper Mod
Managing friendships in Stardew Valley can be tricky, as each villager has specific gifts they love and dislike. The Gift Taste Helper shows you the best gifts for each character directly in the menu, helping you improve relationships without the need to reference a wiki constantly.
Check out Gift Taste Helper on Nexus Mods.
10. Expanded Mod
If you feel like you’ve exhausted everything Stardew Valley has to offer, the Extended mod is perfect for you. It introduces new areas, NPCs, dialogue, quests, and items, offering an expansive experience that feels like a new game altogether.
Get started with Stardew Valley Expanded on Nexus Mods.
11. Cornucopia Mod
The Cornucopia mod multiplies your farming options with over 90 new crops and 35 new trees, giving your fields a refreshing upgrade. Plus, you can arrange berry bushes and mushrooms for added flair to your farm!
Looking for more content about Stardew Valley? Check out our guides to the various fish, Prismatic Shards, and sea jellies in the game!