Since 2016, Stardew Valley has continuously sucked players into an expansive and ever-growing world that oozes charm, possibilities, and entertainment. With the right mods, you can enhance the life-sim farming experience significantly, so here’s how to mod Stardew Valley!
How to Mod Stardew Valley
In order to mod Stardew Valley, you need to be able to download SMAPI, so unfortunately, you can’t mod on consoles.
- Install SMAPI; this is what Stardew Valley will use to run the mods and make sure everything is up to date
- Extract the files, double-click the folder, and then double-click the installation for the system you’re using (Mac, Windows, etc.).
- If Stardew Valley is installed on Steam, hit one in the dialog box and then enter
- For installing, hit one for the next prompt and then enter
- Copy the green link it gives you using ‘ctrl’ or ‘cmd’ c
- Right-click on Stardew Valley, go to properties, look in general, then paste the link into the bar under launch options
- Download the mods you want via Nexus, right-click on Stardew Valley, hit browse local files, then drag any mods into the mods folder
After these steps, all you have to do is open your game and then all mods will be automatically loaded. If there are any errors or out-of-date mods, then the SMAPI prompt at the beginning will let you know.
Alternatively, you can skip manual installation and streamline the modding process by downloading Vortex. It’s an easy-to-use mod manager that allows you to download and install game mods for popular titles, such as Starfield!
Related: How to Grow Blue Grass in Stardew Valley
Stardew Valley Mods I Recommend
Now that you know how to mod your game, let’s look at some of my personal favorites.
Stardew Valley Expanded
Stardew Valley Expanded adds a lot of extra lore and dialog to the game. It gives more depth to Joja Mart, adding two new characters that you can get to know and lose if Joja Mart goes out of business while also being able to talk to Morris and get to know his motives.
This mod also adds new areas to explore and new NPCs to get to know.
Because of its extensive additions, I recommend this mod only for experienced players who have already explored a lot of the game.
Tractor Mod
This isn’t a big mod, but it’s a nice mod to have to speed things up. It allows you to till and water your crops in bulk with a modern tractor.
It’s a quality-of-life mod that makes farming a little quicker.
Skull Cavern Elevator Mod
This is another small mod, but it makes Skull Cavern a little more manageable and less scary by adding an elevator checkpoint every five levels like in the normal mines.
This is another quality-of-life mod that I would recommend for those who just need Skull Cavern for resources and are tired of worrying about dying and fighting all the monsters.
Canon-Friendly Dialogue Expansion Mod
This mod is simple but adds a lot to the game. It adds about 2,900 new dialogue lines. This changes up gameplay, gives the NPCs a little more personality, and makes them less stale after playing the game for so long.
Elle’s Cuter Dogs Mod
To wrap things up, this mod is for all the dog lovers out there. It’s a small, simple mod that adds new dog breeds and colors players can choose. It gives more variety and personality to the game and your farm.
The Guide Hall dives into Stardew Valley whenever we need an opportunity to relax and settle back after a long day. With a few mods, you can enhance the farming sim tenfold, and we’re ecstatic to show you how!