2026-01-15
Modding Stardew Valley
Why Mod?
Stardew Valley is one of the most popular indie farming sims of all time. From the captivating storylines to the clever game play, Stardew has become one of my personal favorite games to chill to. So the question is: Why mod a game that's already so feature packed and exciting? One answer: Because the community that loves Stardew Valley also loves making amazing content that enriches the game and expands it's horizons.
The modding scene in Stardew is 10 years strong and still pumping out amazing content daily. Creators love this game and many have continued to support their mods through the most recent update. Even older mods have been updated unofficially just to keep the content alive in what's now Stardew 1.6. Whether you're looking for a cottagecore aesthetic, enhanced combat system, or even a more ahem...adult encounter with the friendly faces of Pelican town; you can find a mod for it.
Where to Start
SMAPI or "Stardew Modding API" is what makes a modded Stardew experience possible. Without this program, you're limited to simple XNB and asset replacements.
From there your best bet is Nexus Mods, where I personally obtain my mods.
After that? The possibilities are endless! I'd recommend just searching around the popular mods section on Nexus with a 1.6 tag to make sure it's compatible with the newest version of the game. Each mod will have "Requirements" that you should download to properly run your mod. Always check the requirements before you download a mod!
Quick Start
- Download Stardew Valley from your preferred provider
- Launch Stardew at least once to generate any necessary files
- Download SMAPI
- Search the "1.6" tag to find compatible mods
- Unzip and drag your mods into the "mod" folder created by SMAPI (Steam\steamapps\common\Stardew Valley)
- Launch your game and check the SMAPI dialogue box for any issues
Troubleshooting
While modding you may come across some issues. Most of the time SMAPI will display a log in red that states a mod cannot load. Other times, you'll have some graphical or gameplay glitches displayed in the game. Here's a small troubleshooting guide that I've found fixes most of my issues.
- Check your SMAPI log! Errors will be listed in red and updates will be listed in pink.
- Test a small batch of mods at a time! It's easier to find conflicts and issues if you're testing a few mods at a time verses my current loadout of 190.
- Make sure it's 1.6 compatible! Some mods haven't been updated to 1.6. Although some may work without the updates there may still be issues loading them.
- Your mods may not be compatible together! Always check the mod page and any listed compatibility issues.
- You may have two mods that change the same thing (i.e. Overgrown Flowery Interface & Earthy Interface).
- Required mods may not be downloaded for your mod. Always check the "Requirements" dropdown.
- How to read your SMAPI log
Recommendations
Below are mods I highly recommend for the game. Most can be used together, but some will change the same asset and require you to make a choice between the two. Others have compatibility issues with certain mods. Always read the mod page to make sure it's compatible with other mods you may enjoy!
Stardew Valley Expanded
SDVE is one of the best content expansions in the community. The content expands upon most gameplay features including: New Villagers, New Romances, Unlockable Areas, Expanded Storylines, More Items, New Farm Maps, and more updates to come!
Graphics
Gameplay
Quality of Life
Story
Furry
Furry Stardew Valley Expanded Continued (SVE)
Rubberbark's Bara Anthro Mods (NSFW)