Stardew Valley Creator Says He 'Might Eventually Make a Stardew Valley 2,' But It's 'So Much Easier to Add More Stuff to Stardew Valley Than Make a New Game From Scratch'

Eric "ConcernedApe" Barone, the mastermind behind Stardew Valley, has hinted at the possibility of creating a sequel, stating he might "eventually make a Stardew Valley 2." However, he cautioned fans not to get too excited, as he finds it "so much easier to just add more stuff to Stardew Valley than to make a whole new game from scratch." Barone explained that with Stardew Valley, the foundational systems are already in place, making updates a more straightforward and enjoyable process. "It's all the systems — all the major systems — are already all done. That’s the stuff that’s not fun to do. When I make an update [for Stardew Valley now], it’s like, oh, throw in this, throw in that. Let’s add green rain — like, these random, whimsical ideas," he said during an interview with TigerBelly.

Despite the potential for a sequel, Barone is currently focused on his new project, Haunted Chocolatier. He expressed a desire to not be pigeonholed as "the Stardew Valley guy" and mentioned that there's still "a lot to be done" on Haunted Chocolatier, emphasizing that it "has to be better" than Stardew Valley. Fans shouldn't expect a release date for Haunted Chocolatier anytime soon.

When Stardew Valley was first reviewed in 2016, it received an impressive 8.8 "Great" rating. However, upon revisiting the game in 2024, it was hailed as a 10/10 "masterpiece." The review praised it as "not only the best farming game I’ve played, it is one of my favorite games of all time. That myself and others keep returning to this eight-year-old gem each time it gets even the smallest update speaks to how it’s truly a masterpiece in the genre it both reinvigorated and has come to define."

For new players, the Stardew Valley Beginner's Guide has been fully updated for the 2024 1.6 update, which introduced new crops, fish, and the Raccoon Family Quests that unlock a new shop and valuable rewards. Veteran farmers looking to advance further can refer to our Mastery Points guide, while those exploring Ginger Island can find all the Golden Walnuts with our detailed guide.