Summary
Stardew Valleywas originally released in 2016 and quickly encapsulated audiences with itsHarvest Moon-inspired farming simulation and simple yet enjoyable role-playing mechanics. The game came to Nintendo Switch in 2017, a year after its initial release, giving a new set of players the chance to lose themselves in the indie game’s engrossing world.
Though there is a great deal to love about the title, those who have puthundreds of hours of playtimeintoStardew Valleymay be looking for something new. Thankfully, there are many other fantasticSwitch games likeStardew Valleythat fans can check out.
Updated on July 01, 2025, by Ritwik Mitra:Stardew Valley is one of the greatest farming sim games ever made, with the title’s relentless charm and constant stream of content letting players enjoy an indie phenomenon that is still going strong to this day. It’s easy to see why the hype for Haunted Chocolatier is through the roof, and players can’t wait to see how Eric Barone’s second game will enhance his legacy. Until this title releases, Switch players will be glad to know that there are many games like Stardew Valley available for them to check out.
A game that takes place in the Stone Age,Roots of Pachalets players harvest resources and contribute to the progress of their clan in a new environment. Much likeStardew Valley, players start from humble beginnings before moving on to bigger and better things.
Players who donate the goods they find will attain Contribution Points that aid in the clan’s progression. At its core,Roots of Pachaisa relaxing titlethat’s perfect for those looking forgames likeStardew Valleyon the Switch.
There are many life sim games with farming elements on the market, but the endearing charm and uniquePokemon-esque mechanics ofOobletshelp the title to stand out. In this game, players arrive inthe seaside town of Badgetownand obtain a plot of land that they must work upon to set up a successful farm.
Players can join a club, tend to their property, befriend the townsfolk, and take the help of the adorableOobletsto automate various activities on their farm. It’s easy to see why fans ofStardew Valleywill feel right at home with whatOobletsbrings to the table.
A single look atLittlewoodwill make theStardew Valleycomparisons clear as day. The game takes place in a world where the evil presence has already been beaten, and society is on the path to rebuild and achieve a sense of normalcy once again.
Along with the usual gameplay of harvesting materials andconstructing new buildings, players can also befriend characters and engage in a wealth of side activities that hammer in the life-sim elements of this game.Littlewoodis the perfect game for fans who want to check outgames likeStardew Valleyon the Switch.
Slime Rancheris an open-world life simulation and farming game that differentiates itself fromStardew Valleywith its first-person perspective. The game was released in early access in 2016, with its full release coming in August 2017. The Switch version arrived a few years later, in 2021, under the nameSlime Rancher: Plortable Edition.
Slime Rancherputs players in the shoes of Beatrix LeBeau, who has moved to a planet named Far, Far Range, where she finds, collects, and raises adorable organisms known as slimes. The PC version of the game scored an impressive 81 on Metacritic, and it was also nominated for Best Debut Indie Game at The Game Awards 2017.
Moonlighteris split into two main mechanics: store management and combat. During the daytime, the protagonist,Will, is a shopkeeper. However, Will isn’t content with his simple shopkeeper life, so he decides to take on a series of dungeons.
The gameplay loop ofMoonlighterinvolves obtaining loot by fighting in dungeons, using this loot to expand Will’s shop and gain better equipment, and then using this equipment to conquer even tougher dungeons. When searching forgames likeStardew Valley,Moonlighterprovides a great alternative for those wanting an emphasis on combat.
Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Townis a remake of the classicHarvest Moon: Friends of Mineral Town.The originalHarvest Moonwas released back in 2003 on the Game Boy Advance and quickly became one ofthe system’s most beloved entriesfor its simple and enjoyable yet in-depth and addictive farm management mechanics.
Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Towngives the classic game a wonderful new look, similar to the remake ofThe Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening.The game is an excellent choice for those who enjoy the farming elements ofgames likeStardew Valleyon the Switch.
Astroneerwas developed by System Era Softworks and isa sandbox adventure gamewith no overarching objectives or storyline, giving players complete freedom to create their own goals and overall adventure.
The game takes place in a range of procedurally generated planets that players are free to explore, gather the resources within, and then craft a plethora of items. Players who loveStardew Valley’s calming vibes and freeform sandbox gameplay will findAstroneerto be right up their alley.
Realistically, if someone has played and enjoyedStardew Valley, they likely will have tried the iconicMinecraftat one point or another. Still, it’s worth including, as anyone who hasn’t tried it yet might be about to play the perfect replacement for ConcernedApe’s RPG.
Minecraftwas originally released in 2011 and engrossed players by offering one of the purest open-world sandbox experiences released up until that point, with players having complete freedom to build their own world and craft their own story.
Terrariawas released just a few months beforeMinecraftand has numerous similarities with its open-world, sandbox mechanics, andprocedurally generated worlds. Despite its similarities,Terrariahasn’t come close to the eye-watering sales figures ofMinecraft, likely due to its 2D perspective, which often doesn’t have the same mainstream appeal as 3D for modern audiences.
AlthoughTerreriahas always had to live in the shadow ofMinecraftcommercially, it is still adored by many gamers today. It’s a no-brainer recommendation for fans who want to check out moregames likeStardew Valleyon the Switch.
When thinking of games that one can relax with and enjoy over time, few series come to mind faster thanAnimal Crossing.The franchise originated in 2001 with a game simply titledAnimal Crossingand has had four main series releases since, which have all been highlights of the social simulator andlife simulator genres.
Animal Crossing: New Horizonsdoesn’t try to reinvent the wheel, keeping intact the core building, social, and management mechanics that players have always loved about the iconic franchise.Stardew Valleyowes a lot of its success to the social sim elements of this series that Eric Barone was clearly inspired by.
