It’s been almost a decade since the release of the legendary farming sim Stardew Valley, and it’s easy to be daunted by its massive reputation and dedicated player community. Fortunately, the game is all about chilling out, and isn’t too tough on newcomers. That being said, going in totally blind can be a bit overwhelming in a game so packed with information. So, whether you’re a brand new player or it’s been so long you’ve forgotten the ropes, here are 15 tips for starting a fresh Stardew Valley save in 2026.
Choose the Four Corners, Standard, or Forest Farm
There are eight different farm maps to choose from, but not all are created equal. Be sure to make an informed decision — you can’t change your mind later!
The Four Corners farm is described as being ideal for multiplayer, but it’s my favorite for single player, too. Four Corners’ structured layout is great for planning how you want to organize your base later on, and each corner has a different perk to it.
The Standard farm is another solid choice since it gives you the most space for raising animals and farming crops. The Forest farm also works well; it doesn’t offer a lot of farming space, but it’s great for foraging, which is a crucial skill in the early game.
The other farms make starting out more challenging, and Stardew is already overwhelming enough without adding extra hurdles. I would know; my first ever farm was on the Riverland map (because it’s the prettiest), but I got so frustrated I abandoned the save.
Take it easy
It’s inevitable that you’re gonna make a mistake. Whether you can’t get home before 2 a.m., or you give someone a present they don’t like, or you miss out on farming a particular crop before the season changes, don’t beat yourself up about it. Stardew Valley is a game about going at your own pace—it’s not possible to play it “wrong,” so long as you’re having fun. It isn’t the end of the world if you accidentally sell something you need later on. Find the joy in stumbling as you learn.
Plan ahead for the Community Center
That being said, if you do want to strategize, the best thing you can do is keep track of what you’ll need to finish rebuilding the Community Center. I like to keep a physical list of all the stuff I need to complete the Community Center handy for quick reference.
Watch TV every day
Flicking through the TV when you wake up will reward you with helpful intel from a variety of channels. The content on every channel changes daily, so make a habit of TV surfing before you head out each morning.
Keep one of every item
As a general rule, I like to keep at least one of every item I stumble upon stored at my base. Odds are the stuff you think is worthless now will turn out to be useful later on.
Start a tree farm
You’re gonna need a lot of wood in this game. Trees take forever to grow, so set up a designated area for trees on your farm as early as you can.
Don’t plant too many seeds
Believe it or not, there is such a thing as too much farming. Watering your plants costs energy, which you have a limited amount of each day. There’s much more to explore beyond your farm, so don’t spend all your time trying to till every square inch of your land—keep it manageable.
Go fishing
Fishing is one of the best things you can do in the early game. Not only is it a quick and easy way to earn some cash, you also have a chance of fishing up rare treasure. Upgrading your rod as soon as you’re able is also a good move.
Fish where you see bubbles
If you see bubbles in the water, make sure to cast your line there. Fish are way quicker to bite in bubble spots and you’re less likely to catch trash.
Dig for worms
When you’re walking around, keep an eye out for any grass tiles that have three little worms wriggling on them. Using a hoe on that tile will yield valuable items.
Place chests in key locations
Remember that you can place chests anywhere so long as they aren’t on NPC walking paths. It’s easy to run out of inventory space while spelunking, so having a chest right outside the elevator in the mines is super helpful. I also like to keep chests on the beach and by the river for fishing.
Build a silo ASAP
Silos automatically store all the grass you cut. Constructing one before you start on any other buildings is a good idea because it’ll give you a big reserve of hay for when you do get animals.
Pet your animals
Once you get livestock on your farm, right-click to pet them! If you make a daily habit of it, you’ll be rewarded with higher quality animal goods—plus a cute heart animation. It’s my favorite part of the daily farm routine (no I will never buy the auto petters).
Prepare for winter with heaters
Winter is tough. Your farmland is rendered barren and your animals can’t go outside, so you’ll have to rely on resource reservoirs and animal produce to survive. Make sure your animals have a siloful of hay to munch on and a heater in every barn/coop so they don’t go cold.
Press and hold right-click to save time
Most repetitive actions can be done en masse by holding down the right mouse button. It makes harvesting crops, petting animals, and collecting items from machines way faster.
