No. 04Farming and life game
Stardew Valley: the game that fits almost any kit
The cosiest game on the list is also the easiest to run: 500 MB, any laptop, every console, phones, Mac and a free upgrade for Switch 2.
01 · the kit listWhere Stardew Valley plays
No game here asks less. It runs on everyday laptops and is sold for every console, for phones and for Mac and Linux. The only thing to plan is where your farm lives, because saves do not sync between different platforms.
- Desktop PCPlays
Steam and GOG for Windows, Mac and Linux, plus the Microsoft Store. It needs 2 GB of memory and 500 MB of space.
- Everyday laptopPlays
Runs comfortably on integrated graphics; the official minimum is 256 MB of video memory.
- Steam DeckPlays · Verified
Valve rates it Verified.
- PlayStation 5Plays · PS4 version
The PS4 version plays on PS5; there is no native PS5 edition.
- Xbox Series X|SPlays · Also in Game Pass
The Xbox One version plays on Series X|S, and it is included in Game Pass.
- Nintendo Switch 2Plays · Switch 2 Edition
The Switch 2 Edition arrived in the UK on 6 March 2026 as a free upgrade for Switch owners, adding mouse controls and four-player split-screen.
- Phone & tabletPlays
£4.99 on iPhone, iPad and Android; also in Apple Arcade as Stardew Valley+.
- MacPlays
Native Mac version on Steam and GOG.
- Cloud streamingWith caveats · Needs a service
Stream the Steam version on GeForce NOW, or play it through Xbox cloud streaming with Game Pass.
02 · on a PCWhat your PC needs
- System
- Windows Vista or later
- Processor
- 2 GHz
- Memory
- 2 GB
- Graphics
- 256 MB video memory, Shader Model 3.0
- Storage
- 500 MB
Recommended
The publisher lists minimum requirements only. Anything comfortably above them will do.
Published by ConcernedApe on Steam. Only minimum requirements are published; Mac and Linux need the same. Official requirements.
03 · the verdictSmall in size, huge in heart
Stardew Valley is a farming and life game. You inherit a neglected plot outside a small town, clear it, plant it and slowly become part of the community: fishing, mining, making friends, decorating and, if you like, marrying one of the residents.
It was made almost entirely by one developer, Eric Barone, and it still receives large free updates years after release. Each in-game day is short, so it fits into ten minutes or swallows an evening, and nothing punishes you for playing at your own pace.
Up to eight players can share a farm online, and it holds up just as well alone. The pixel art is warm, the music is lovely and the writing is quietly affecting.
No game here asks less of your kit. It runs on everyday laptops, is Verified on Steam Deck, and is sold on every console, on Mac and on phones and tablets. The only real choice is where you want your farm to live, because saves do not move automatically between every version.
Start it if…
you want something calm to come back to, alone or with family, on almost any screen.
Skip it if…
you need action, competition or a strong story pulling you forward.
04 · the score9.4 out of 10, and why
05 · the billWhat it costs in the UK
| Store | What you get | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam or GOG | Game (Windows, Mac and Linux) | £10.99 | |
| PlayStation Store | PS4 version, plays on PS5 | £11.49 | |
| Xbox Store | Xbox One and Series X|S | £11.99 | Also in Game Pass |
| Nintendo eShop | Switch 2 Edition | £10.99 | Free upgrade from Switch |
| App Store and Google Play | Phone and tablet | £4.99 |
Online play on consoles
- PlayStation
- PS Plus for online co-op; split-screen is free
- Xbox
- Game Pass Essential or higher for online co-op
- Nintendo
- Nintendo Switch Online for online co-op and cloud saves
What the shop sells
Nothing is sold inside the game. The soundtrack is the only add-on.
PEGI purchase descriptor: None.
One edition, and every update has been free. Phones are the cheapest way in; PC gives you mods and the biggest online co-op. Switch owners get the Switch 2 Edition upgrade free.
06 · starting in 2026Ten years on, still growing
The 1.6 update reached every platform and the Switch 2 Edition arrived in March 2026. For the tenth anniversary in February 2026, the developer confirmed a free 1.7 update is in development.
On the game's tenth anniversary, ConcernedApe confirmed a free 1.7 update is in development. Source.
The Nintendo Switch 2 Edition released in the UK, free for existing Switch owners. Source.
Update 1.7 is in development, free, with no release date.
07 · strengths and catchesWorth knowing
Strengths
- Runs on almost anything, including phones and old laptops
- One low price with years of free updates and no shop
- Co-op farms for friends and family
- Plays well in ten minutes or two hours
Catches
- Progress does not sync automatically between every platform
- The early seasons can feel slow
- Online co-op varies a little from platform to platform
08 · first stepsBefore your first session
- Plant only as many crops as you can water each morning; energy runs out quickly in the first weeks.
- Check the calendar and the noticeboard in town: birthdays and requests are the fastest way to make friends.
- Keep one of each crop and item for the community centre bundles.
- The mines give better tools and materials; visit them on rainy days, when the crops water themselves.
09 · screenshotsHow it looks
Screenshots: official, © ConcernedApe.
10 · questionsCommon questions
Can I play Stardew Valley on a phone?
Yes, for £4.99 on iPhone, iPad and Android. Apple Arcade also has a version called Stardew Valley+.
Is the Switch 2 Edition free?
Yes for existing Switch owners; new buyers pay £10.99. It released in the UK on 6 March 2026.
Does Stardew Valley have crossplay?
Only between the PC versions on Windows, Mac and Linux. Consoles play with the same console.
Does my farm carry over between platforms?
Not automatically. Cloud saves work within one platform, such as Steam Cloud or Nintendo Switch Online.