Stardew Valley Mods Guide
Mods can completely transform your Stardew Valley experience โ from visual upgrades to massive content expansions. Here's our curated collection of the best mods, organized by category.
โ๏ธ How to Install Mods
Prerequisites
- Install SMAPI (Stardew Modding API) โ Download here
- Extract SMAPI to your Stardew Valley folder
- Run
install.exeon Windows (or terminal on Mac/Linux) - Launch the game through SMAPI (a new shortcut will be created)
Installing a Mod
- Download the mod from Nexus Mods
- Extract the ZIP file
- Copy the mod folder into
Stardew Valley/Mods/ - Launch the game via SMAPI
Mod Manager (Recommended)
Stardrop โ an open-source, cross-platform mod manager: - Auto-install and update mods - Enable/disable mods with one click - Manage mod profiles (different sets for different saves)
๐ Must-Have Mods
๐จ Visual & UI
| Mod | Description | Link |
|---|---|---|
| UI Info Suite 2 | Shows experience bars, NPC locations, crop calendar, and more | Nexus |
| Visible Fish | See fish swimming in the water before you cast | Nexus |
| Diverse Stardew Valley | New character portraits and sprites | Nexus |
| Seasonal Outfits | NPCs change clothes with the seasons | Nexus |
| Better Artisan Goods | Shows which artisan goods are most profitable | Nexus |
๐ฎ Gameplay Enhancements
| Mod | Description | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Automate | Auto-process machines (put chest next to furnace = auto-smelt) | Nexus |
| Chests Anywhere | Access all your chests from one screen | Nexus |
| Lookup Anything | Press F1 to see detailed info about anything | Nexus |
| Time Speed | Slow down or pause time | Nexus |
| Tractor Mod | Ride a tractor to auto-farm large areas | Nexus |
๐๏ธ New Content
| Mod | Description | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Stardew Valley Expanded | Huge content pack โ new areas, NPCs, fishing spots, farm types | Nexus |
| Ridgeside Village | Adds an entire new village with 25+ NPCs | Nexus |
| East Scarp | New forest area with NPCs and quests | Nexus |
๐พ Quality of Life
| Mod | Description | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Automatic Gates | Gates open and close automatically | Nexus |
| NPC Map Locations | See NPCs on your map | Nexus |
| Skip Intro | Skip the loading splash screens | Nexus |
| To-Dew | In-game task list | Nexus |
๐ฆ Starter Mod Pack
For new players, install these 5 mods first:
- SMAPI โ Required for all mods
- UI Info Suite 2 โ See everything you need
- Lookup Anything โ Never search the wiki again
- Chests Anywhere โ Organize your storage
- Automate โ Let machines work while you explore
This pack gives you quality-of-life improvements without changing the core game experience.
โ ๏ธ Important Notes
- Back up your save files before installing mods
- Check mod compatibility โ some mods don't work together
- Update regularly โ game updates can break mods
- SMAPI tells you which mods need updates when you launch
- Multiplayer: All players need the same mods installed
๐ All mods listed are from Nexus Mods. Always download from trusted sources.
๐ Buy Stardew Valley on Steam โ Support the developer!