Best Stardew Valley Mods for 2025: Top Picks & Install Guide

What are the best Stardew Valley mods?
Even without official Steam Workshop support, the mod scene for ConcernedApe’s beloved farming sim is absolutely thriving. PC players have been busy tweaking, enhancing, and overhauling nearly every part of the game—from wild god mode cheats to stunning texture packs that make Stardew Valley feel like a pixel-perfect fairytale.

Sure, the base game still has thousands of daily players, but it’s been around for a while—so if you’re looking to shake things up a bit, we don’t blame you. Thankfully, the Stardew modding community is packed with creativity, letting you do everything from farming Pokémon to exploring brand-new maps or even improving your in-game married life.

We’ve rounded up our favorite Stardew Valley mods that show just how much the game can evolve. Whether you’re into fresh visuals, gameplay upgrades, or good old-fashioned chaos, these picks will help you rediscover why Stardew is still one of the best PC games out there.

The best Stardew Valley mods are:

New Outfits (Katy’s Closet)

Give your farmer a fresh new look with Katy’s Closet by Kayyteee—a cozy collection of forest-themed outfits perfect for life on (or off) the farm. This mod adds a variety of mix-and-match options, including both skirts and shorts, plus hats and accessories that work with any outfit combo. Bonus: there are even some animated pieces like a swishy fox or raccoon tail to show off your wild side. Whether you’re channeling woodland vibes or just want a cuter wardrobe, this mod’s got you covered.

Artisan Goods (Wildflourmods)

Ready to level up your Stardew Valley hustle? The Artisan Goods mod by Wildflourmods lets you turn your farm into a fully customized crafting empire. Whether you’re dreaming of a quaint candy shop or a full-blown artisan atelier, this mod gives you instant access to a wide range of items—and the best part is, it’s fully customizable to fit your playstyle. Want all the options? Go wild. Prefer a more focused vibe? Pick only what you need. If you’re looking to seriously upgrade your game’s production side, this mod is a no-brainer.

Predict Reaction to Gifts

Ever handed someone a gift in Stardew, only to get the dreaded “meh” response? The Predict Reaction to Gifts mod saves you from that awkward moment by showing a handy little emote above an NPC’s head before you give them the item. It’s a simple but super useful tweak that lets you know if your gift is going to be a hit or a total flop. Whether you're trying to woo your crush or just build some solid friendships, this mod makes social life in the Valley way smoother.

Experience Bars

If you've ever wished you could see exactly how close you are to leveling up your skills, Experience Bars by spacechase0 is the quality-of-life mod you need. It adds sleek, always-visible progress bars for each skill—farming, mining, fishing, you name it—so you can track your grind in real time. It’s perfect for planning your days more efficiently, whether you're min-maxing or just curious. Bonus: it works in both single-player and multiplayer, and you can toggle it on or off instantly with a quick shortcut. Simple, smart, and super helpful.

Ultimate Storage System

Tired of playing inventory Tetris with dozens of storage boxes? The Ultimate Storage System mod is here to save your sanity. It adds the FarmLink Terminal—a sleek, high-tech hub that connects all your chests into one seamless global inventory. You can search, sort, and transfer items with just a click, whether you're grabbing a full stack or a single item. Want to streamline your crafting too? Plop the terminal next to your workbench and craft straight from your entire stash. It’s like Stardew Valley meets smart home tech—and it’s a total game-changer.

Golden Hour

If you're all about cozy vibes, the Golden Hour mod brings a subtle but beautiful touch to your Stardew days. It replaces the standard white indoor lighting with three dynamic lighting presets that shift throughout the day. Mornings and evenings now glow with customizable tones—think soft pink sunsets, dreamy blue moonlight, and more. It’s a small visual tweak, but it adds a big dose of atmosphere to your farmhouse and other buildings. Perfect for players who appreciate those golden-hour aesthetics without going overboard.

Bathroom Furniture

Let’s be honest—Stardew’s furniture options are a bit limited, especially when it comes to bathrooms. That’s where the Bathroom Furniture mod steps in. It adds a stylish selection of bathroom pieces in a variety of aesthetics, so you can finally turn that unused corner into a proper spa-like retreat. Whether you're going for a cozy wooden cottage feel or something sleek and modern, this mod gives you the tools to build your dream bathroom and bring a little more personality into your farmhouse setup.

Lookup Anything

Stardew Valley has a lot going on—crop schedules, fish spawn times, monster drops, villager gift prefs… the list goes on. If keeping track of all that info makes your head spin, Lookup Anything is the mod you need. Just hover over something in-game and hit F1, and boom—instant access to detailed info about pretty much anything.

From crop growth stages to enemy loot tables, this mod lays it all out. Want to keep a bit of mystery? Turn on progression mode, which hides things like puzzle solutions and gift preferences until you discover them naturally. Feeling extra nerdy? Dive into data mining mode for raw game data like tile IDs and spawn rates. Whether you’re new to the Valley or deep into your 100-hour farm, this is one of the most useful tools you can add.

Chocolate Valley

Can’t wait for Haunted Chocolatier? The Chocolate Valley mod is the next best thing—and a pretty sweet addition to your farm life. It lets you grow cacao plants and turn those beans into a whole range of tasty treats, from rich chocolate bars and creamy milkshakes to fancy truffles. It’s a fun little gameplay loop that adds some delicious depth to your crafting lineup. Whether you’re roleplaying as a local chocolatier or just want more foodie content, this mod totally delivers.

Copia’s Valley

This one’s a bit of a deep cut—but totally worth a spot on the list. Copia’s Valley is a character mod based on Cardinal Copia (aka Papa Emeritus IV) from the theatrical metal band Ghost. If you’re not familiar, Ghost blends '80s-inspired metal with wild lore and over-the-top personas, with frontman Tobias Forge playing a rotating cast of spooky religious figures as the band evolves. It’s weird, it’s dramatic, it’s awesome.

In this mod, Copia moves into Stardew Valley as a fully fleshed-out NPC, complete with custom dialogue, outfits, and heartfelt event scenes. Even if you’ve never heard a single Ghost song, fans say he fits right into the game’s world—and his story adds something genuinely unique. Bonus: he looks ridiculously cute in that Stardew pixel art style.

Immersive Farm 2 Remastered

Originally created by zanderb, Immersive Farm 2 was a fan favorite—but after updates stopped, modder FlashShifter stepped in and gave it a full remaster. The result? A bigger, better version of the beloved map with loads of extra features and quality-of-life upgrades.

To use Immersive Farm 2 Remastered, you’ll need to install Stardew Valley Expanded first (more on that below). Once it's all set up, you'll get access to a sprawling new farm layout, fresh questlines, brand-new characters, added dialogue, and more. It’s a must-have for anyone looking to breathe new life into their farm and dive deeper into the world of Stardew Valley.

Book Subscription

Who doesn’t love a good book subscription IRL? Now your Stardew character can get in on the fun too. The Book Subscription mod kicks in after you’ve donated 15 items to the museum, unlocking a new mechanic where you can choose to receive books weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly—your call.

While you can’t actually read the books, each one grants a bit of XP to help you level up your skills. Want an extra boost? You can also opt into receiving Power Books, which offer more XP but arrive at random. It’s a simple, satisfying way to keep your progress ticking along—and it adds a nice touch of routine to your in-game life.

Nora the Herpetologist

If your Stardew Valley could use a bit more reptilian charm, the Nora the Herpetologist mod is a perfect fit. Nora is a red-haired NPC who specializes in reptiles and amphibians—and yes, a herpetologist is someone who studies those cute, scaly (and sometimes slimy) creatures.

Adding Nora to your town unlocks 14 custom events, each one packed with personality and heart. You'll also get to meet her adorable pets: Stupid the gecko and Pinkie Pie the snake—yes, those are their real names. She brings some unique flavor to Pelican Town and fits right in with the game’s cozy-meets-quirky vibe.

Auto Fishing 2.0

Fishing in Stardew is meant to be chill, but sometimes it just feels like a mini-game grind. That’s where Auto Fishing 2.0 comes in. Originally created by SorryLate and now maintained by Tibsz, this mod takes the pressure off by automating the whole fishing process—casting, hooking, reeling, the works.

You can tweak the settings to fit your style, and it even has built-in smarts to stop fishing before you totally drain your stamina bar. Just set your preferences, kick back, and let the fish come to you. It’s the perfect mod for anyone who loves fishing rewards but not necessarily the button-mashing.

SF Daphne’s Buildable Ice Cream Truck

Looking to add a scoop of sweetness to your Stardew Valley? Daphne’s Buildable Ice Cream Truck by Abi Wabi brings a pastel-colored food truck—and a charming new NPC, Daphne—right into town. She’ll show up to serve all your frosty favorites, adding a cute, summery vibe to your valley routine.

Heads up: this mod isn’t updated for 1.6 just yet, but if you’re dying to try it, you can roll back your game to version 1.5.6 on Steam to keep using your older mods. The creator has confirmed an update is in the works, so 1.6 support is on the horizon. In the meantime, it’s the perfect excuse to cool down your farm with a little ice cream charm.

Always Welcome

Ever rushed across town with a birthday gift, only to find the door locked? Always Welcome has your back. This simple but super handy mod lets you enter NPC homes outside of regular hours—if you're close enough friends with them.

It’s a great little quality-of-life tweak that makes gifting (especially on birthdays) way less stressful. No more awkwardly pacing outside someone’s house at 8:10 PM with a bouquet in hand. If you’ve built up the friendship, you're always welcome—just like the mod says.

Holiday Sales

Running into shop closures during festivals in other towns? Holiday Sales has you covered. This mod lets you customize shop hours, so you’re not stuck staring at a "Closed for Festival" sign when you just need one more seed packet.

It’s especially useful if you’re running a heavily modded game with extra towns or events, where default schedules can clash. Fair warning—your shopkeepers won’t be thrilled about missing the fun, but hey, business is business. The mod isn’t 1.6-ready just yet, but you can still roll back to 1.5.6 via Steam if you’re craving that always-open convenience.

Stardew Valley Expanded

If you’re only installing one mod, Stardew Valley Expanded should probably be it. Created by FlashShifter, this massive content overhaul breathes new life into the game with a ton of high-quality additions—all for free.

We’re talking 10 new map locations, 38 character events, 400+ new location messages, remastered maps and festivals, a fully updated Immersive Farm 2, and even a reworked town layout to reflect all the changes. It’s like a Stardew Valley sequel built right into the original game. If you're looking for a fresh but familiar experience, SVE is an absolute must-play.

Tractor Mod

Farming’s fun—until you’re buried in crops, rocks, and weeds. That’s where Pathoschild’s Tractor Mod comes in to save your back (and your sanity). Once you buy a tractor garage from Robin and she finishes building it, you’ll unlock your new favorite tool: the tractor.

This beast of a machine combines all your tools into one. It can till soil, plant seeds, water crops, fertilize, harvest, and even clear debris like twigs and rocks. Want to take it a step further? Tweak the config settings and turn your tractor into a monster-slaying machine—yes, you can literally mow down enemies. Efficient and ridiculous? We’re in.

NPC Map Locations

Trying to track down villagers in Stardew can be a real pain—especially when their schedules shift with the seasons, weather, or random events. The NPC Map Locations mod makes things way easier by showing you exactly where everyone is on the map in real time.

You can fully customize it too, so if you only care about finding a few specific NPCs (looking at you, Sebastian), you won’t be overwhelmed by the whole crowd. It’s a simple mod that saves tons of time—and makes gift-giving, quest-chasing, or just saying hi a lot less frustrating.

Simple Crop Label

Ever come back to Stardew after a break and stare at your half-grown crops thinking, "What did I even plant here?" Yeah, same. The Simple Crop Label mod fixes that by adding a handy little name tag that pops up when you hover your mouse over a planted crop.

It’s a small tweak, but super useful—especially if you like planning your harvests or just want to avoid watering mystery plants. Clean, subtle, and saves you a lot of head-scratching.

No Fence Decay Redux

Fences are great for organizing your farm and making things look extra polished—but let’s be real, the constant decay is a pain. No Fence Decay Redux fixes that by automatically restoring all fences and gates to full health every morning, so you never have to replace a rotting wooden fence again.

This mod is a fresh remake of the original No Fence Decay mod, built specifically for Stardew Valley 1.6 (since the OG version isn’t compatible anymore). It’s a simple, stress-free way to keep your farm looking sharp without the maintenance grind.

CJB Item Spawner

With great power comes great… temptation to spawn 999 Iridium Bars. The CJB Item Spawner mod lets you pull any item—in any quantity and quality—straight into your inventory. It's insanely powerful, so use it wisely if you don’t want to throw game balance out the window.

That said, it’s perfect for creative builds, testing out mods, or skipping the early grind if you’ve already put in the hours. Whether you’re fast-tracking your dream farm or just want a mountain of ancient fruit, this mod gives you total control over your Stardew inventory.

Chests Anywhere

We’ve all been there—deep in the mines with a full inventory, or halfway across the map trying to impress your favorite villager, only to realize the perfect gift is sitting in a chest back at home. Chests Anywhere, by CJBok and Pathoschild, solves all that by letting you access your chests, fridge, shipping bin, and even Junimo huts from anywhere on the map.

It’s a massive quality-of-life boost that saves you from endless trips back to the farm. Whether you're managing loot, prepping for a big crop haul, or just need quick access to your stash, this mod keeps everything at your fingertips—literally.

Carry Chests

If Chests Anywhere feels a little too cheaty for your taste, Carry Chests is a great middle ground. This simple quality-of-life mod lets you pick up and move chests—even when they’re full. No more emptying everything out just to slide a chest across the room (we’ve all done it, and it’s the worst).

It keeps things immersive while saving you a ton of time, especially when you’re reorganizing your farm or sprucing up your storage layout. Small change, big convenience.

Health and Stamina Regen

Stamina in Stardew can feel way too limited—especially when you're juggling farming, mining, fishing, and maybe fending off a few monsters before bedtime. The Health and Stamina Regen mod gives you a much-needed break by letting your energy and health gradually regenerate over time.

It’s a subtle but super helpful tweak that keeps the game feeling smooth without making it too easy. Whether you’re doing a full-day grind or just forgot to bring snacks to the mines, this mod helps you keep going without constantly chugging food.

Crops Anytime Anywhere

Why let a little thing like seasons get in the way of your farming dreams? The Crops Anytime Anywhere mod bends the rules of nature, letting you grow and harvest any crop in any season—yes, even winter. No more stressing about planting schedules or watching your fields die with the season change.

Want strawberries in fall? Go for it. Pumpkins in spring? Totally doable. Just keep in mind: this mod doesn’t update shop inventories, so you’ll need to stockpile seeds during their normal season if you want to plant them later. It’s a total game-changer for freeform farming—and perfect if you’re tired of being told when to grow what.

Horse Flute Anywhere

It’s way too easy to lose track of your horse in Stardew—leave it outside a building, head into town, and suddenly it’s nowhere to be found. Thankfully, the Horse Flute Anywhere mod fixes that with a simple, magical solution: just press ‘H’ and your trusty steed teleports straight to you.

No need to carry the actual horse flute or be restricted to specific areas—it works anywhere, anytime. Whether you left your horse at the beach or forgot it in the mountains, this mod makes sure you’re never stuck walking home again.

Teleport Back Home

This one's a small tweak, but a total game-changer—especially if you tend to overdo it while out exploring. The Teleport Back Home mod lets you instantly zip back to your house with just a single keystroke. No need to retrace your steps or burn through fast travel points. Just hit the key and—boom—you’re home.

Immersive Family

Sure, you can start a family in Stardew Valley, but let’s be honest—your kids don’t exactly do much. The Immersive Family mod changes that by giving your children actual routines, interactions with your spouse and villagers, and even some personality. It adds a nice layer of realism without feeling too heavy, making your home life feel more alive and connected to the rest of the valley.

Cheats, Cheats, Cheats

Alright, let’s not kid ourselves—we know why you’re here. The CJB Cheats Menu is basically the ultimate toolkit for bending Stardew Valley to your will. Think unlimited watering can, infinite health and stamina, freeze time whenever you want, max out relationships with a click, and warp anywhere on the map instantly. It’s like flipping on god mode in a cozy farming sim. Honestly, this might be the closest thing we’ve got to a full-blown sandbox mode.

Schedule Viewer

This one's light and super handy. Schedule Viewer lets you see what every villager is up to on any given day, factoring in the current season, weather, events—you name it. It’s like having a super-organized stalker’s notebook (but, y’know, the friendly kind). Perfect for when you’re trying to track someone down or plan the perfect gift-giving ambush.

Birthday Alerts

Never forget a villager’s big day again. The Birthday Alerts mod gives you a quick heads-up whenever someone’s celebrating their birthday—and even better, it suggests gifts they actually like based on their preferences. It’s like having a social assistant baked right into the game. Honestly, if only real life came with this feature.

How to Mod Stardew Valley

Stardew Valley doesn’t come with Steam Workshop support, so modding it means getting your hands a little dirty with the game’s files. First things first—back up your files, especially your save data. Mods are awesome, but a surprise update can break things fast, and you don’t want to lose your perfect farm.

There are two main types of mods:

XNB mods, which replace game files directly in the Content folder (a bit old-school and riskier).
SMAPI mods, which use the Stardew Modding API—this is the modern, safer way to mod and the one most current mods rely on.

To make your life easier, we highly recommend grabbing SMAPI, along with the Content Patcher (to safely apply visual or data changes) and a good mod manager to keep everything organized. Once you’ve got that set up, installing mods is usually as easy as dropping them into the Mods folder and launching the game through SMAPI.

XNB Files

Most Stardew Valley mods that tweak visuals or reskin assets use the older XNB file method. These mods are simple but require a bit of manual file-swapping.

Here’s how it works: Once you’ve downloaded your XNB mod (let’s say it’s called cat.xnb), you’ll need to find the original file it’s replacing. By default, that’ll be in your game’s content folder: C:/Steam/steamapps/common/Stardew Valley/Content

Inside, you’ll see a bunch of subfolders—each one holds different game assets. For our example, head into the Animals folder and drop in your new cat.xnb, replacing the original file.

⚠️ Heads-up: Always back up the original file before replacing it. Just in case you ever want to uninstall the mod or something goes sideways, you’ll be glad you saved a clean copy.

Once that’s done, launch the game like normal and your new modded visuals should show up right away.

SMAPI

If you’re looking to run mods that do more than just change visuals—like adding events, gameplay tweaks, or new mechanics—you’ll need SMAPI. It’s an open-source tool built and maintained by the Stardew modding community, and it's basically the backbone of all modern mods.

SMAPI allows the game to read and run .dll files, which lets mods hook into the game’s code. It also takes care of a bunch of behind-the-scenes stuff—like letting you know when a mod has an update available, and auto-adjusting mods when a Stardew Valley update might break them.

Once SMAPI’s installed, using it is super simple: just drop your mod folders into the Mods directory it creates, and launch the game through the SMAPI launcher. That’s it—you’re modding like a pro.

Content Patcher

The Content Patcher is a must-have mod for SMAPI users. It lets you install content packs that change the game’s visuals or assets—just like XNB mods—but without the messy file-swapping.

Instead of manually replacing files, Content Patcher loads new textures or data at runtime. That means no digging through folders, no overwriting game files, and way fewer headaches when the game updates. Plus, mods installed this way can be easily added, updated, or removed through SMAPI with zero fuss.

Most XNB-style mods nowadays have Content Patcher versions, so it’s the smarter, safer, and just plain easier way to mod Stardew Valley.

Stardew Valley Mod Manager

If you’re the kind of player who likes a tidy mod setup (or just can’t commit to a single grass texture), Stardew Valley Mod Manager by Akago is a total lifesaver. It’s one of the most up-to-date tools for managing your mods and works seamlessly with SMAPI.

The best part? You can toggle mods on or off without having to delete or move files around. Super handy if you’re testing different setups, switching playstyles, or just can’t decide which aesthetic fits your farm vibes this week. It keeps everything neat, organized, and totally under your control.