Stardew Valley for iOS Now Available Worldwide

[MacRumors]

Popular farming simulation and RPG Stardew Valley expanded to mobile devices today, and can now be downloaded from the iOS App Store on an iPhone or iPad.

If you're unfamiliar with Stardew Valley, it's an incredibly in-depth simulation game where players are tasked with taking over a small, failing farm, working to bring it back to prosperity by planting and tending crops, raising animals, and crafting goods to sell.

Similar to games like Harvest Moon and Animal Crossing, Stardew Valley also lets players fight monsters to earn money, mine ores, fish, get to know townspeople, and engage in social activities in the town. The game cycles through different seasons with various crops and activities to partake in as the game progresses through the years, so there's always something new and exciting to do.

Stardew Valley offers hundreds of hours of gameplay, and there are no in-app purchases to deal with. A farming simulation might not sound appealing, but Stardew Valley sucks players in with crop and farm strategies, min/maxing profit each season, engaging combat, a never-ending list of achievements to earn, and so much more.

The mobile version of Stardew Valley is the full version of the game that "plays almost identically to all the other versions, but with the addition of touch-based controls suitable for the iPhone and iPad.

All single-player content from the 1.3 patch is available, but Stardew Valley for iOS does not support multiple players. If you've previously played Stardew Valley on PC or Mac (it first came out in 2016), you will be able to transfer your save data to iOS using iTunes.

Ahead of the launch of Stardew Valley, our sister site TouchArcade was able to go hands-on with the game, and TouchArcade editor-in-chief Eli Hodapp posted an in-depth review earlier today.

According to Hodapp, compared to the desktop version, the mobile port of Stardew Valley is "about as good as it possibly could be." It's a full-fledged game and while the control system isn't "super ideal," it still "more than gets the job done."

Tapping on the screen moves your character, while a toolbar lets you change the item you have equipped. Auto-combat is enabled by default, and whenever you're in range of an enemy, your character will swing automatically. It can get "wonky" though, says Hodapp, if you run into threatening enemies. Luckily, there's an option for manual contact.

It's best to play on an iPad because navigation can be difficult on an iPhone, but it's doable. All in all, Stardew Valley received TouchArcade's highest recommendation.

This game is so good it's stupid, and is my most played game on my Switch. As I mentioned in the preview, the best version of Stardew Valley is the one you have with you, so even with some minor control issues at launch, I wouldn't be surprised if I also clock in hundreds of hours of play in this version of the game. Again, if you're the kind of person who often complains about free to play games and the lack of depth in mobile games, do not hesitate to put your money where your mouth is and buy Stardew Valley.

Stardew Valley can be purchased from the App Store for $7.99. [Direct Link]

Article Link: Stardew Valley for iOS Now Available Worldwide

 

[Frign]

I can't imagine why people are wasting their time with such a useless game. There's only more smartphone grinding involved, heavily increasing nomophobia and rude screen-flicking in social situations.

 

[Swazaloo]

I can't imagine why people are wasting their time with such a useless game. There's only more smartphone grinding involved, heavily increasing nomophobia and rude screen-flicking in social situations.

What are you talking about, this isn't FarmVille. Stardew Valley is one of the best games to come out in the last 10 years, it's an instant classic.

 

[19SK91]

What are you talking about, this isn't FarmVille. Stardew Valley is one of the best games to come out in the last 10 years, it's an instant classic.

I hear everybody praise Stardew Valley and am thinking about buying it for my Switch but it looks very complex. Is it easy to get frustrated if you don‘t know all the tricks and details?

 

[deadoctopi]

I hear everybody praise Stardew Valley and am thinking about buying it for my Switch but it looks very complex. Is it easy to get frustrated if you don‘t know all the tricks and details?

no not really because it’s not going to punish you for not doing X or Y the first year on your farm or the tenth. super casual. love this game, it’s a great pick up and put down, or play for two hours haha.

 

[buttongerald]

I've been playing and singing the games praises since its release. I still play it and enjoy it as much I did when I first bought it and started it up. It's mind boggling to think that 1 person managed to put together a better, richer, well developed gaming experience than most big budget companies have been able to do these last few years.

What's more is that he's updated it a few times, adding content at no extra cost and bringing it to new platforms.

Happy to see it on iOS, might buy it for my iPhone for the long trips over the road heading home.

 

[19SK91]

no not really because it’s not going to punish you for not doing X or Y the first year on your farm or the tenth. super casual. love this game, it’s a great pick up and put down, or play for two hours haha.

Good to know! I‘ve watched a video about it yesterday and was turned off by the guy saying "don‘t cut the grass at the beginning because you‘ll need it". That gave me the impression that there’s a lot you can do wrong if you have no idea which then would result in frustration.

 

[5105973]

I have found with these types of games it’s wise to invest an hour looking over threads for the game on gaming forums to pick up hints and tips to avoid mistakes that can cost you time and effort down the line.

 

[TouchMint.com]

So glad they kept this premium instead of trying to gut this and turn it into a freedom scam job like most mobile ports (sims, rollercoaster, virtually every other big game)

 

[Mackinjosh]

Does anyone know if they use cloud saves so that if I start it on my iPad I can continue it later on my iPhone? Also, is it a battery destroyer?

 

[nexu]

Does it require internet connection to play?

 

[Mars56]

It's amusing to see a time-gated game like this without any IAP. For now. Let's see how things develop
[doublepost=1540361168][/doublepost]

Does it require internet connection to play?

there's no reason why it should. For now.

 

[jonnysods]

I think it's going to be a much better experience on the computer.

 

[Neryus]

The touch controls are fantastic, intuitive and working very well!

The games is also well in going to suspend mode when switching to other apps. I closed it, opened a few other apps and I was still able to get back into my game without the game reloading anything!

 

[Seoras]

Nice to see a return to straight up paid software applications.
Freemium is just so toxic.

 

[dalcorn1]

I can't imagine why people are wasting their time with such a useless game. There's only more smartphone grinding involved, heavily increasing nomophobia and rude screen-flicking in social situations.

Never seen such a heavy commital to ignorance before, you went all in. Good work sir.

 

[smoking monkey]

It seems to be a great game if you're into that type of crap. But Farming & RPG combined sounds about as exciting as watching a snail take a ****.

Looks marketed towards women from that trailer.
Now had it been Cyberpunk 2077 coming to IOS...

 

[Michael Goff]

There is a ripoff of temple run and a mini puzzle game. I wouldn’t expect much more lol. AAA studios don’t make games for mobile just freedom apps disguised as games.

Civ 6 is a full AAA game though.

 

[ruka.snow]

Its a full and real game... did you want as new candy crush instead?

 

[mrklaw]

Does anyone know if they use cloud saves so that if I start it on my iPad I can continue it later on my iPhone? Also, is it a battery destroyer?

no icloud saves yet; seems very conservative on battery; no MFi controller support either (something I'd have liked)

 

[bdkennedy1]

I checked the App Store and all I get is a guide and planner.

 

[Michael Goff]

I checked the App Store and all I get is a guide and planner.

So what does the direct link in the article give you?

 

[Blackstick]

Most people don’t realize Stardew Valley is the work of one developer. Yep, he did the art, code, music... nearly everything. He got help with the multiplayer code but that’s it.

Blows my mind.

 

[ColdShadow]

What are you talking about, this isn't FarmVille. Stardew Valley is one of the best games to come out in the last 10 years, it's an instant classic.

I'm not bashing the game but don't forget it's nothing original and a lazy copy of many, many other similar games such as harvest moon etc maybe you haven't heard of them.because they were console only not pc games.
also FarmVille was awesome for what it was.

 

[4jasontv]

I'm trying to understand why this is on the front page. I'm a bit of a gamer, but the recent Tomb Raider games are great and I don't see them on the front page. Seems like someone knows someone and now it's front page news that this game is available.

I agree there is an inconsistency. It would be better if there was a new section for software and apps.

I too am puzzled. I've never even heard of this game. Doesn't seem front page newsworthy at all.

Perhaps there's some prob w/Macrumor's content management system or someone set a field/property wrong on this story?

If only we could down vote or flag stuff that shouldn't be on the front page.

It is one of the most popular games on Steam. The fact that it is now on iOS is newsworthy, but I agree that it isn't front page newsworthy. Also - The story doesn't do a very good job explaining why someone who has never heard about the game should care.

I have found with these types of games it’s wise to invest an hour looking over threads for the game on gaming forums to pick up hints and tips to avoid mistakes that can cost you time and effort down the line.

I don't know. I would normally agree with you 100%, but I have also heard that this game has some really fun story elements that might get ruined if you do that. Could be wrong.

Most people don’t realize Stardew Valley is the work of one developer. Yep, he did the art, code, music... nearly everything. He got help with the multiplayer code but that’s it.

Blows my mind.

Agreed.

no icloud saves yet; seems very conservative on battery; no MFi controller support either (something I'd have liked)

The story says that PC saves will transfer to iOS, but what about the reverse? If I play on my phone can I pick up where I left off with my PC?