Stardew Valley
Stardew Valley is a farming and life simulation RPG where you inherit a run-down plot of land and build it into a thriving farm. Fish, mine, befriend the locals, grow crops, raise animals, and explore the caves beneath Pelican Town - all at your own pace. In co-op, up to four players share one farm and work toward it together, splitting tasks, celebrating harvests, and stumbling into the mines as a team.
How we play
Stardew is one of our most relaxed and social sessions. One player hosts a co-op farm and the others join in as farmhands. We split up duties - one person might tend the crops while another heads to the mines or goes fishing - and check in regularly over Discord to share what we've found. It's collaborative without being demanding, which makes it ideal for players who want a slower-paced evening.
Sessions usually follow a loose in-game rhythm: plant in the morning, explore during the day, and wind down back at the farm before the night ends. There's always something to do and always something to talk about - a rare item found in the mines, a gift given to a villager, or just watching the crops slowly grow over several sessions. It's a long-form game, and we enjoy the slow progress as much as the milestones.
Getting started with Stardew Valley
Stardew Valley is available on PC via Steam and GOG, and regularly goes on sale for around $5-10 AUD. It's a lightweight game that runs on nearly any hardware. To join a co-op session, you need a copy of the game and to be friends with the host on Steam - that's it.
If you've never played before, don't worry about learning everything upfront. Stardew is deliberately gentle with new players: there are no fail states, no time pressure, and plenty of in-game guidance. Just show up, pick a job for the day, and enjoy the ride. More experienced players in the group are happy to share tips on efficient farming, good mine strategies, or which villagers are worth befriending first.
Interested in Stardew Valley?
Stardew Valley is one of the best co-op games to pick up and play with a relaxed group. If you'd like to work a virtual farm alongside friendly people at a Checkpoint session in Perth, come along and we'll find a spot on the farm for you.
Join now!