Best Stardew Valley Mods to Try in 2025 (PC)

One reason Stardew Valley keeps players hooked for years is its incredible mod scene. On PC, mods can smooth out the rough edges, add hundreds of hours of new content, and make your farm prettier than ever. Here are the best Stardew Valley mods to try — and how to install them.

Note: Mods are a PC thing (Steam/GOG). They aren’t available on console or mobile.

How to install Stardew Valley mods

It’s easier than it looks:

1. Install SMAPI — the mod loader that almost every mod needs. Follow its official installer.
2. Download mods from Nexus Mods, the main hub for Stardew mods.
3. Unzip each mod into your Mods folder, then launch the game via SMAPI.
4. Read each mod’s requirements — many depend on a helper called Content Patcher (just install it once).

Always back up your save first, and check that mods are updated for your game version.

Must-have quality-of-life mods

• Lookup Anything — hover over anything (crops, animals, villagers) to instantly see useful info.
• UI Info Suite 2 — adds gentle, handy details to the UI: gift tastes, luck, harvest timers, and more.
• Automate — connect chests to machines so they auto-process your goods. A huge time-saver for making money.
• NPC Map Locations — shows where every villager is on the map (great for gift-giving).
• Chests Anywhere — access your chests from anywhere.

Big content expansions

• Stardew Valley Expanded (SVE) — the gold standard. Adds new areas, characters, events, and crops. Practically a sequel.
• Ridgeside Village — a massive expansion with a whole new town, dozens of NPCs, and quests.
• East Scarp — adds a new coastal area and works well alongside other content mods.

Pretty visual mods

• Seasonal Outfits / character recolors — give villagers fresh, season-appropriate looks.
• DCBurger-style portrait mods — many players love these higher-detail character portraits.
• Recolor mods — subtle palette overhauls that freshen up the whole valley.

A few tips

• Start small. Add a couple of QoL mods first, make sure the game runs, then expand.
• Big content mods stack — but read compatibility notes so they play nicely together.
• Keep SMAPI and mods updated, especially after a Stardew update.

More Stardew reads

New to the game? Start with our beginner’s guide. Comparing farming sims? See Fae Farm vs Stardew Valley. Browse more in resources. 🛠️