How To Mod Stardew Valley

Enhance Your Stardew Valley Experience: A Guide to Modding

While the latest Stardew Valley update has garnered significant attention, players have long leveraged the power of mods to personalize their gameplay. From enriching NPC storylines to adding cosmetic enhancements, modding unlocks a world of creative possibilities. This guide details how to mod Stardew Valley on Windows.

Modding Stardew Valley on Windows: A Step-by-Step Guide

Step One: Safeguarding Your Save File (Recommended)

This is a precautionary measure. Backing up your save ensures your progress remains secure. While unnecessary for new games, it's crucial if you've invested considerable time building your farm.

To back up your save:

1. Press Win + R to open the Run dialog.
2. Type %appdata% and press Enter.
3. Navigate to the Stardew Valley folder, then the Saves folder.
4. Copy the contents to a secure location on your PC.

Step Two: Installing SMAPI

SMAPI is an essential mod loader that seamlessly integrates mods into your game. Download SMAPI directly from its official website.

Remember: SMAPI is a loader, not a mod itself. Extract the downloaded ZIP file to a convenient location (desktop or downloads folder is suitable) – do not extract it into the mods folder. Run SMAPI and select "Install on Windows," following the on-screen instructions.

Step Three: Game Client Configuration (If Necessary)

If you play Stardew Valley through Steam, GOG Galaxy, or the Xbox app, additional steps may be required to maintain playtime tracking and achievements. Refer to the SMAPI documentation for detailed instructions on configuring your specific game client.

Step Four: Installing Mods

Now for the exciting part!

Nexus Mods is a popular source for Stardew Valley mods. Download mods (typically as ZIP files), extract them, and place the extracted files into the Mods folder automatically created by SMAPI. The Mods folder location varies depending on your game client:

• Steam: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Stardew Valley
• GOG Galaxy: C:\Program Files (x86)\GOG Galaxy\Games\Stardew Valley
• Xbox App: C:\XboxGames\Stardew Valley

With thousands of mods available on Nexus Mods alone, the possibilities are vast!

Stardew Valley is available now.