Eric "ConcernedApe" Barone, the creative mind behind Stardew Valley, has hinted at the possibility of developing a sequel, tentatively titled "Stardew Valley 2." During an engaging conversation on the TigerBelly podcast, Barone shared his thoughts on the future of the beloved farming simulator, though he tempered fans' excitement with a dose of reality. He explained that it's far simpler to enhance the existing game with updates than to start anew with a completely different project. "It's all the systems—all the major systems—are already all done. That’s the stuff that’s not fun to do. When I make an update [for Stardew Valley now], it’s like, you know, oh, throw in this, throw in that. Let’s add green rain—like, these random, whimsical ideas," Barone remarked, illustrating the ease and joy of expanding the current game.
Despite the allure of continuing to refine Stardew Valley, Barone confessed, "I might eventually make a Stardew Valley 2, to be honest," indicating his openness to exploring new horizons within this universe (thanks, Nintendo Life).
In the same interview, Barone shared his desire to not be pigeonholed as "the Stardew Valley guy," which has driven him to work on his upcoming project, Haunted Chocolatier. However, fans eager for a release date will need to remain patient, as Barone noted there's "still a lot to be done," and he aims for it to surpass the excellence of Stardew Valley.
Our initial experience with Stardew Valley was overwhelmingly positive, as evidenced by our 2016 review, where we awarded it an impressive 8.8 "Great." Fast forward to 2024, and our reassessment of the game led us to crown it a 10/10 "masterpiece." In our updated review, we stated, "Stardew Valley is not only the best farming game I’ve played, it is one of my favorite games of all time. That myself and others keep returning to this eight-year-old gem each time it gets even the smallest update speaks to how it’s truly a masterpiece in the genre it both reinvigorated and has come to define."
For those diving into or returning to the game, our Stardew Valley Beginner's Guide has been meticulously updated to reflect the changes brought by the 1.6 update in 2024. This update introduced exciting new crops, fish, and much more, including the intriguing Raccoon Family Quests that unlock a new shop and valuable rewards. For seasoned players who have reached the pinnacle of their skills, our Mastery Points guide offers advice on the next steps. And for adventurers heading to Ginger Island, we've pinpointed the locations of all Golden Walnuts to aid in your exploration.
