Game wiki
Stardew Valley Getting Started Guide
A compact first-year route for Stardew Valley players who want farming, fishing, mining, bundles, and friendships to progress together.
Quick facts
The game is open-ended, so money, bundles, relationships, and exploration can be advanced in different orders.
Each season lasts 28 days, which makes planting deadlines more important than raw crop price.
Five core skills shape progression: Farming, Mining, Foraging, Fishing, and Combat.
First week priorities
Use Spring week one to build a rhythm instead of chasing every system at once. Plant a small field, forage daily, meet villagers as paths cross, and use rainy days for fishing or mining.
- Keep a few Parsnips for early quests or gifts before selling everything.
- Repair route knowledge matters: town, beach, mines, and mountain lake each solve a different early problem.
- Watch energy more than time; a smaller watered field beats an exhausted farmer.
Gold, bundles, and tools
Early upgrades should remove friction. A backpack upgrade, a better watering can, and mine access all make the next week easier.
- Bundle planning prevents seasonal misses, especially fish and quality crops.
- Rainy days are good for watering-can upgrades after checking the forecast.
- Fishing can stabilize income while crops are still growing.