Stardew Valley Expanded is basically a whole new game, and you can download free now

Stardew Valley is easily one of the most joyous games ever created. Who doesn’t want to dive into a picture-perfect cottagecore-esque world for a few hours of farming, foraging, and crafting? It’s the perfect low stakes slice of entertainment.

Well, if you’re looking to add a hint of something new to the game, you’re going to want to check out the incredible Stardew Valley Expanded mod. Using the word ‘mod’ feels like an understatement. Creator FlashShifter has put so much effort into this incredibly well crafted release that it practically feels like an official expansion. It goes without saying that if you do want to sample this mod, you’ll need to be playing Stardew Valley on PC.

Take a look at the game in action below.

FlashShifter’s creation contains so much extra content including dozens of new characters, six new marriage candidates, several map changes, plus a new continent, new events, and new fish, crops, and furniture. If that’s left you buzzing with excitement, your excitement is well placed. I am so glad I took the time to give this mod a whirl, and I’m not alone. According to Polygon, this creation has been downloaded over 1.8 million times already.

Creator FlashShifter, real name Devin Hedegaard, began as a simple fan of Stardew Valley. He stumbled across his brother playing it on the PlayStation 4 after returning from college one break. He soon developed a love for the game himself and after reaching 100% completion, decided to experiment in mod creation, teaching himself the bassics.

The rest is history, as they say. Hedegaard’s skills grew, as did his creation. Before long, Stardew Valley Expanded had a sizable Discord server full of dedicated fans, waiting for FlashShifter’s next update. The updates haven’t ended either, I should add. Hedegaard is still working on content with some upcoming additions being three years in the making. You can download the mod for free from NexusMods.