Stardew Valley fans need to check out Steam's latest free download

There’s a new game coming to Steam that looks perfect for fans of Stardew Valley, and there’s a free demo now available too.

Stardew Valley was a phenomenon when it was originally released in 2016. Taking inspiration from classic games like Harvest Moon and Animal Crossing, the game’s simple farming design and wholesome town aesthetic has made it an accessible title to anyone who enjoys “cosy gaming”.

Stardew Valley was a hit success when it originally released in 2016.

In the years since, Stardew Valley has also inspired countless other games like Bear and Breakfast, Cozy Grove, and Forager. And now it looks like new Steam game Monsterest might be joining that list.

If you're unaware, Monsterest is a game where you build your own inn for monsters. You create and decorate rooms to make them nice and cosy. Place down furniture and make sure the room is suited to meet the guests’ needs.

Monsterest is developed by Sile, a new developer based in Seoul, South Korea. The game has a free demo now available to play during Steam Next Fest, which runs until 3 March.

During downtime, you might also liven up your guests’ moods by joining them for a tranquil walk or by going fishing together. Additionally, the developer has stated there will be “light storytelling” too, though we don’t yet know exactly what that entails.

Considering the monster angle, there are also elements of Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away in addition to the Stardew Valley inspiration.

Be sure to check out Sile's X (formerly Twitter) account too, as they post a lot of in-progress assets on there for players to see.

process #pixelart pic.twitter.com/2sArMTyDJg

— Sile 🐤 Wishlist Monsterest (@41sile) January 10, 2025

You’ll be able to play the Monsterest demo until 3 March when Steam Next Fest concludes.

Steam Next Fest is a celebration of PC gaming with a focus on indie games. Held several times a year, developers release demos of their upcoming games and host livestreams to help show them off.

Honestly, Next Fest might be the closest thing to an E3-style trade show we have right now. It feels great to scroll through Steam, find demos for a bunch of games you’d never heard of, and play through them in an afternoon.