Stardew Multiplayer: Is Stardew Valley Cross Platform?

If you haven’t got around to trying out Stardew Valley yet, then you are doing yourself a major disservice. It is one of the best indie games ever made and is a beautiful love letter to the classic Harvest Moon games of old.

The only gaming experience more wholesome and beautiful than playing through Stardew Valley is playing through Stardew Valley with a friend or loved one. Co-op Stardew Valley is one of those experiences that transcends gaming and brings you closer to people than any other game. 

Is Stardew Valley Cross Platform

Stardew Valley is available on just about every console. This includes Xbox, PS4, PC, Switch, and there’s even a Stardew Valley Mobile port.

But can you play Stardew Valley cross-platform?

Sadly, No.

Stardew Valley crossplay is not available on any of the systems, and there are no plans to add it that we know of. Cross-platform Stardew Valley is a pipe dream for many fans of the series, so perhaps ConcernedApe will add it in eventually. 

What Platforms allow Co-Op Stardew Valley

Coop Stardew Valley is available on every single platform except Mobile. This includes Stardew Valley PC, PS4, Xbox, and Switch.

Stardew Valley Coop offers the same great gameplay and story as the single-player mode and does not cut out any content. Stardew can be played across the internet with friends, on the same console via split-screen. 

How to Play Stardew Valley Multiplayer

To play Stardew Valley co-op in split-screen, simply start a game and select co-op and split-screen.

The 2nd player can join in via their controller. If you’d like to play via netplay, one player has to select co-op on the main menu in order to host the farm.

The 2nd player also must select co-op and join the first. When hosting a farm in co-op Stardew Valley, the host must ensure there are enough houses for every player. 

Which Console Offers the Best Co-Op Stardew Valley Experience

So with so many options available for Stardew Valley, which option should you choose?

Honestly, there is no Stardew Valley Pc vs PS4 vs Xbox vs Switch debate because all of these consoles offer the same great gameplay and story.

As far as the vanilla gameplay goes, there is no difference between each port, however, each version of Stardew Valley has some pretty unique advantages.  

Stardew Valley on PC

There is one main advantage with Stardew Valley PC, however.

Thanks to an awesome community there are many fantastic mods available to PC players that include everything from new costumes to complete overhauls.

This can add even more months of obsessive gameplay to an already-addicting experience. Most of these mods will even work in multiplayer and can be added in very easily via the Steam workshop. 

Stardew Valley on Xbox / Playstation 

Stardew Valley works very well on consoles, especially for players that prefer using a controller over mouse and keyboard controls.

Those who plan on playing Stardew Valley primarily in split-screen should definitely pick up a console version of the game.

The split-screen mode works much better on consoles, especially when playing on larger Televisions.

Keep in mind you will need Xbox Live and Playstation Plus to play multiplayer online for these consoles, so if you’re not playing multiplayer in person, then the PC version may be more cost-effective. 

Stardew Valley on Nintendo Switch

The Nintendo Switch version of Stardew Valley works just as well as Xbox and Playstation when playing in split-screen mode.

The Nintendo Switch version of the game also offers a local multiplayer mode, which allows players to play with nearby players.

It also offers online play, which requires a Nintendo membership, but Nintendo’s online membership is much cheaper than its competitors.

Switch also offers portability that cannot be matched by the other consoles. The Nintendo Switch is the best console for Stardew Valley because it offers the portability of the Mobile version and the functionality of the Console versions. 

Stardew Valley on Mobile

The mobile version of Stardew Valley works surprisingly well. As far as single-player gameplay goes, it’s the same fantastic experience as any other version.

However, the mobile game’s controls are not as comfortable as the other versions and take some getting used to. The mobile version also lacks a multiplayer mode completely.

The one advantage of the mobile version is that it can be played anywhere, very conveniently. If you have no other options, then the mobile version will work out perfectly, otherwise, we recommend springing for the console or PC version of Stardew Valley. 

Steam Multiplayer Mods

While Stardew Valley does not offer cross-play, the PC version offers players some extra spice for their multiplayer experiences.

The process for installing mods is very easy for single-player since they can be downloaded straight from the Steam workshop.

However,  in order to get multiplayer mods, players will need to download SMAPI and find compatible mods. The effort is well worth it, though, considering mods range from aesthetic changes to full gameplay and story overhauls.

FYI