Eric "ConcernedApe" Barone, the mastermind behind the beloved Stardew Valley, has hinted at the possibility of creating a sequel, tentatively titled "Stardew Valley 2." However, during his candid conversation on the TigerBelly podcast, Barone tempered fans' excitement by explaining the complexities involved in starting a new game from scratch. He noted, "It's so much easier to just add more stuff to Stardew Valley than to make a whole new game from scratch."

Barone elaborated on the ease of updating the existing game, saying, "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." Despite this, he left the door open for a sequel, stating, "I might eventually make a Stardew Valley 2, to be honest."

In the same interview, Barone expressed his desire to not be pigeonholed as "the Stardew Valley guy," which is why he's currently developing his next project, Haunted Chocolatier. He cautioned fans not to expect a release date for this new game anytime soon, as there is "still a lot to be done," and he feels it "has to be better" than Stardew Valley.

Our initial review of Stardew Valley back in 2016 awarded it an impressive 8.8 "Great." However, upon revisiting the game in 2024, we upgraded our rating to a perfect 10/10 "masterpiece." We wrote, "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 looking to dive into or revisit Stardew Valley, our Stardew Valley Beginner's Guide has been fully updated to reflect the 2024 1.6 update. This update introduced new crops, fish, and the engaging Raccoon Family Quests, which unlock a new shop and valuable rewards. Veteran players aiming to further their skills can refer to our Mastery Points guide, while those exploring Ginger Island can use our guide to locate all Golden Walnuts.