There’s loads to do within the vanilla valley, however the sky is the restrict when you learn to set up Stardew Valley mods. With a lot group assist, it is a straightforward sport for first-time modders to dive into, however modding can nonetheless be an intimidating activity.
The modding scene for ConcernedApe’s farming sim is well one in all my favorites, and with a superb primer on the fundamentals perhaps it may be one in all yours, too. That can assist you get there, I am going to stroll you thru methods to set up Stardew Valley mods with a breakdown of SMAPI (a required framework for loading mods), common obtain assets, and getting began with a mod supervisor.
How you can set up Stardew Valley mods
This information is organized into three elements. We’ll begin by downloading fundamental Stardew Valley mod instruments, then go on to putting in SMAPI and the Stardrop mod supervisor. Gamers conversant in the primary steps can use the navigation on the left to skip forward, or carry on scrollin’ to begin from sq. one.
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Obtain fundamentals like SMAPI and Stardrop first
You may want a couple of fundamental instruments to put in Stardew Valley mods and get them working easily. I strongly suggest downloading Stardrop and Content material Patcher, however the Stardew Modding API (SMAPI) is the one absolute should.
To comply with together with the information, obtain SMAPI, Stardrop, and Content material Patcher. Extract all three to a central folder for straightforward entry.
Instrument
Utility
Required
Description
SMAPI
Mod loader
✅
Fashionable framework for launching Stardew Valley with mods
Stardrop
Mod supervisor
⚠️
Retains information organized with choices for updates or a number of profiles to allow or disable sure mods
Content material Patcher
Mod device
⚠️
Dynamic mod loader, permits mods to load with out changing sport information. Technically not required, however strongly really helpful
Different Textures
Mod device
❌
Comparable objective to Content material Patcher, however much less frequent
The place to search out Stardew Valley mods
You possibly can obtain particular person mods from common hubs listed under, however get the fundamentals above up and working earlier than amassing any unwieldy collections.
The place to search out the Stardew Valley mod folder
Your Stardew Valley mod folder must be inside your sport listing. You may need to have the precise folder listing useful to ensure SMAPI and Stardrop type mods into the proper listing.
OS / Retailer
Listing
Home windows (Steam)
C:Program Information (x86)SteamsteamappscommonStardew ValleyMods
Home windows (GOG)
C:Program Information (x86)GOG GalaxyGamesStardew ValleyMods
Linux (Steam)
~/.native/share/Steam/steamapps/frequent/Stardew Valley/Mods
Linux (GOG)
~/GOGGames/StardewValley/sport/Mods
After launching Stardew Valley a minimum of as soon as and putting in SMAPI, you may set up mods by putting them straight into the folder. All mods have to be inside their very own folder inside the mods folder, so your path seems like this: /Stardew Valley/Mods/Mod Title
You do not want a mod supervisor, however I like to recommend utilizing Stardrop as an alternative of unzipping and organizing them within the folder your self. Stardrop retains downloads tidy and simple to troubleshoot.
How you can set up SMAPI (Stardew modding API)
SMAPI is the mod loading framework making all this attainable—your most vital piece of the method. After downloading the loader and launching Stardew Valley vanilla a minimum of as soon as, extract SMAPI’s contents into any listing and double click on the proper bat file to put in.
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This course of ought to go away you with a brand new mod folder and the StardewModdingAPI.exe inside the sport’s most important listing.
This is a full step-by-step on methods to set up SMAPI for Home windows or Linux customers:
Obtain and extract SMAPI
If modding a recent set up, launch Stardew Valley unmodded a minimum of onceDownload and extract SMAPI; the placement does not matterRun the Set up on Home windows.bat file (or Linux)Observe the console directions to put in SMAPI within the sport directoryNext steps rely in your storefront, both Steam or GOG
Steam customers
Proper click on Stardew Valley from the Steam libraryUnder Common, search for the Launch Choices textual content field and enter:
“C:Program Information (x86)SteamsteamappscommonStardew ValleyStardewModdingAPI.exe” %command%
GOG customers
Proper click on Stardew Valley from the GOG librarySelect Handle Set up, then ConfigureOn the Options tab, allow Customized Executables/ArgumentsClick Add One other ExecutableSelect StardewModdingAPI.exe from the sport directoryCheck the Default Executable possibility below the modding API
How you can set up Stardrop mod supervisor
Extract the Stardrop folder anyplace in your desktop—I take advantage of my Paperwork folder for safekeeping—and double click on Stardrop.exe to launch the mod supervisor for the primary time. That is the device that may set up, take away, allow, or disable mods for you. It makes the method 1,000,000 occasions simpler.
Opening Stardrop for the primary time
When loading Stardrop for the primary time, the exe asks if you need to “affiliate the NXM protocol with Stardrop” to mechanically set up downloads from Nexus Mods. I all the time do that, however it’s non-obligatory.
Sure – Robotically obtain and set up a mod after clicking a Nexus linkNo – Manually add information into Stardrop your self
Configuring Stardrop directories
Navigate to View > Settings and verify all three file paths for SMAPI, the Stardew Valley Mod folder, and a brand new Stardrop Put in Mods folder. The brand new addition is the place Stardrop will dump your mods.
Path
Instance Folder Path Setup
SMAPI
C:Program Information (x86)SteamsteamappscommonStardew Valley
Mod Folder
C:Program Information (x86)SteamsteamappscommonStardew ValleyMods
Stardrop Put in Mods
C:Program Information (x86)SteamsteamappscommonStardew ValleyModsStardrop Put in Mods
Putting in mods via Stardrop
When you do not use the Nexus Mods protocol, you may drag and drop zipped mods straight into Stardrop’s interface or click on File > Add Mods and choose the compressed file. Stardrop will unpack it and deal with the remainder.
Together with your mods loaded in Stardrop, click on the field beside your new additions to allow them. If you wish to disable a mod, uncheck the identical field. Click on Save Configs once you make any adjustments and restart the sport.
How you can set up Content material Patcher and Different Textures
You possibly can mechanically set up Content material Patcher via Stardrop, or go to Nexus Mods for a separate obtain. Content material Patcher does not do something as a standalone mod, however tons of modders use it to load customized belongings with out altering the bottom sport information.
Different Textures is much like Content material Patcher and so they’re appropriate with one another, however usually works via in-game gadgets just like the Paint Bucket or Scissors whereas offering a number of choices for personalisation. That is not an possibility with Content material Patcher.
Function
Content material Patcher
Different Textures
Replaces unique sport file
❌
❌
Restrict per asset ID
Just one may be lively at a time
Limitless
Enabled by way of in-game merchandise
❌
✅
Ought to I take advantage of Content material Patcher, Different Textures, or each?
You should utilize Content material Patcher and Different Texture mods collectively, however I might prioritize putting in Content material Patcher over every thing else since so many modders use it.
When downloading mods, search for abbreviations like (CP) for Content material Patcher or (AT) for Different Textures and choose the proper model(s) relying on the way you need to use the retexture.
CP mods are usually good for static components you do not plan on altering lots, however remember you may solely have one CP mod at a time for a similar asset. AT mods can overwrite CP adjustments or one another utilizing gadgets and different in-game menus on the fly, so you may have a number of AT information.

