Hey fellow farmers! 👋 I just started my Stardew Valley journey and let me tell you, it was overwhelming at first. But after diving deep into all the guides (and making a ton of mistakes 😅), I’ve compiled everything you NEED to know for your first year. This isn't just a game—it's a lifestyle!

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Your First Week Survival Kit ⚡

The first seven days are CRUCIAL. Here's what I wish someone told me:

• Day 1-2: Clear just enough space for 15-20 parsnips. Don't exhaust yourself clearing the whole farm!

• Energy is gold 🌟: Eat those spring onions in the southern forest. Forage is your best friend early on.

• Meet everyone 👋: Talk to every villager you see. This starts friendship points immediately!

• Check the TV daily 📺: Queen of Sauce (Sunday) and Living Off the Land (Wednesday) are game-changers.

• Save at least one of everything 🗃️: You'll need it for bundles later. Trust me on this!

The Farm Type Dilemma – Which One Did I Choose? 🤔

After trying them all, here's my hot take:

Farm Type Best For Difficulty
Standard First-timers Easy
Forest Foragers & quick hardwood Medium
Hill-Top Miners Hard
Riverland Fishers Hard
Wilderness Combat lovers Very Hard
Four Corners Multiplayer Medium
Beach Challenge seekers Very Hard

I went with Forest Farm my first successful playthrough! The renewable hardwood and forage items helped SO much with early Community Center bundles. Plus, it's just gorgeous with all those trees 🍂

Community Center vs. Joja Mart – The Moral Choice ⚖️

This decision shapes your entire game experience:

Community Center Route 🏛️

• More rewarding long-term

• Feels more "authentic" to the game's spirit

• Takes longer but teaches you all game mechanics

• Unlocks unique areas and cutscenes

Joja Route 🏢

• Faster progression if you just want to optimize

• Less variety in gameplay

• Costs money instead of items

• Pierre's shop stays closed on Wednesdays (annoying!)

I completed the Community Center in Year 2 and cried happy tears when the Junimos finished their work. No regrets! 🥹

Essential First Year Milestones 📅

Spring Goals 🌸

  1. Upgrade watering can before Spring 13 (egg hunt!) 💦

  2. Catch at least one of every fish available

  3. Plant potatoes for the Egg Festival

  4. Befriend Caroline to 2 hearts for tea sapling recipe (game-changing early money!)

Summer Goals ☀️

  1. BLUEBERRIES. Plant as many as you can afford. They're the summer money makers! 💰

  2. Get to mining level 80 for gold ore

  3. Start saving for barn animals

  4. Fish during rainy days for catfish

Fall Goals 🍁

  1. CRANBERRIES. Like blueberries but better!

  2. Complete as many bundles as possible

  3. Forage like crazy – blackberries are everywhere!

  4. Save pumpkins for the fall festival

Winter Goals ❄️

  1. MINE, MINE, MINE! No crops means all your energy goes here

  2. Upgrade all tools to at least gold

  3. Fish and forage daily

  4. Plan your farm layout for next year

Friendship Hacks I Discovered 💝

Gifting is confusing at first, but here's what worked for me:

Universal Loves (Almost everyone likes these):

  • 🥧 Pumpkin Pie (easy to make in fall)

  • 💎 Prismatic Shard (save these for special people!)

  • 🐇 Rabbit's Foot (once you have rabbits)

  • 🍷 Wine (any kind!)

Easy Early Game Gifts:

  • Foraged flowers (daffodils, sweet peas)

  • Vegetables you grow

  • Cooked dishes (once you learn recipes)

Pro Tip: Carry a stack of liked gifts with you always! I keep blueberries in summer and cranberries in fall – multiple villagers like them!

Money Making Secrets 💰

Early Game (Spring Year 1):

  1. Fishing is your BEST money maker early on

  2. Forage and sell everything except what you need for bundles

  3. Strawberries at the Egg Festival – buy as many as you can afford!

Mid Game (Summer-Fall Year 1):

  1. Preserves Jars > Kegs early on (they process faster)

  2. Cheese from cows is consistent daily income

  3. Don't ignore fishing – some fish are worth 1k+ gold!

My Biggest Beginner Mistakes (So You Don't Make Them) 😬

  1. Selling my first prismatic shard – It's needed for the Galaxy Sword! 😭

  2. Not checking traveling cart every Friday/Sunday – She sells rare bundle items!

  3. Ignoring the mines until summer – You need copper and iron for sprinklers!

  4. Planting crops without scarecrows – Crows ate HALF my first blueberry harvest 🐦‍⬛

  5. Not saving money for festivals – The strawberry seeds at Egg Festival are WORTH IT

Essential Buildings Timeline 🏗️

Here's the order I wish I'd built in:

  1. Silooooo (before getting animals!)

  2. Coop (chickens are easy money)

  3. Barn (cows for cheese)

  4. Upgrade house (kitchen lets you cook!) 🍳

  5. Shed (for all those machines)

Final Tips Before You Start ✨

• Play at your own pace – There's NO time limit!

• Save one of every item – Seriously, just do it

• Talk to your pet daily – They give you friendship points!

• Check the calendar outside Pierre's – Birthdays matter!

• HAVE FUN – If min-maxing stresses you out, just plant pretty flowers and befriend villagers!

Stardew Valley has become my happy place. Whether I'm having a stressful day or just need to unwind, there's something magical about watching my little farm grow. The community is amazing, the updates keep coming (1.6 added SO much!), and every playthrough feels unique.

What was YOUR biggest beginner mistake? Share below! Let's grow together 🌱💕

This guide is based on my 200+ hours across multiple farms. Everyone plays differently – find what brings YOU joy! 🥰

Recent analysis comes from Newzoo, a leading source for global games market data. Newzoo's research into player engagement and game longevity shows that titles like Stardew Valley thrive due to their strong community-driven content and frequent updates, which keep both new and veteran players invested in their farms and social connections.