While the latest update for *Stardew Valley* has garnered significant attention, the modding community has been thriving for years, offering players a way to express their creativity through NPC story expansions and new cosmetic items. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to mod *Stardew Valley* on Windows:
How To Mod Stardew Valley For Windows:
Step One: Back Up Your Save File
This step is highly recommended to safeguard your progress. If you're starting a new game, you can skip this, but if you've invested countless hours in befriending characters and developing your farm, backing up is crucial to avoid losing your hard work.
To back up your save file, follow these simple steps:
- Press Win + R to open the Run dialog box.
- Type %appdata% and press Enter.
- Navigate to the ‘Stardew Valley’ folder.
- Open the ‘Saves’ folder.
- Copy and paste the contents to a safe location on your laptop or PC.
Step Two: Install SMAPI
SMAPI, or Stardew Modding API, is essential as it acts as a mod loader that integrates your selected mods into the game. You can download SMAPI directly from their official website.
Related: How To Get Multiple Pets in Stardew Valley
After downloading, extract the SMAPI ZIP file to a convenient location on your computer, such as your desktop or downloads folder. Remember, SMAPI is not a mod itself but a tool that enables modding. Do not extract it into the mods folder.
Once extracted, run SMAPI and select “install on Windows,” then follow the onscreen prompts to complete the installation.
Step Three: Configure Your Game Client
If you play *Stardew Valley* through platforms like Steam, GOG Galaxy, or the Xbox App, additional configuration might be necessary to continue tracking playtime and earning achievements. You can find detailed instructions on how to configure your game client here.
Step Four: Installing Mods
Now comes the exciting part—installing mods to enhance your *Stardew Valley* experience.
Nexus Mods is the go-to site for downloading *Stardew Valley* mods, offering a vast selection to keep players engaged. Mods are usually downloaded as ZIP files, which you'll need to extract. Once extracted, simply move the files into the Mods folder, which is automatically created during the SMAPI installation. You can find the Mods folder in the following locations:
- Steam: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Stardew Valley
- GOG Galaxy: C:\Program Files (x86)\GOG Galaxy\Games\Stardew Valley
- Xbox App: C:\XboxGames\Stardew Valley
And that's how you can mod *Stardew Valley*. With over 1000 mods available on Nexus alone, there's no shortage of ways to customize and expand your gameplay, keeping both new and veteran players engaged.
Stardew Valley is available now.
