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Stardew Valley is the indie game that took the world by storm. It remains one of the most successful indie games of the generation, and millions of players have experienced this beautiful title. I remember being introduced to it shortly after its release in 2016.
I was immediately enthralled by its quaint charm and fun gameplay, and I was impressed by the depth that the characters had to them. I’m not the only one who loved it, and some fans have taken their enjoyment of the game to the next level.
There are thousands of gorgeous pieces of fan art that players have created for Stardew Valley, and I want to introduce you to just a small selection of them. I’ve tried to pick the best, but I’m sure there are many more delightful artworks that I’ve never had the chance to see, and of course, many more that are yet to be created. I hope you enjoy this article!
Bottom Line Up Front
- What genre is Stardew Valley? It’s a cosy life sim with RPG gameplay mechanics
- Who created Stardew Valley? Eric Barone, aka ConcernedApe
- Best fan art of a character? Abigail
- Best fan art of a setting? The Wizard’s Tower
- Best fan art of nature/ an animal? Hat Mouse
Why Should You Play Stardew Valley?
With 15 million copies sold, and a Metacritic score of 89%, you know that Stardew Valley is genuinely something special. It was created by just one man with a tight budget, and there’s no way a game like that would have grown so popular if it didn’t really, really, deserve it.
The game starts with your character moving to the countryside to manage her grandad’s farm in Pelican Town. From there, you carve your own path, getting to know the locals and choosing which direction you want to take the farm in. You can grow crops, raise livestock, and create artisan goods to sell. But there is so much more to this game than just farming.
There are many other things to do in the game, such as chopping trees and breaking rocks, fishing, and foraging. My personal favorite aspect of the game is going into the mines, where you can find gems and minerals, and you have to fight increasingly difficult enemies.
There’s also an interpersonal element to Stardew Valley, as there are plenty of NPCs to discover and befriend. Most live in the town and are easy to find, but others are more hidden, and you’ll only discover them after you’ve been playing for a while. There are also ten bachelors/ bachelorettes, and these are available for you to marry. I’d always recommend marrying Sam, but everyone has their own favorite.
Overall, Stardew Valley is a fantastic game, and if you enjoy cosy life sims, it’s an essential title to check out.
Selection Criteria
With so many wonderfully talented artists out there, it was challenging to narrow down the choices. I wanted to ensure this article presented only the best pieces of fan art, and so I was really critical in my selection. Firstly, the art itself had to be flawless. I was looking for clean line work, tidy coloring, and accurate proportions.
Secondly, it had to be pleasant to look at. I wanted color schemes that worked well, and details that were easy to make out. I didn’t want the art to look messy.
Finally, I was looking for unique art styles. With so many artists out there, it’s natural that a lot of them would have similar techniques, and that’s absolutely not a bad thing. However, this article would be boring if it was just a list of fan art that looked practically identical. For that reason, I’ve included a range of art mediums and perspectives.
Best Stardew Valley Fan Art
Characters
Abigail
This drawing of Abigail by artist Pakkie Davie has an impressive level of realism to it. The characters in Stardew Valley appear as pixellated on the screen, and have rather minimalist portraits when you talk to them. This artist has imagined what Abigail might look like if she were a real person, instead of just a video game character.
I love how she’s very clearly used the in-game image of Abigail to create this portrait, and she’s got the details spot on. She’s painted vibrant, flowing purple hair, which is perhaps what Abigail is most known for when you think of her appearance.
Her blue eyes are bright and piercing, and her gorgeous porcelain skin is smooth and flawless. Even the outfit is inspired by the one that Abigail wears in the game, a black V-neck top with a teal jacket over it. She even added the detail of a black choker necklace. The background is blurred for effect and seems to have a wintery vibe.
Overall, Pakkie has done an excellent job creating this realistic portrait of Abigail, and she should be very proud of what she’s made. If you love this as much as I do, you’ll be thrilled to know that she has a whole series of these depicting the different bachelors and bachelorettes.
Linus the Stardew Prince of Nature
Who doesn’t love Linus? This humble homeless man has a heart bigger than any house in town. Jann Anjelo Pagharion has paid a touching tribute to Linus with this wholesome fan art depicting him holding a hot pie. With him are Krobus and The Dwarf, as well as a couple of Junimos.
I love how this artwork has chosen to include the characters who are cast out of regular society. These aren’t your typical Pelican Town residents, but their presence in Stardew Valley makes the game so much better. I love how pure and innocent Linus looks in this picture, and his smiling expression is as warming as the pie he’s holding.
The artist has chosen to use a very uplifting art style, with no heavy lines or dark colors. The piece uses a range of vibrant and pastel colors, and the effect is stunning.
Dance of the Moonlight Jellies
This beautiful artwork depicts Sam with the protagonist whilst they watch the Dance of the Moonlight Jellies. I must say, I love seeing unique fan art of Sam, as he’s my favorite bachelor in the game, and he doesn’t get anywhere near as much attention from players as he deserves.
The artist, Cuine, has brought her own unique style to the picture and includes her own original character to represent the protagonist. This artwork uses a really interesting perspective, and we’re viewing the scene from below, but also at a slight angle.
The characters have a very anime feel, with wide eyes and otherwise small facial features. Cuine has also done a great job when considering the proportions, and the legs look larger than their bodies since they’re closer to the water. The jellyfish, in particular, are expertly drawn, and they appear to glow, just like they do in the game. This is a really tranquil artwork and one that I would happily want to have upon my wall.
Settings
Voxel Stardew Valley
This voxel art of the farmhouse is so realistic that you’d think it was an actual 3D-printed model. In fact, that’s genuinely what I thought it was until I clicked on the picture and saw the description. Ianometry has captured every tiny detail, and I can’t imagine how long this must have taken to build pixel by pixel.
I love how the farmhouse has been given a more solid look whilst still staying true to the charming pixel aesthetic of the original game. My favorite part is seeing the wisps of smoke coming out the top of the chimney. It’s such a small detail that really rounds off the artwork.
The artist has truly captured everything, including the grass around the house and the mailbox out the front. This is a really impressive 3D model!
Secret Woods
I really love this artwork because it doesn’t immediately scream Stardew Valley. It’s subtle, and non-fans probably would just see a soothing forest landscape. However, seasoned players will recognize the statue in the back as being part of the Secret Woods. Sktchup has created something exceptional here.
It’s so calming and beautiful. A lot of fan art goes hard by including lots of detail or plenty of implied action. But not this piece. This one commits to just being a snapshot of a still scene. This piece envisions what the Secret Woods might be like when the player isn’t there.
You can imagine a gentle breeze blowing through the leaves and perhaps a soft whistling sound to accompany it. You can imagine the occasional woodland slime hopping through the flowers. The colors are well-balanced, with different shades of green making up the bulk of the piece alongside a deeper brown for the tree trunks.
You can see the sun’s light reflecting through the canopy, and the effect that it creates is stunning. This is a gorgeous piece of fan art commemorating an underrated setting in Stardew Valley.
The Wizard’s Tower
Wow. Just… Wow. The level of talent required to create this mind-blowing artwork by Reddit user slowgojoe is difficult to comprehend. There’s so much incredible detail in this Stardew Valley fan art of The Wizard’s Tower; there’s even an entire starry background behind it.
This is a 3D digital artwork, so it can create more depth than a 2D artwork would allow. The texturing here is perfect, and honestly, this is the level of detail you would expect to see in a triple A video game, not a piece of fan art by a singular artist. The Wizard’s Tower is one of my favorite locations in the game, and I love this reimagining of what it might look like in a different art style.
There’s just so much to focus on, and everywhere I look, I find a new detail that I’d missed before. The slant of the roof tiles, the leaves blowing in the wind, the glow of the lamps. I could say so much about this phenomenal piece, but I don’t want to start rambling. Let’s just finish by acknowledging the sheer talent that has been displayed here, and let’s be grateful that we had the chance to see it.
Animals and Nature
2.5D Junimo Starfruit Treehouse
I think this piece by Kain Suwannaphin is absolutely adorable, and when I saw it, I knew I had to include it. For those unfamiliar, the Junimo are forest spirits that live in the abandoned Community Center. You can rebuild it over the course of the game and earn rewards from the Junimos.
This artwork imagines what their homes might’ve looked like before they moved into the Community Center. The artist has drawn a proud tree with starfruit dangling like fairy lights. There’s a subtle red door carved into the base of the tree, and you can picture the Junimo going in and out of it.
It makes you wonder how they’ve decorated the inside. The Junimo themselves can be seen on and around this tree, and Kain has done a great job capturing their cuteness. I love the use of perspective in this drawing, and although it’s flat, you do get the sense that the artwork has some depth to it, presumably hence the title describing the piece as 2.5D. The use of light is really clever, too, as the background is dark, making the central art stand out in comparison.
A Miner’s Day in the Valley
I wasn’t quite sure which subcategory to put this artwork in as it contains so many different images, but I decided that nature was probably the best fit. This is arguably quite a simple piece, but I’ve put it on the list because I love the emotions it evokes. It’s truly a homage to everything that makes Stardew Valley wonderful, and it makes me feel nostalgic even though I didn’t play Stardew Valley until I was already an adult.
There are so many nods to different features of the game – Junimos, fish, fruit, animal products, coffee, etc. The main focal point is a nameless character, presumably meant to represent the protagonist. He has a fishing rod on his back, and in his hand is a pickaxe.
I love this depiction because mining and fishing are my favorite things to do in the game, and I expect that’s true for many players. The line art is deliberately a little crooked, which creates a whimsical effect, and the piece is easy to look at. I think it’s beautiful, and I had to include it on this list.
Hat Mouse
Yes, Hat Mouse! I was torn between whether he counted as an animal or a character, but I figured he fell under the same jurisdiction as the Junimos. I love Hat Mouse. For any of you unfamiliar, he appears in the game after you unlock your first achievement, and you can purchase hats from him.
These are cosmetic items that allow you to customize your character. It’s rare to see him represented in fan art, and so I was delighted when I saw this fantastic artwork from KorioFox. The piece has such a cute aesthetic and looks as though it belongs as an illustration in a children’s picture book.
It has that same sense of charm and innocence, and the style matches the adorable expression that the artist has drawn. There’s an element of sketch art, and the colors chosen are sublime. KorioFox obviously put a lot of effort into making the artistic choices, and every line has its place. Simple and stunning, I really love this fan art of the underrated Hat Mouse.
FAQs
Question: Which platforms can I play Stardew Valley on?
Answer: If you’re a fan of cosy life sims and haven’t yet had the joy of playing Stardew Valley, I have good news for you! It’s available on so many platforms that you’re bound to own at least one of them. You can play it on PC, Mac, Linux, Xbox One, PS4, Nintendo Switch, Android, and iOS… It’s even on PS Vita! And for the bargain price of just $14.99, there’s not really a reason not to.
Question: How can I share my own fan art?
Answer: It’s great that you want to show your love for Stardew Valley by creating your own fan art. If you feel ready to share your creations with the world, there are several ways you can do this. Firstly, if you’re an artist who creates new work regularly, you could set up a dedicated Instagram account to show your work.
If you’re a bit shy, and only want to share in a safe environment, you could join a private Stardew Valley group on Facebook, and share your art in there where it will only be seen by other fans. If you’re happy for anyone to see your art, then you can put it on an art website such as Art Station or Deviant Art. You could even share it to the Stardew Valley subreddit.
Question: How long does it take to complete Stardew Valley?
Answer: This is a tricky question because the cool thing about Stardew Valley is that you create your own path in the game. You don’t have to follow a strict method of progression, and different players will prioritise different areas of the game. However, the main plot takes around 52.5 hours to complete.
If you’re going for full completion, then you’re looking at spending 147 hours to do so. The great thing about this is that even when you’ve ‘fully completed’ Stardew Valley, there’s still plenty more fun to be had, and you can try out different methods of gameplay.
Conclusion
Scouring the internet for the best Stardew Valley fan art was definitely a mixed experience. I loved seeing all the different images that people had come up with, however, I ended up seeing some things I’d rather not have seen. I must caution anyone who plans to look for more examples of fan art; some of the images that people share are a little… Let’s say NSFW.
Still, questionable drawings aside, I had a really great time searching for my favorite pieces. I adore art, but unfortunately, I lack the talent to create my own, and so it’s great to be able to live vicariously through other artists. Stardew Valley remains one of the best cosy games I’ve ever played, and so it’s lovely to see that the community is very much keeping the spirit alive through art.