How To Play Co-Op - Stardew Valley Wiki Guide

This page is part of IGN's Stardew Valley Wiki guide and details everything you need to know about playing Multiplayer in Stardew Valley, which is currently available on PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One and PS4 currently, but not on iOS or Android.

Stardew Valley multiplayer allows a maximum of four players play together on one farm. This farm can only be accessed by the owner of the farm, so if the farmhands (the name for the guest players) want access to the farm, then owner must be playing.

On this page you'll learn how to setup multiplayer in Stardew Valley, what farmhands can do, and the known issues with multiplayer on Switch.

Is Stardew Valley Cross-Platform?

Stardew Valley currently does not support cross-platform multiplayer, and it's unclear if or when this might change or if there are plans to include the feature in the future. Moreover, the Co-Op mode is only available on PC, Mac, Nintendo Switch, PS4, and Xbox One.

The only exception to this is if you have one player on PC and the other on a Mac or a Linux-based OS.

How to Play Multiplayer in Stardew Valley

The good news is there's no server set up required for multiplayer. Instead, you will be able to invite your friends online directly through whatever platform you're using. Choose co-op in the main menu to choose whether you want to host a farm (either a new farm or one of your existing farms) or join a friend's farm.

If you want your friends to join your farm, be sure to set up farmhand cabins with Robin!

Upon making a save available for co-op, you'll be given the option to choose how the game's economy changes when more players are added to the game. So, if you're looking for more of a challenge with others playing, you can change the economy so that all items sell for less money. Choose as you see fit.

If you want to play using the split-screen mode, create or load a save as you normally would do and build a cabin for each new player. Afterward, connect a controller to the computer or console you're playing on. When playing on a computer, the keyboard will always be reserved for the first player, so you must have controllers for each one of the other players.

After connecting the controllers, open the in-game menu and click on the "options" tab, then scroll down till you find the Multiplayer section and select "Start Local Co-op." All is left to do now is have each player press the start button on their controller.

How To Join a World

The process to join a world will vary depending on the platform you're using.

How to play Co-Op on PC

If you use Steam: any multiplayer farm hosted by your Steam friends will appear on the co-op join screen.
If you use GOG Galaxy or Steam: an invite code will appear in the in-game options; share it with other players so they can type it into the "join" screen to connect.
Using the split-screen mode.
You can also play with other people via IP address, but to do so, you'll have to use an open firewall port or virtual LAN service.

How to play Co-Op on PS4

All the players will have to have a PlayStation Plus subscription. You can join remotely using this service.
Up to 4 players can play via split-screen mode.

How to play Co-Op on Switch

All the players will have to have a Nintendo Switch Online subscription (multiplayer farms hosted by your friends will appear on the in-game "join" tab.
Switch players that are close to each other can play together via local communications play without needing a Nintendo Switch Online subscription.
Unlike the other consoles, only two players can play via split-screen mode.

How to play Co-Op on Xbox One

All players require an Xbox Live Gold subscription
Xbox players can also play via split-screen mode.

Farmhands

Friends will appear in the form of Farmhands, which also live on your property in cabins.Players can get Robin the Carpenter to build them.

There is a maximum of three cabins available for up to three different players that can join you. There are three styles of cabins. Though the farmhands have ownership over their homes (they can even upgrade them!) the primary farmer can enter any farmhand home and demolish the home if they no longer want a farmhand to be able to join their game.

Farmhand Tips

When a Farmhand joins they'll only have the most basic tools. If you're playing on a farm that's already established with great upgrades, try sharing upgraded tools to complete multiple tasks at once.
Choices like when to sleep, when to start a festival, or whether to restore the Community Center or buy the Joja membership are made collaboratively. Be sure to communicate what you're doing.
If you don't have mics for chat, there is a new text chat feature with plenty of cute emoji that should help make communication easier.
Farmhands don't need to stay on the same part of the map as the primary farmer. Try exploring or completing other tasks as you want.
If you join a farm that already has a lot of progress, you'll get rewards for the main storyline missions that have been completed.

What Can and Can't They Do?

Players can coordinate together in farming, mining, fishing, foraging, and festival participation for example. They will have their own inventory but it will be accessible by the main player via a chest in their cabin when they're not playing.

Quest progress is, for the most part, individual, but you guys can help each other. Moreover, you can choose to have everyone's money in a shared pool or split it individually.

Players can marry NPCs, but two or more players can't marry the same person. You can also marry other players by crafting a wedding ring.

Each player will have their own skills level, energy bar, and relationships with NPCs.

Known Issues - Nintendo Switch

There are reported frame rate issues when playing multiplayer on the Nintendo Switch. The developer is working with Nintendo to find a fix for this. Players may also experience some connectivity issues.

Looking for even more on Stardew Valley? Why not check out our Beginner's Guide - Basics and Features, Things You Need to Know, or jump back to our How To Guides hub.

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How To Play Co-Op - Stardew Valley Wiki Guide - IGN (2023)