The Stardew Valley co-op mode doesn’t support cross-platform play, and remote players will need their own copy of the game/subscription to their console’s online services. This is pretty standard for most co-op games, but with a noticeable push towards cross-platform capabilities, it’s worth knowing that Stardew doesn’t have this (yet). While ConcernedApe works on the upcoming Haunted Chocolatier, there are no immediate plans for more Stardew updates so now is a great time to check out what the co-op mode has to offer.
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How to Play the Co-op Mode
There are a few different ways to play Stardew Valley in multiplayer mode. Players with an existing farm can have either online or local players join their farm, or they can create a new farm for a multiplayer game. The first step to enabling a farm to host multiple players is to have Robin build a cabin on the farm for a second player; this can be repeated for up to four players on most consoles, and two on the Switch.
Once the cabin is built, the player just has to select “Local Co-op” from the multiplayer section in the options menu. This enables the split screen mode, but if player’s exit the game after the cabin is built and then enter co-op mode from the main menu, they can use their existing farm to host online players.
Creating a brand new farm for multiplayer mode is also just as simple, and players can select “Host New Farm” from the co-op menu on the title screen. The Four Corners farm map was created with this mode in mind, as up to four players have their own section of the farm to work on. Finally, in multiplayer mode players can control the profit margins, setting it at 100%, 75%, 50%, or 25%. If the player chooses to share gold in the co-op mode, rather than have each player have their own gold, the profit margin helps to scale the difficulty when having more players.
Benefits of Co-op
There are some major benefits to playing Stardew Valley in co-op mode. For one, keeping the profit margin at 100% allows players to quickly accumulate gold in the game. While quests mostly work on an individual level in the co-op mode, players can help each other fulfill these quests much quicker.
For example, if one player progresses to the bottom of the mine, the other players will be able to use the lift to get to the bottom rather than battling their way down themselves. The museum collection is also global, as are the community center and Joja Mart bundles. Having these collective goals in the co-op mode encourages players to collaborate and help each other rather than be competitive, further emphasizing the cozy and relaxing nature of Stardew Valley.
Co-op players can still marry the available NPCs in Stardew Valley, or can marry each other by crafting the Wedding Ring. The recipe for this ring is only available in multiplayer mode, but if players are going for Perfection then they will need to craft this item. Achieving Perfection in Stardew Valley requires purchasing some of the game’s most expensive items, and so the co-op can be really beneficial in pursuing this goal. Players will have different luck each day in the multiplayer mode, so it’s definitely worth checking it each day before tackling some of the more difficult quests.
The biggest drawbacks to the co-op mode is that is requires coordination, both in-game and in figuring out a time to play together. The lack of cross-platform functionality makes coordination a bit more difficult too, though again this is standard for most games.
The co-op mode can feel chaotic at first, and does require some communication to run smoothly, but can be a really rewarding a fun way to experience Stardew Valley. While the quiet calmness of a solo play in Stardew Valley is what won over fans in the first place, the co-op mode allows players to figure out how to collaborate and experience Pelican Town and discover its secrets together. In this way the co-op mode can be great for introducing new players to the game or for experienced players to try a different approach to the game.
Stardew Valley is out now for PC, Switch, PS4, Xbox One, and Mobile.
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