Stardew Valley is a game of balance, of planting and reaping, of mining and fishing, and of befriending villagers and nurturing livestock. The game gracefully spans the four seasons, offering a diverse range of activities to keep you occupied. However, most new players find themselves unprepared when winter comes. The trees cease to grow, animals hibernate, and it’s impossible to buy seeds for winter crops from Pierre’s General Store. But fret not! This guide walks you through all the essential activities that can make your winters in Stardew Valley as busy and fulfilling as the other seasons.
Greenhouses and Ginger Island: Your Winter Farms
Though winter is the season where most crops don’t grow, there are exceptions: the Greenhouse and Ginger Island. Here, you can plant any seasonal crop, and they’ll grow just fine. Even the fertilizers won’t expire here. However, most new players are unlikely to have access to these places during their first winter. Unlocking the Greenhouse and getting to Ginger Island can be tricky without the right seasonal crops.
To Fish or Not to Fish
Stardew Valley is sometimes jokingly called a “fishing simulator” because of its intricate fishing system. Fishing can be a relaxing way to pass the time, but is it the best way to spend winter? In terms of profit, fishing doesn’t match up to the gains you can make in other seasons. It’s best to save the extended fishing trips for when you have fewer pressing tasks.
Mining: Striking Gold and More
One of the most profitable and critical winter activities is mining. Some players even dub Stardew Valley as a “miner simulator” for this reason. Mining is essential for various reasons:
- Collecting Ores: Copper, Iron, Gold, and Iridium ores are the building blocks for many advanced tools and machines. Copper, Iron, and Gold are available in the regular mines, while Iridium is mainly found in the Skull Cavern in the desert.
- Prismatic Shards: Found in the Skull Cavern, these can be traded for valuable items with the Desert Trader.
- Museum Collections: Both minerals and artifacts found during mining are necessary for completing the Museum collection, which offers various rewards, including the coveted Starfruit.
- Monster Hunting: Many monsters have ‘kill goals,’ fulfilling which can earn you valuable rewards from the Adventurer’s Guild.
Foraging and Tree Fertilization
Winter foraging can be a good source of income and XP for the Foraging skill. If you haven’t reached Foraging level 7 by winter, you can chop Hardwood in the Secret Woods to level up. You can also use Winter Seeds made from foraged items or place Winter Roots in seed makers to grow forageables. Using Tree Fertilizer can help speed up the tree growth even in winter.
Secret Notes and Hidden Treasures
Winter introduces Secret Notes, which provide clues leading to hidden treasures and unlock various aspects of Stardew Valley. These notes can be obtained from fishing, chopping wood, and mining. To start the secret note quest, you’ll need to obtain a Magnifying Glass by following footsteps at the Bus Stop to a hiding spot after the first winter.
Friendship in Winter
Winter is the perfect time to deepen your relationships with villagers. Keep a stash of their favorite items and gift them regularly to quickly increase your friendship levels. Given that it’s possible to increase friendship by about four hearts during a single winter, taking advantage of birthdays can even max out your friendship levels with everyone.
Little Joys: Digging for Worms and Other Activities
You can dig up worms appearing in the snow to find forageables like Snow Yams and Winter Roots. This provides not just the thrill of unboxing but also items that can be sold or used in crafting. These ‘worm spots’ can also be used to plant winter seeds. When these plants wither in the spring, they turn into tillable soil.
By utilizing these tips and focusing on various aspects of gameplay, your winter in Stardew Valley can be as fulfilling and profitable as any other season. So don your winter boots and start exploring the snowy expanses of your virtual farm!
Feel free to share your own winter tips and experiences in the comments below!
Note: This guide is intended for beginners to intermediate players. Advanced players may already be familiar with some of these strategies.