The best farm types in Stardew Valley

While Stardew Valley may seem like a simple farming game, there's actually a lot of work and a lot of little secrets in this game. While farming is only a small part of what you can do, it's still definitely an important part of the game.

When starting a new file, you'll have several options for what type of farm you want to live on after leaving the big city for a simpler life. There's a brief description for each farm, but it's definitely not enough to really tell you the pros and cons of each farm map. To make your choice easier, we've ranked them according to their general qualities. However, in the grand scheme of things, it doesn't really matter which one you choose, and in the long run, they're mostly aesthetic, so pick whichever one you like!

Updated January 10, 2026 by Ally Cochran: Updated the list to include the Meadowlands farm type and improved the formatting for smoother reading. We've also included full, unedited images of each farm so you can see them in all their glory.

8

A farm on a hill

Mostly overrated

Hilltop Farm is one that has some fascinating quirks. The most notable feature of this farm is the fact that it has several areas that are actually elevated above the rest. There are gentle steps leading up to these raised platforms in several places, and a single river runs through the entire farm. One of these plateaus will spawn rocks and ore as you level up using the Mining skill.

While having all that ore can be really appealing, it's not that useful in the long run. Rocks and ore don't form as quickly, and if you see something like gold or iridium there, you've probably encountered it in the mines before, and you have plenty of it. Using this space for crops, sheds or barns may be a better option, but this arrangement is still quite restrictive.

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7

Wilderness farm

It sounds great, but it doesn't deliver

Wilderness Farm is a unique farm layout for two reasons. The main thing that sets this farm apart from others is that after the sun goes down, monsters start to multiply on it. This is useful if you want to try to improve your combat skill or increase your numbers in the Adventurer's Guild.

Unfortunately, the lake in the middle of the farm and the large cliff on the side limit the space you have to work with. Plus, having monsters to deal with at night can limit the amount of quiet time you have on the farm, taking up time you could be spending elsewhere.

6

Forest farm

Easy foraging but little room for crops

If you like foraging and harvesting things in the wild, the Forest Farm map is definitely a good choice. This farm will spawn hardwood stumps and has a chance to find various foraging items in the clearing on the left side of the map.

It has the lowest number of farmable tiles of any farm type, but there are also 1,490 tiles on which farm buildings can be built. Despite the positive points, if you care more about growing crops, the Forest Farm map can be slightly limiting. Large areas of grass cannot be planted, and hardwood stumps can only get in the way if you haven't upgraded your ax yet.

5

Riverland Farm

An underrated choice

The Riverland farm is one that many Stardew Valley players tend to overlook. The idea of ​​a farm being so broken up by rivers may seem unappealing, but if you like to fish, it can be useful. Despite the broken ground, this map still has 1,578 farmable tiles to grow crops and generous space for animals, equipment, and silos.

While this map is really versatile, its large number of rivers isn't for everyone. If you only want to hunt to complete the Community Center or you want to hunt in other locations, this map may not be the right choice for you. Time is limited in Stardew Valley and running across all those bridges to different areas can take a serious toll.

4

Beach Farm

Farming for professionals

If you want an extra challenge, this is it. This farm layout was added in update 1.5 and is not for beginners or those who want an easy ride. Focusing on an oceanic and tropical atmosphere, the beach farm consists mainly of sand and grassy areas with a long coastline and an irregular shape. Crops can be grown, but – and this is where the tricky part really comes in – the sprinklers won't work.

This means you'll have to water your crops by hand unless you're using the space for something else – the large open areas allow for plenty of buildings and grazing space. Additionally, you can wash crates of useful items on the beach, a feature unique to this farm. However, of all the Stardew Valley farm maps, this one is the hardest to work with, so if you choose it, make sure you're prepared.

3

Meadowlands Farm

A cozy animal charmer first

Meadowlands Farm has been designed with animals in mind from the ground up. Instead of starting with a packet of parsnip seeds, you start your new life already equipped with Coop and two randomly named chickens. Rather than seeds from Mayor Lewis, you'll receive 15 pieces of hay from an unknown source. This shifts your focus to animal care ahead of early crop optimization.

This farm is covered with a special kind of blue grass that the animals love, so it is especially attractive if you want to lean on farming and passive income soon. With 2,066 tiles to farm and roughly 2,141 tiles that cannot be farmed but can be built, there is still plenty of room for more barns and crops. If you like the idea of ​​rolling out of bed on day one with chickens and grass, which is basically five-star food for them, the Meadowlands is an easy choice.

2

Standard farm

Back to basics

Standard Farm is basically the “default” map in Stardew Valley. This map has no real quirks or anything to set it apart from other farms, but it does have a whopping 3,472 farmable tiles. It's pretty much just a big, solid piece of farmland that you can do whatever you want with it.

This map has no special properties, meaning you are not limited by where you place what. However, if you're looking for a challenge, the Standard Farms map's lack of unique features may not be the best choice. A standard map is good to start with when you're new, but it's also great for someone who likes clean lines and a nice, empty square to work with.

1

Four corners

Great for multiplayer or just a little bit of everything

The Four Corners map is another launch map layout that was added in Stardew Valley update 1.4. This layout is, as the name suggests, divided into four different sections, each with a large open area. These areas are connected by paths that can be cleared with upgraded tools and an intersection in the center that also houses the greenhouse.

While this layout is definitely ideal for multiplayer as it gives each player their own area, it's also excellent if you just want to organize your farm without having to think about where things have gone. These four areas can be easily divided into sections: one for your crops, one for your animals, and so on.

Plus, there's a bit of every different Stardew Valley farm type in each corner: one corner is a quarry that spawns ores, one has a fishing pond, one has a grassy area with stumps and weeds that drop mixed seeds, and one has a large farming area.

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