Stardew Valley has eight farm maps, and your choice is permanent for that save. Pick Standard for the simplest crop-and-animal layout; choose another map when its special activity, resources, or layout matter more than maximizing open farming space. The biggest exception is Beach: sprinklers do not work in its sandy soil.
Compare all eight farm maps
Each map trades some open farming land for a distinct feature or layout. The map descriptions below reflect documented features, not hands-on performance testing. [Stardew Valley Wiki farm maps]
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| Farm | Main draw | Tradeoff or note | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | Most of the map is open farming land. | Few special map mechanics. | Players who want a familiar, flexible crop-and-animal farm. |
| Riverland | Waterways make fishing a defining part of the layout; version 1.6 also gives this farm a Fish Smoker by default. | Water takes up space that could otherwise be used for crops or animals. | Players who want fishing close to home. |
| Forest | Seasonal forage, renewable stumps on the west edge, and distinctive weeds that drop mixed seeds. | Forest terrain reduces open farming space. | Players who value foraging and renewable hardwood access. |
| Hill-top | A southwest mining area produces ore and distinctive geode-bearing stones. | Cliffs and the mining area leave less room for farming. | Players who want mining resources on the farm. |
| Wilderness | Monsters appear at night; version 1.6 added an Iridium Golem to this farm. | Farm-spawned monsters provide only one-third of normal Combat experience, according to the map reference. | Players who welcome nighttime combat rather than avoiding it. |
| Four Corners | Four areas evoke Forest, Standard, fishing-pond, and Hill-top/quarry features. | Ponds and cliffs reduce usable farming space compared with a fully open layout. | Players who like separated work zones; it is also described as ideal for a group. |
| Beach | Open buildable space, fishing, forest and beach forage, and occasional supply crates that wash ashore. | Sprinklers do not work in sandy soil, changing how crops can be planned. The map reference describes it as intended for seasoned players, not as a first farm. | Experienced players who want a varied map and can plan around the sprinkler restriction. |
| Meadowlands | A starting coop with two chickens, chewy blue grass that animals love, a river, and two small lakes. | Its standout benefit is animal-forward early play rather than maximum open crop land. | Players who want to begin with animals already in the picture. |
Which farm should you choose?
For a straightforward first farm: Standard
Standard is the safest choice if you want a broad, uncomplicated space for crops, buildings, and animals. It is a flexible baseline rather than a map with a special activity built into its identity.
For fishing: Riverland
Choose Riverland if you want water and fishing woven into the farm’s layout, and are comfortable giving up some open land. Its default Fish Smoker is a version 1.6 addition, not a feature to assume across earlier versions.
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- Create the farm of your dreams: build your farm from the ground up on 1 of 5 map layouts suited to your play style!
- mmaster your branching skills: raise animals, grow crops, start an orchard and build useful machines!
- become a part of the local community: get to know all 30+ residents of Pelican town!
- customize your farmer: there are hundreds of character customization options to choose from!
- settle down and start a family: share life on the farm with 1 of 12 characters you can date and marry, and even have children with!.explore vast, mysterious caves! Encounter dangerous monsters and valuable treasures!.spend a relaxing afternoon at one of the local fishing spots: the waters are teeming with seasonal varieties of delicious fish. Craft bait, bobbers, and crab pots to help you in your journey toward catching every fish and becoming a local Legend!.
Foraging and hardwood: Forest
Forest favors gathering: seasonal forage and renewable stumps make the map useful to players who value those resources more than a large crop footprint.
Mining: Hill-top
Hill-top places a mining area in the southwest, with ore and unique geode-bearing stones. The cost is less uninterrupted land for farming.
Combat: Wilderness
Pick Wilderness only if nighttime monsters sound appealing. They are the map’s central distinction, but farm-spawned monsters award just one-third of normal Combat experience according to the map reference, so this is not a shortcut for leveling Combat.
Separated zones or a group: Four Corners
Four Corners divides the farm into four distinct areas, drawing on features associated with other maps. That makes it a natural choice when you want work zones to feel separate or want a map described as suitable for a group. Its ponds and cliffs mean less open farming space than Standard.
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- You’ve inherited your grandfather’s old farm plot in Stardew Valley. Armed with hand-me-down tools and a few coins, you set out to begin your new life.
- Now with Multiplayer! Invite 1-3 players to join you in the valley! Players can work together to build a thriving farm, share resources, and build relationships with townspeople or each other.
- New Single Player Content! Including the new Winter Market Festival, more collectibles, added character cut-scenes and even hats for your horse!
A sprinkler-free crop plan: Beach
Beach combines fishing, two kinds of forage, supply crates, and open buildable space. But sandy soil prevents sprinklers from working, so do not choose it expecting a conventional sprinkler-based crop layout. Its map description recommends it for seasoned players rather than as a first farm.
Animals from the start: Meadowlands
Meadowlands starts you with a coop and two chickens, and its chewy blue grass is loved by animals. The official 1.6 changelog introduced it as a new farm type. [Stardew Valley 1.6 changelog]
Rank #4
- Minecraft is a game about placing blocks and going on adventures
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- Play in creative mode with unlimited resources or mine deep into the world in survival mode, crafting weapons and armor to fend off the dangerous mobs
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- Includes Super Mario Mash-Up, Natural Texture Pack, Biome Settlers Skin Pack, Battle & Beasts Skin Pack, Campfire Tales Skin Pack; Compatible with Nintendo Switch only
What to weigh before starting a save
- Open crop and building space: Standard prioritizes broad farming land; water, trees, cliffs, or special terrain constrain several other maps.
- Your preferred activity: Riverland emphasizes fishing, Forest foraging, Hill-top mining, and Wilderness combat.
- One defining restriction or bonus: Beach has the sprinkler limitation; Meadowlands starts with animals; Riverland’s Fish Smoker is a version 1.6 feature.
- How you organize the farm: Four Corners offers separated areas and is described as ideal for a group, while other choices lean more strongly toward an individual activity.
The choice is made when creating a save and cannot be changed for that character. If you are undecided, Standard keeps the most options open; otherwise, choose the map whose tradeoff you are happy to live with. [Stardew Valley Wiki getting-started guide]
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