7 Best Stardew Valley Farm Types for Every Playstyle

Choosing a farm in Stardew Valley is kind of like picking a starter Pokemon: no pressure, just your entire playstyle riding on it. With so many unique farm types, each offering its own perks, pitfalls, and personality, it’s worth figuring out which one vibes with your inner farmer. Want to be a crop king? There’s a farm for that. Prefer battling monsters after sunset? Yep, there’s one for that too.

No matter if you’re here to fish, forage, fight, or just name 37 chickens “Nugget,” we’ve got you covered. Here’s a breakdown of the best Stardew Valley farm types for every kind of player, from laid-back planters to combat gremlins.

1) Standard Farm – Best for Classic Farming Purists

If you want the Stardew experience in its purest form, endless crops, sprawling barns, and your dreams of agricultural domination fully intact, this is your farm. The Standard Farm gives you the most tillable soil of any layout, perfect for growing vast fields of strawberries or stacking kegs like your life depends on it. There’s nothing fancy here: no gimmicks, no special biomes, no lurking monsters after dark. Just you, your tools, and a whole lot of hoeing.

It’s ideal for beginners and players who want to min-max their crop yields without having to work around weird terrain. It’s also great if you want to dive into animal husbandry or layout-intensive farming projects like beehive flower rings or massive orchard grids. This is the vanilla ice cream of farm layouts: simple and sweet.

2) Riverland Farm – Best for the Chill Fisherfolk

If the thought of tilling soil makes you groan but reeling in fish sounds like a good day, the Riverland Farm is your jam. Water dominates this map, carving up your land into cozy little islands. While that cuts down on crop space (and, let’s be honest, makes placing buildings a mild nightmare), it’s perfect for early-game fishing and late-game Fish Pond setups.

You even start with a Fish Smoker to make those fresh catches extra profitable. This layout rewards patience and a love for fishing over efficiency. If your idea of peak Stardew is standing on a dock with a rod in hand, the Riverland Farm is basically your lakeside dream home. This layout says, “I’d rather catch dinner than grow it.”

3) Forest Farm – Best for Foragers and Hardwood Hoarders

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If you’re someone who always maxes out the Foraging skill first, the Forest Farm is calling your name. This lush, overgrown layout turns your backyard into a mini-Secret Woods, with renewable Large Stumps that drop precious Hardwood. The western clearings also offer seasonal forage spawns and weeds that always drop Mixed Seeds, which feels like cheating (but isn’t).

Berry bushes are scattered throughout, too, making Spring and Fall a forager’s delight. You won’t get as much space for crops, but this farm more than makes up for it with free materials and a cozy woodland vibe. It’s the perfect fit for players who love nature walks, sustainable living, and turning wild gifts into jam. Trees, berries, and stumps — oh my!

4) Wilderness Farm – Best for Combat Fans

Farming by day, monster hunting by night. If that sounds like a good time, the Wilderness Farm’s got you covered. This map turns Stardew Valley into a low-key roguelike after dark, with monsters scaling to your Combat level. That means Slimes, Bats, and eventually Iridium Golems will wander into your backyard once the sun sets. If you’re looking to level up your Combat skill without constantly trekking to the Mines, this is a great pick.

It also adds an extra layer of tension. There’s nothing quite like watering your cauliflower and then immediately getting body slammed by a Golem. For players who like a little danger with their potatoes, the Wilderness Farm is a great way to blend cozy with combat. Just don’t forget your sword.

5) Meadowlands Farm – Best for Animal Lovers

Pretty new and already a fan favorite, the Meadowlands Farm gives you a cozy head start with a Coop and two randomly named chickens right out of the gate. It also features unique blue grass that animals love, meaning your livestock will be happier and more productive as they munch on their favorite snack.

If you’ve always leaned toward raising chickens, cows, and ducks over planting parsnips, this is your best bet. It’s the kind of farm where you wake up early to collect eggs, pet your sheep, and name a new pig “The Oinkster” just because you can. While it doesn’t have as much tillable land as the Standard Farm, the animal-centric bonuses make it the perfect home for barnyard bliss. If “moo” is your love language, you’ve found the one.

6) Beach Farm – Best for Hardcore Players

The Beach Farm is for players who laugh in the face of hardship or who are tired of playing Stardew Valley on easy mode. Sprinklers don’t work in the sand, which means you’ll either be watering crops by hand or building your entire layout around the rare sprinkler-friendly patches. But in return, you get tons of wide-open space, frequent supply crates washing ashore, and solid foraging and fishing opportunities.

You can even grow grass in the sand to feed your animals, which feels like bending nature to your will. If you like the idea of running a sun-drenched farming empire with a side hustle in beachcombing, this farm is a rewarding (and aesthetically gorgeous) challenge. Every day’s a beach… and a manual watering session.

7) Four Corners Farm – Best for Multiplayer or Jack-of-All-Trades

If you’re playing with friends, or just can’t decide what kind of farmer you want to be, the Four Corners Farm is a one-size-fits-all layout. It divides your land into four themed quadrants, each based on a different farm type (Standard, Forest, Riverland, and Hill-top). This makes it perfect for co-op farming, with each player claiming a “corner” that matches their preferred playstyle.

Even in singleplayer, it’s a great way to experience a bit of everything without committing to one specific layout. Want to grow crops in the south, fish in the east, and forage in the west? Go for it. It’s like a sampler platter of Stardew Valley’s best mechanics, and while it’s not the most space-efficient option, it’s endlessly versatile. Who needs one aesthetic when you can have four?