The first year in Stardew Valley can be daunting for those who play the game for the first time. The biggest struggle lies in the fact that the game shifts the choice of what to prioritize in a day and over a season on the player. Each day lasts 20 hours and the seasons change after 28 days, meaning there is a time constraint for those pursuing certain crops or questline. Understanding what to mark as goals in Stardew Valleythe first year can be a struggle.
The best way to break down this first year is by season and list some of the goals players need to achieve in each year. While this won’t hit every major milestone in every season, the following guide will provide some of the highlights players should achieve on their way through the year.
What to do in Stardew Valley’s first spring?
Players begin their journey in Stardew Valley in the spring, just moved to their grandfather’s farm. This season should be one where players get to know all their neighbors, improve skills such as foraging and farming, and take part in the game’s first festivals.
Win the Egg Hunt at the Egg Festival
This is the first festival of the year and takes place on the 13th day of every spring. It’s a great opportunity for players to greet most residents of Pelican Town and be one of the Stardew Valleythe most profitable crop of this season, Strawberries. These can be bought at the stand for 100 gold per seed and when planted the next day they can be harvested twice before the summer. The main event, however, is the Egg Hunt that allows players to win a Straw Hat. While this item may not sound intriguing, it means that future wins will earn the player 1,000 gold.
Buy the backpack upgrade
Players will quickly realize that the 12 slots they have in their inventory will not make it. While building a chest can help reduce this storage problem, it’s best to save the money and buy the Large Pack from the General Store run by Stardew Valley‘s Pierre for 2,000 gold.
Fix the bridge on the beach
While Stardew Valley has plenty of places to explore, there are a handful of different areas that are locked to the player at the start of the game. One of those places is the Tidal Pool section of the beach, which is inaccessible because there is a wooden bridge out of it. This area is a great place to forage items such as coral and sea urchins and costs a reasonable 300 pieces of wood.
What to do in Stardew Valley’s first summer?
The first summer in Stardew Valley is an exciting opportunity for players to explore a new area in the north, catch new fish, plant new crops and collect new items.
Use the spa to recover some energy
On the third day of the first summer, an earthquake will open up the railroad area north of Pelican Town. This opens the local Spa in Stardew Valley, which has the unique ability to restore both health and energy when players remain still in its waters. This can be especially useful for novice players who have used up most of their energy.
Impress the Governor in the Luau
In the summer of 11, players will have the chance to play their first Stardew Valley Luau on the beach. While there is no specific match associated with this event, the potluck is a great opportunity for players to improve their relationship with most of the residents of Pelican Town. If you manage to get at least a good response from the governor, players will earn 60 friendship points with their neighbors. The friendlier players are with these people, the more cutscenes and missions they unlock.
Upgrade the farm
Energy saving is crucial in the beginning of Stardew Valley, and upgrading the house can help with this. The first upgrade is a significant investment (10,000 gold and 450 wood), but it opens up the kitchen and allows players to make their own meals. Combining the recipes players collect from local villagers and from the Queen of Sauce program on TV with this upgrade is an important part of both power management and opening up more money-making opportunities.
What to do in Stardew Valley’s first fall?
The fall of the first year in Stardew Valley is the last chance for players to plant crops unless they have unlocked the greenhouse. This is an important time to prepare for the upcoming winter season and check all the boxes.
Buy a Stardrop at the Stardew Valley Fair on the 16th
Stardrops are crucial items for players of Stardew Valley because they permanently increase a player’s energy supply by 34 points. There are up to seven in the game, and this is one of the easiest to get. It costs 2000 star tokens, a currency that can be obtained on the exchange by playing most games or purchased directly from one booth.
Invest in cranberries
Although it is not the crop that sells for the most money in Stardew ValleyIn the fall season (that credit goes to the Sweet Gem Berry), cranberries can yield up to 5 harvests over the course of this season. This ability to continue producing for players makes it the crop of choice for players looking to earn large amounts of gold before winter sets in. Pierre’s General Store sells these seeds for 240 gold, while JojaMart sells them for 300 gold.
Stock a chicken coop or shed
By this time of their freshman year, players must be able to have at least one base coop in their Stardew Valley playthrough (4,000 gold) or one basic barn (6,000 gold), and players must spend their money stocking this with animals throughout the fall. Chickens cost as little as 800 gold each, while cows are almost twice as much as 1,500 gold. These animals eventually produce items such as eggs and milk that will repay their purchase price.
What to do in Stardew Valley’s first winter?
Winter can be the most challenging season in Stardew Valley because there are no outdoor crops growing besides Winter Seeds. However, balancing ranching, fishing, and mining can help players progress into their second year.
Win the Ice Festival
On the 8th of winter, players can experience Stardew Valley‘s Festival of Ice in the Cidersnap Forest. Again, this is another great opportunity to improve the relationship players have with NPCs. Additionally, the main event is a fishing competition where players can earn two fishing tackles, a magnet and a Sailors Cap. However, every year after that, the player earns 2000 gold by beating Willy and catching at least five fish.
Mine as deep as possible
Because unlock Stardew Valley‘s Greenhouse through the Community Center or JojaMart is more of a stretch goal for the first year of the game, players should focus elsewhere instead. Winter is a great opportunity to improve their mining, fishing and foraging skills. In particular, phasing out the mines in the mountain area is a great opportunity to gather materials and replenish some lost income associated with this season.
Upgrade tools
While players should focus on improving the quality of their tools in Stardew Valley during the first year, winter is a particularly good opportunity to do this. Choosing which tool to upgrade first depends mainly on the player’s playstyle. In general, however, the watering can is a solid first option, as it is not really necessary to water crops. Apart from this, players can shift their focus to fishing while upgrading their pickaxe.
Stardew Valley is available on PS4, PS Vita, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC, Android, and iOS.
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