Stardew Valley Companion
Overview
Stardew Valley Companion is a productivity planner app that targets first time players, providing tips, tricks, and overall organization for each in-game time limited day.
User Researcher
UI/UX Designer
User Research
Data Analysis
Figma
June 2025 – Present
Click here to view my prototype!
User Research
This application targets beginner Stardew Valley players, and the design was inspired by sites such as Stardew Wiki and Notion. As someone who has only created and played one singleplayer world, I had frustrations when it came to constantly pulling up Google and not knowing what to do next. With this thought in mind and further research, I realized that many beginner players also had the same thoughts.
Research Findings
To understand the pain points of new Stardew Valley players, I conducted informal user interviews with friends who have varying levels of experience with this game, specifically targeting their cons from the beginning of their experience. I also performed secondary research by analyzing discussions and complaints across online platforms, such as Reddit threads, Steam Reviews, and fan forums.
78% frequently reported feeling rush due to lack of structure.
38% had a proper routine during the first in game year.
84% felt overwhelmed by the number of actions and consequences each day.
Topics Addressed
- What part confused you the most?
- Did you feel rushed during in-game days? When and why?
- How do you currently keep track of what to do?
- Was it easy to forget important details like an NPC’s birthday?
Insights
Common frustrations included:
- A sense of time pressure during in-game days, especially when unfamiliar with efficient routes or NPC schedules
- Unintuitive systems that result in unexpected penalties
- Difficulty tracking social interactions, birthdays, and seasonal activities without external support
A recurring theme across discussions was frustration with how much essential knowledge felt hidden or reliant on external resources. Some players expressed that needing to constantly search for information online disrupted the immersive experience and detracted from the game’s cozy atmosphere. They felt that a well-designed game should provide that clarity intuitively, without needing to consult a wiki just to understand how to play.
Ideation
The official Stardew Valley Wiki offers every answer that you could ever think of. However, it requires a search first. As a beginning player, this could be quite daunting if you don’t even know where to start.
When creating this project, I wanted it to be simple to curate and look at. I created a starting page with headers for each section, and a separate page that goes more in-depth into the characters you may want to research.
Solution
The app was designed around frustrations such as information overload, and time stress. With that in mind, I created my app which has a section for daily task scheduling, beginner friendly onboarding, a calendar, and then a section for you to view custom NPC tracking.
This screen targets specific characters, with a drop down that allows you to change the NPC, providing a step-by-step schedule and more without needing external research. It reduces cognitive load and builds early-game confidence.
Conclusion
The pixelated art of Stardew Valley draws players in with its relaxing, cozy aesthetic. As a game designer, I recognize that this visual style not only supports the genre’s appeal but also enhances the immersive, long-term engagement encouraged by the game’s rich content. However, user research revealed that Stardew Valley presents a steep learning curve for newcomers. These insights informed my design of a companion app that helps players navigate the early game with more confidence. By offering lightweight, in-game, contextual guidance, like personal scheduling tools and NPC trackers. The app aims to ease pressure, reduce confusion, and let players enjoy the relaxed, exploratory nature of Stardew Valley on their own terms.
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