Best Anime Recs for Stardew Valley Players

Commonly cited as one of the best casual games of all time, the 2016 farm life sim video game Stardew Valley has been a hit ever since its release. The enthroned leader of the cozy game genre, Stardew Valley is a soothing game that has the player character explore the titular rural town, befriend its colorful inhabitants, and perform relaxing daily tasks like farming, cooking, and acquiring resources. Developed independently by ConcernedApe (Eric Barone), the game remains the golden standard for low-stress video games to this day due to the uniquely comforting atmosphere it crafts.

While unusual for popular games, the same ambiance can be found all around in anime. The medium has an entire genre, iyashikei, that is dedicated to series meant to have a healing effect on the viewers’ souls. Yet, even outside the iyashikei genre, anime has plenty of series that offer a heartening experience to fans. From slice-of-life set in the countryside to light-hearted comedies focused on the beauty of day-to-day existence, anime like Stardew Valley are some of the most peaceful.

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10 Natsume’s Book of Friends Is a Soothing Adventure with a Supernatural Undertone

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Celebrating the magic found in simple existence, Natsume’s Book of Friends and anime similar to it are perfect for a comforting, life-affirming watch.

One of the most popular series in the iyashikei genre, Natsume’s Book of Friends is a perfect anime for those seeking a stress-free anime. Similarly to Stardew Valley, Natsume’s Book of Friends takes place in the countryside. Takashi Natsume possesses a gift of seeing yokai — that is, Japanese spirits — which was passed down to him from his grandmother, along with the titular Book of Friends.

Yet, most spirits of Natsume’s Book of Friends are far from frightening. Instead, they simply seek to be freed through Natsume’s power. As Natsume grows more involved in the spiritual world, his appreciation for the unique role he has as a mediator between yokai and humans grows, and so does the audience’s engrossment in the calming, cozy adventures the hero embarks on both in his routine life as a teenager and in his contacts with the spirits.

Natsume’s Book of Friends

When Natsume Takashi inherits a book that belonged to his late grandmother he realizes the book is filled with the names of spirits she defeated and bound to her will. He then decides to return their names so they can be free once again.

Release Date

July 7, 2008

Cast

Hiroshi Kamiya , Kazuhiko Inoue

Seasons

6 Seasons

Creator

Kenichi Kanemaki, Sadayuki Murai

Producer

Tomomi Kyôtani, Reiko Sasaki, Hirofumi Sugawara, Shûko Yokoyama

Production Company

Brains Base, Shuka, Nihon Ad Systems (NAS)

Number of Episodes

74 Episodes

9 Non Non Biyori Highlights the Beauty in Simplistic Life

One of the genres that consistently goes out of its way to celebrate the importance of comfort media is Cute Girls Doing Cute Things. And no anime in the genre is more reminiscent of Stardew Valley in terms of setting than Non Non Biyori. A love letter to enjoying the simple things in life, Non Non Biyori follows a vibrant group of schoolgirls from a remote Asahigaoka village.

A tiny settlement that offers little in terms of entertainment and has just five students — including a new girl, Hotaru, who came to Asahigaoka from Tokyo — the village, nevertheless, has an incontestable charm. The days of Non Non Biyori’s heroines may not be filled with mind-blowing adventures, yet how they still manage to turn their mundanity fun and exciting will soothe the viewers.

8 Tales from Moominvalley Is Anime’s Definitive Cozy Fantasy

Based on a popular Finnish novel series by Tove Jansson, Tales from Moominvalley is an unconventional anime in many ways. While not very popular in the West, Moomins had a significant cultural impact across the globe, and many see this anime adaptation as a childhood classic.

A comforting and cozy fantasy slice-of-life, Tales from Moominvalley follows a family of cutesy trolls, the titular Moomins, as they go on lighthearted adventures, make friends, and enjoy the peaceful ambiance of their pastoral village. Despite being a children’s anime, Tales from Moominvalley appeals to viewers of all ages who seek to cast daily worries aside and relax in an accepting and loving fictional world.

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Moving far away from the hustle and bustle of the big city to reconnect with nature can be an eye-opening experience, as showcased in the slice-of-life comedy Barakamon. Initially, the anime’s protagonist, Seishuu Handa, was sent to the rural Goto Islands as a punishment for his arrogant behavior.

Once Seishuu gets over his initial haughtiness and frustration by getting to know the islands’ colorful community, the environment helps him mature, both as a person and as an artist of calligraphy. There are many similarities between the Goto Islands and the titular Stardew Valley, particularly in how tight-knit and welcoming their communities are.

Barakamon

A proud young calligrapher is punished for punching a critic by being sent to a faraway island in the east coast of Japan. But as he meets and lives with the island’s friendly people, his attitude begins to improve.

Release Date

July 6, 2014

Cast

Daisuke Ono , Suzuko Hara , Nozomi Furuki , Rina Endô

Seasons

1

Studio

Kinema Citrus

Creator

Satsuki Yoshino

Number of Episodes

12

6 The Stranger by the Shore Is an Honest Romance Film Set in the Countryside

The 2020 anime movie The Stranger by the Shore would be a perfect anime for those who enjoyed the character interactions of Stardew Valley most, particularly its approach to romance. Taking place on the rural seaside of Okinawa, the film explores the relationship between Hashimoto Shun, an openly gay novelist shunned by his family upon coming out, and Mio Chibana, a young orphaned man with whom Shun establishes a swift and close friendship.

Regrettably, Mio leaves the island and his friend behind shortly after they get to know each other, only to reappear years later with a determined intent to pursue a romantic relationship with Shun. A refreshingly insightful and realistic BL film, The Stranger by the Shore is a charming love story set against a scenic backdrop.

The Stranger by the Beach

Two men meet on a beach in Okinawa and are romantically attracted to each other.

Director

Akiyo Ohashi

Release Date

September 11, 2020

Cast

Bryn Apprill , Justin Briner

Writers

Akiyo Ohashi

Runtime

59 Minutes

Production Company

Studio Hibari

5 Spice and Wolf Makes Mundane Topics Exciting

An iconic slice-of-life romance that recently experienced a boost in popularity due to receiving a long-awaited remake, Spice and Wolf follows an unlikely partnership between an ancient fox goddess, Holo, and a traveling merchant, Lawrence, as they journey through the charming medieval countryside. Resource management, trade, and crafting are a big part of both Stardew Valley and Spice and Wolf.

While few associate economics with relaxation, both Spice & Wolf and Stardew Valley manage to turn these seemingly stressful activities into something meditatively soothing. With the added merit of watching Holo and Lawrence’s relationship evolve from an opportunistic partnership to a genuine, heartfelt bond of love, Spice and Wolf captivates viewers with the pair’s adventures in the world of trade.

Spice and Wolf

Kraft Lawrence goes from town to town to make profits as a travelling merchant, with the help of a wolf deity by the name of Holo.

Release Date

January 8, 2008

Cast

Jun Fukuyama , Ami Koshimizu , J. Michael Tatum

Seasons

2 Seasons

Creator

Isuna Hasekura

Production Company

ASCII Mediaworks, Brains Base, Flying Dog

4 Wolf Children Explores the Difficulties of Caring for a Family in the Countryside

Created by Mamoru Hosoda — an esteemed anime director known for his heartfelt, grounded movies with magical twists — Wolf Children is a wonderfully life-affirming tale that celebrates family, connection to nature, and strength of will. The movie’s heroine, Hana, is a single mother of two peculiar children, Ame and Yuki, who inherit from their father the ability to turn into wolves.

After the death of Hana’s partner, she moves to the countryside in the hopes that the secluded, rural lifestyle will be kinder to her unusual kids. While the new environment, on top of the expected struggles of parenthood, put a lot of roadblocks in Hana’s way, her determination to give Ame and Yuki the best life they could possibly have makes for an endlessly inspiring and soul-soothing story.

Wolf Children

After her werewolf lover unexpectedly dies in an accident while hunting for food for their children, a young woman must find ways to raise the werewolf son and daughter that she had with him while keeping their trait hidden from society.

Release Date

July 21, 2012

Cast

Aoi Miyazaki , Takao Osawa , Haru Kuroki

Runtime

1 hour 57 minutes

Production Company

Nippon Television Network (NTV), Studio Chizu, Madhouse

3 No-Rin Adds Eccentric Humor to the Farming Setting

Despite its close focus on agriculture and farming, the romantic comedy No-Rin differs quite a bit from other series with a similar focus. Set in the Tamo Agriculture School, the anime centers on Kousaku Hata, an idol-obsessed son of failed farmers who adores a famed pop star, Yuka Kusakabe.

To Kousaku Hata’s utter devastation, his beloved idol suddenly retires at the peak of her career, only to unexpectedly wind up in Hata’s little town of Aioi as a new student at his agriculture school, Ringo Kinoshita. No-Rin offers fans a good balance between insights into the difficult yet rewarding craft of farmers and over-the-top comedy, with the latter making the show stand out from other slice-of-life series in the countryside theme.

No-Rin

A farm boy named Kousaka Hata meets his famous platonic love when Yuka Kusakabe retires and moves to his agriculture school.

Release Date

January 10, 2014

Cast

Shintarou Asanuma , Austin Tindle , Kana Hanazawa (Japanese) , Marina Inoue , Caitlin Glass , Lynsey Hale

Seasons

1

Studio

Silver Link

Creator

Shirow Shiratori

Number of Episodes

12

Streaming Service(s)

Funimation

2 Laid-Back Camp Is All About Relaxing in Nature

One of the coziest series in the already relaxation-inducing CGDCT subgenre, Laid-Back Camp is the ultimate celebration of becoming one with nature. Centered on a lovable cast of heroines, each with their distinctive yet lovable personalities, Laid-Back Camp teaches the viewers the ropes of camping in the Japanese wilderness at a relaxed, easygoing pace.

Like Stardew Valley, the anime has some educational elements but mostly focuses on the atmosphere of unwinding in nature in the company of dear friends. Laid-Back Camp also features one of the most delightful casts in slice-of-life anime, as each of the main girls balances one another out to create a group dynamic everyone would want to be a part of.

Laid-Back Camp (2018)

Nadeshiko, a high school student who had moved from Shizuoka to Yamanashi, decides to see the famous, 1000 yen-bill-featured Mount Fuji. Even though she manages to bike all the way to Motosu, she’s forced to turn back because of worsening weather.

Release Date

January 4, 2018

Cast

Yumiri Hanamori , Nao Tôyama , Aki Toyosaki

Seasons

3 Seasons

Creator

Afro

Production Company

8bit, C-Station, DeNA

1 Silver Spoon Is the Ultimate Farming Anime

The best and most well-regarded farming anime out there, Silver Spoon is a must-watch show for all Stardew Valley fans. Relaxing yet narratively captivating, the series follows the coming-of-age journey of Yuugo Hachiken, a student of the Ooezo Agricultural High School who initially escapes to rural Hokkaido in search of a new life goal.

Lacking a background in agriculture, Hachiken swiftly realizes that the life of a farmer is much harder than he imagined. Yet, with the help of his stellar work ethic and the new friends he makes at Ooezo High, he begins to settle into this new chapter of his adolescence. Reminiscent of the hit cozy game both in themes of self-reevaluation and in the agriculture subject matter, Silver Spoon is the closest one can get to replicating the Stardew Valley experience in anime format.

Silver Spoon

In order to escape his stressful city life, Hachiken enrolls in an agricultural school where he must learn a whole new way of life alongside a colorful cast of characters.

Release Date

June 12, 2013

Studio

A-1 Pictures

Main Cast

Ryouhei Kimura, Marie Miyake, Tooru Sakurai, Ayahi Takagaki, Yasunori Masutani and Shiori Izawa