The first year in Stardew Valley can be daunting for those taking on the game for the first time. The main 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 seasons change after 28 days meaning that there is a time crunch for those pursuing particular crops or quest lines. Understanding what to mark as goals in Stardew Valley's first year can therefore be a struggle.
The best way to break down this first year is by season and listing out a few goals players should achieve in each one. While this won't hit every important marker in each season, the following guide will give some highlights players should achieve on their way through the year.
What to do in the first Spring of Stardew Valley?
Players begin their journey in Stardew Valley in Spring, having just moved to their grandfather's farm. This season should be one in which players get acquainted with all of their neighbors, begin leveling up skills such as foraging and farming, and participate in the game's first festivals.
Win the Egg Hunt at the Egg Festival
This is the first festival of the year, and it takes place on the 13th day of every Spring. It is a great opportunity for players to greet most of the residents of Pelican Town as well as grab one of Stardew Valley's most profitable crops this season, Strawberries. These can be purchased at the booth for 100 gold per seed, and if planted the next day, they can be harvested twice before Summer.
The main event, however, is the egg hunt through which players can win themselves a Straw Hat. While this item may not sound intriguing, it means that future wins will earn the player 1,000 gold.
Purchase the Upgrade for the Backpack
Players will quickly realize that the 12 slots they have in their inventory are not going to cut it. While building a chest can help mitigate this storage issue, it is best to save up the money and purchase the Large Pack from the General Store that is run by Stardew Valley's Pierre for 2,000 gold.
Fix the Bridge at the Beach
While Stardew Valley has plenty of places to explore, there are a handful of different areas that are locked away from the player at the beginning of the game. One such place is the Tide Pool area of the beach, which is inaccessible because a wooden bridge is out. This area is a great place to forage items such as Coral and Sea Urchins and costs a reasonable 300 pieces of wood to repair.
What to do in the first Summer of Stardew Valley?
The first summer in Stardew Valley is an exciting chance for players to explore a new area to the north as well as catch new fish, plant new crops, and forage 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 to the north of Pelican Town. This opens up the local Spa in Stardew Valley, which has the unique ability to recover both health and energy if players remain still in its waters. This can be especially useful for beginner players who have used up most of their energy.
Impress the Governor at the Luau
On Summer 11, players have the opportunity to experience their first Stardew Valley Luau on the beach. While there isn't a specific contest attached to this event, the potluck is a great opportunity for players to improve their relationship with most of the citizens of Pelican Town. Managing to get at least a good response from the Governor means that players earn 60 friendship points with their neighbors. The more friendly players are with these people, the more cutscenes, items, recipes, and quests they unlock.
Upgrade the Farmhouse
Energy conservation is crucial in the early part 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 create their own meals. Combining the recipes players gather from local villagers and from the Queen of Sauce program on the TV with this upgrade is an important part of both energy management and opening up more money-making opportunities.
What to do in the first Fall of Stardew Valley?
The Fall of the first year in Stardew Valley is the last opportunity 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 off all the boxes that entails.
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 pool by 34 points. There is a maximum of seven in the game, and this is one of the easiest to obtain. It costs 2,000 star tokens, a currency that can be obtained at the fair by playing most of the games or outright purchasing them at one booth.
Invest in Cranberries
While not the crop that sells for the most money in Stardew Valley's Fall season (that honor goes to the Sweet Gem Berry), cranberries can give out a maximum of five harvests over the course of this season. This ability to continue to produce for players helps make this the crop of choice for those 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 without a membership (240 with).
Stock a Coop or Barn
Players by this time of their first year should be able to purchase at least one basic coop in their Stardew Valley playthrough (4,000 gold, 300 wood, and 100 stone) or one basic barn (6,000 gold, 350 wood, and 150 stone), and players should focus funds on stocking this with animals throughout the fall. Chickens cost just 800 gold a piece, while Cows are almost double at 1,500 gold. These animals eventually produce items such as eggs and milk that will repay their purchase price.
What to do in the first Winter of Stardew Valley?
Winter can be the most challenging season in Stardew Valley because no outdoor crops grow aside from Winter Seeds. Balancing animal husbandry, fishing, and mining, however, can help players push through to their second year.
Win the Festival of Ice
On the 8th of Winter, players get to experience Stardew Valley's Festival of Ice in the Cidersnap Forest. Once again, this is another great chance to improve the relationship players have with NPCs. On top of this, the main event is a fishing competition through which players can earn themselves two fishing tackles as well as a magnet and a Sailors Cap. Every year afterward, however, the player will earn themselves 2,000 gold by beating out Willy and catching at least five fish.
Mine as Deep as Possible
Because unlocking Stardew Valley's Greenhouse through either the Community Center or JojaMart is more of a stretch goal for the first year of the game, players should instead focus elsewhere. Winter is a great chance to improve their mining, fishing, and foraging skills. Specifically, working down the levels of the mines in the Mountain region is a great chance to gather materials and supplement some lost income associated with this season.
Upgrade Tools
While players should focus on improving the quality of their tools in Stardew Valley throughout the first year, Winter is an especially great chance to do so. Choosing which tool to upgrade first depends primarily on the style of play of the player. In general, however, because there isn't really a need to water crops in the Winter, the Watering Can is a solid first option. Aside from this, players can switch focus to fishing while they upgrade their Pickaxe.
Stardew Valley is available on PS4, PS Vita, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC, Android, and iOS.