Stardew Valley 1.6 has brought a sense of excitement and discovery back to Pelican Town, and I'm losing myself to it all over again

GamesSimulationStardew ValleyStardew Valley 1.6 has brought a sense of excitement and discovery back to Pelican Town, and I’m losing myself to it all over againWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

GamesSimulationStardew ValleyStardew Valley 1.6 has brought a sense of excitement and discovery back to Pelican Town, and I’m losing myself to it all over againWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

(Image credit: ConcernedApe)

Stardew Valley screenshot of the farmer next to their pet dog who wears a paper hat

I wake up to what feels like a whole new world inStardew Valley. A small message appears telling me that “a green rain has descended”, and everything on screen is blanketed in a subtle emerald hue. When I step outside, the unusual rainfall is showering my farm, with unfamiliar verdant plants and vegetation growing over every corner of land. With my trusty scythe in hand, a few slices here and there immediately delivers some surprises – and there’s no stopping the gasps and “ooohs” that escape me when I see some unfamiliar resources bounce on the ground.

Squid game

(Image credit: ConcernedApe)

Stardew Valley screenshot of the farmer in their house with a message telling them green rain has started outside

Farmhand(Image credit: Concerned Ape)Looking to get stuck into farm life? Check out these helpfulStardew Valley tips.

Farmhand

(Image credit: Concerned Ape)Looking to get stuck into farm life? Check out these helpfulStardew Valley tips.

(Image credit: Concerned Ape)

Games like Stardew Valley

Looking to get stuck into farm life? Check out these helpfulStardew Valley tips.

Actually, it’s all of the little things that have really made the Stardew Valley 1.6 update for me. I mean, what could rival putting a paper hat on my dog Rhubarb? Or finding out you can adopt more pets – including a big purple turtle that costs the hefty sum of 500,000G? If ever there was a reason to save my pennies, that is certainly it. With such anextensive changelogofnew additions in the update, it’s been such a delight to set out each day to see what else I can discover. From major add-ons with questlines and seasonal events, to the introduction of new equipment and upgrades, right down to minor quality of life tweaks, every feature I’ve come across is making me fall right back in love with farm life all over again.

Take, for example, the day I discovered a new cosmetic machine in Willy’s shop that let me change the bobber on my fishing rod. As an avid angler in Stardew Valley, being able to customize my bobber to look like a little rubber duck means that whenever I cast a line and see it, a big smile spreads across my face without fail.

Plus, the addition of a sonar item to add to my rod that lets me see what fish I’m catching is proving to save me so much time when I’m after a specific catch. In fact, it was particularly handy when I took part in the new SquidFest event that saw me try to catch a certain amount of tentacled friends to earn myself some prizes.

(Image credit: ConcernedApe)

Stardew Valley screenshot of the farmer catching a squid as snow falls during the SquidFest

From seeing the residents of Pelican town wrapped up in coats, hats, and scarves in the wintertime, to finding mystery boxes and looting power books - that give my skills a boost or unlock helpful perks - there’s been no shortage of new things to discover since I returned to the pixelated lands of my farm.

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1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”

Nemesis board game models and tokens laid out on a board

1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”

1

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5

Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”

1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”

Shadow brandishes a gun in Sonic The Hedgehog 3

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1

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2

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3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”

3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”

3

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4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”

4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”

4

The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”

5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”

5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”

5

Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”

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1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now”

1

Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now”

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2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”

2

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3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”

3

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4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”

4

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5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”

5

Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”

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