The indie gaming scene has exploded in popularity over the last few years, especially in the cozy/farm sim genre. Since its release in 2016, Stardew Valley has become an almost genre-defining game in the indie scene.

Now, a new wave of cozy, community-driven life sims is on the horizon, each building on Stardew’s foundation while adding its own twist. Here are the upcoming indie games that might just become the next big hit in the genre.

5 Mirthwood

Release: late 2024 / early 2025

Mirthwood combines a life-sim game with light combat and open-world exploration. Set in a medieval fantasy forest, you build a homestead, grow crops, care for animals, and befriend local villagers, all while venturing into the wild to find resources or fend off creatures.

Unlike Stardew, which limits its combat to mines, Mirthwood offers it above ground, too. As such, the game has a much larger focus on exploration, gear upgrades, and building up a class. If you ever wanted Stardew Valley with more swords and story arcs, this one’s definitely for you.

4 Witchbrook

Release: TBA (likely late 2025)

Developed by Chucklefish, the original publisher of Stardew Valley, Witchbrook has drawn direct comparisons to its predecessor, but with a magical twist. Set in the town of Mossport, you play as a student enrolled in a magical academy.

There’s fishing, farming, crafting, and chatting with townsfolk by bonfires, just like in Stardew. However, your daily schedule now includes spell classes and potion brewing. NPCs have jobs, homes, routines, and rich dialogue trees. While the game has no firm release date, Witchbrook is already one of the most wishlisted life sims on Steam.

3 Neverway

Release: TBA

Neverway throws a moody curveball at the cozy sim formula. Made by Celeste’s pixel artist Pedro Medeiros, this game combines farming, crafting, and social simulation with elements of dark fantasy and horror. You play as Fionna, who inherits a cursed island and must repay a debt to a long-dead god.

While Stardew Valley delivers a laid-back farming experience with light adventure elements, Neverway leans harder into its story and has much more atmospheric tension. Its world is laced with supernatural events, unsettling characters, and moral decisions that can shape your path. It's a great pick for those who want their cozy games with fewer rainbows and more clouds.

2 Tales of the Shire

Release: 2025

Set in Tolkien’s The Shire, Tales of the Shire lets you live the life of a hobbit in Bywater, where you can garden, decorate your hobbit hole, cook, socialize, and explore the surrounding countryside. There is much less time pressure than in Stardew, with the game mostly focusing on the cozy lives of hobbits.

Tales of the Shire has no combat, no dungeon crawling, just a gentle loop of engaging with the community and creating a comfortable life in one of fantasy’s most beloved settings. It’s a slower pace than Stardew, and not necessarily everyone's cup of tea, but it’s a great experience for gamers who love Stardew's tranquil moments and the Shire.

1 Sunkissed City

Release: TBA (2025)

Sunkissed City is being developed by Arthur “Mr. Podunkian” Lee, who worked on Stardew Valley itself. This game trades the countryside for an urban coastal setting but keeps much of what fans loved about Stardew: the relationships, farming, and cozy vibe. The game has a very similar pixel-art style to Stardew Valley, just with a different setting.

However, the core DNA remains intact. Sunkissed City scales up the production rate so that animals can produce multiple goods per day, but also makes the player juggle urban gardening with their social life in a bustling seaside town. It's a highly anticipated title that feels like a direct sequel to Stardew Valley, but with more variety and a different setting, perfect for players craving something familiar yet still new.

Platforms:

• Steam

Don't miss out on these future hits

If you’ve already poured hundreds of hours into Pelican Town, and you’re looking for something new to fall in love with, these upcoming indie games definitely deserve your attention.