Indie farming simulation Stardew Valley has claimed the title of Steam’s top-rated game, surpassing long-time champion Portal 2. According to third-party ranking site Steam250, the cozy farm-life simulator now holds the highest user rating on the platform, marking a big moment for solo developer Eric “ConcernedApe” Barone.
Both games currently boast an impressive 98% positive rating on Steam, but Stardew Valley‘s edge comes from its massive review count. The farming sim has picked up around 900,000 user reviews compared to Portal 2‘s 436,000, giving it a slight advantage in Steam250’s ranking formula, which considers both the quality and quantity of reviews.
This achievement is especially cool considering Stardew Valley‘s humble beginnings. Released in 2016, the game was developed almost entirely by Barone over several years as a tribute to the Harvest Moon series. Meanwhile, Portal 2, developed by Valve Corporation, one of gaming’s largest companies, has been hailed as one of the greatest puzzle games ever since its 2011 release.
Stardew Valley lets players escape to a rural town where they can build a farm, make friends with the locals, explore caves, fish, and join in on seasonal events. Its combo of relaxing gameplay, depth, and charming style has clicked with millions around the world, leading to over 41 million copies sold across all platforms as of December 2024.
