Stardew Valley just became Steam’s highest-rated game of all time, here’s who’s in second and third place
Stardew Valley, which is currently available on the Steam sale for $7.49, is now the highest-rated game on Steam, according to data from Steam250, a platform that aggregates user review scores from Valve’s digital storefront. The indie farming simulator, created by Eric “ConcernedApe” Barone, now sits at the top of Steam’s Top 250 list, overtaking long-time favourites Portal 2 and Terraria.
Steam250 ranks games using a weighted formula that considers both the percentage of positive reviews and the total number of reviews. As of July 2025, Stardew Valley holds an overall score of 8.87, with 98% positive reviews from 899,986 users. In comparison, Portal 2 ranks second with 99% positive reviews, but from a smaller pool of 436,665 users. Terraria is in third place with 97% positive feedback across 1.42 million reviews.
Originally released in 2016, Stardew Valley has maintained a strong and active community. On Reddit, the milestone sparked a wave of appreciation for the game’s emotional resonance. User dhusk wrote, “In today’s world, I think it’s no surprise that a game about belonging, acceptance, and hard work paying off has become so popular. All that seems so out of reach with so many struggling day to day.”
Serious-Landscape568 replied, “Absolutely agree, there’s something special about how SDV rewards not just money, but also community and kindness. At a time when many feel powerless, that really resonates.”
That emotional impact is no accident. As Eric Barone said in an interview, “It’s a lifetime of creating stuff.” He developed Stardew Valley entirely on his own, “coding, drawing, making music, and writing,” over four years.
Many choices reflected his values. He removed animal butchering because “it didn’t jibe with the feeling I was going for.”The game’s setting drew from his Pacific Northwest roots, “The feeling of this nature is deeply ingrained in me.”
“If you want to raise 300 rabbits, you can,” Barone said, highlighting the game’s openness. “I think everyone wants to feel like they belong… this was my way of doing that.” That sincerity continues to resonate with players worldwide. If you're a fan of the game and want to know what went on behind the scenes, you can watch the full interview down below.
