Summary
If you’re a fan of relaxing farming games, then you may’t go wrong with trying out either Roots of Pacha orStardew Valley. Both games are similar in a lot of ways, but thanks to a variety of minor tweaks, you can have unique experiences in both games.
Fans of each, and even those looking to pick one or the other up may wonder which one is truly better. While that is certainly subjective, there are a few key differences that may influence your own personal decision as to which farming and life-simulator game truly is the best of the best.
Updated on Jul 05, 2025 by Gabrielle Castania:With both Stardew Valley and Roots of Pacha so beloved for fans of farming sims, and another update in the works for Stardew Valley, we’re back to update our article on which game we think is better to include new formatting and in-text links.
11Roots Of Pacha - It Has A Fantastic Aesthetic
Stellar Stone Age Setting
Graphically, Roots of Pacha and Stardew Valley are relatively similar. They do have a few major differences, and one of the biggest is the theme that sets Roots Of Pacha in the Stone Age, an uncommon setting for games of this type.
Simply making another farming simulator with a pixelated style would have been a bit too derivative, but with all the unique twists that the Stone Age can offer, Roots of Pacha manages to stand out as a unique game worth playing, even if you’ve sunk dozens of hours into Stardew Valley.
10Stardew Valley - The People Are Amazing
Small Towns Are Nothing Without Their Locals
Whether you enjoy the people of Roots of Pacha or Stardew Valley more is going to come down to individual taste, but more people do seem to enjoy those on offer in Stardew Valley. They’re a bit standoffish when you first arrive, but you’ll eventually feel right at home in Pelican Town.
The longer you spend befriending the people in Stardew Valley, the more they’ll start to feellike your own family. You’ll understand their struggles, root for them as they tell you their dreams, and even be able to show up for them on important days.
9Roots Of Pacha - The Game Was Made To Be Played With Friends
Tribe Time
While Stardew Valley is a fantastic multiplayer game now, Roots of Pacha feels as if it were made to be played with friends due tothe tribal natureof the game. Being able to grab a few friends and work together to craft the perfect farm is a blast.
At the same time,the multiplayer aspectdoesn’t leave the others feeling as if they don’t belong, once again thanks to the way your own clan works. Multiplayer can occasionally feel like an afterthought in farming sims, but not in Roots of Pacha.
8Stardew Valley - Relaxing And Modern
Restful Rural Life
While Roots of Pacha is far from a stressful experience, there’s just something incredibly peaceful about Stardew Valley. A combination of the music, the sound effects, the visuals, andthe overall goals(though never stricly necessary to complete) keeps the entire thing feeling simple.
At the same time, the game doesn’t feel as if it’s of another generation in both mechanics and overall feel. The setting feels timeless, like anyone from any part of the world could be dropped in and would have just as incredible of a time as w did.
7Roots Of Pacha - The Animals
Prehistoric Pets
Roots of Pacha absolutely has the edge over Stardew Valley when it comes to wildlife. It is great to haveaccess to the typical farm animals, but being able to experience a world populated by unique creatures like mammoths is even more exciting.
Many pets and animals can be found, and they all add a lot to the game world. It’s a piece of the puzzle that makes you feel like you’re in the Stone Age. Plus, you may hang out with bison, and who wouldn’t want to do that?
6Stardew Valley - Plenty Of Fun Side Activities
A Not-So Boring Small Town Life
Stardew Valley manages to keep its gameplay interesting by throwing ina ton of cool bonuses, and while Roots of Pacha does the same, Stardew Valley does it to a slightly better effect. Even the dungeon crawling alone in Stardew Valley is a delightful surprise for many.
There are crops to plant, locals to befriend, fish to catch, foraging items to find, ores to mine, enemies to fight, a museum to fill, and so much more - you’ll never really run out of things to do to keep you busy in Stardew Valley.
5Roots Of Pacha - The Festivals Are Wonderful
Pacha Party
There may be a lot of personality in the festivals that can be found in Stardew Valley, but the ones in Root of Pacha do tend to add a little bit more to the mix. It’s fantastic to see the tiny prehistoric community come together in such a fun way.
Experiencing the different festivals across the seasons can feel a bit more meaningful in Roots of Pacha because there is a larger emphasis on community. If yougo through a year of Stardew Valley focusing on a farm, festivals might not be much fun the second time.
4Stardew Valley - Better Options For Beginning Gameplay
At this point, you have so manyfantastic options for starting a farmin Stardew Valley that you could replay the game multiple times and it would likely feel different each time. The perks of each farm may be the cons of another, but knowing how to work your land is critical to any layout.
Whichever farm you pick will be based on your personal preference or the potential bonuses conferred by the choice. More options are never a bad thing and neither is being able to experience this gem in brand-new ways.
3Roots Of Pacha - You Can Explore Life From A New Perspective
Plenty Of Real (Enough) History
It’s easy to take things for granted thanks to how automated our world has become. Even within Stardew Valley, it won’t be long before your entire farm is taking care of itself. While you can do the same in Roots of Pacha, the unique way this happens is fantastic.
You get to see some of the techniques that were implemented by historical groups to cultivatethriving crops. While things may or may not be historically accurate, there are some cool things anyone can learn from a game with that perspective.
2Stardew Valley - The Character Events Are Fantastic
Love Those Lovable Locals
Character is king in both of these games, but Stardew Valley tends to have themuch more touching moments, even outside the run of the mill daily interactions that keep us loving our favorite townsfolk. Part of it is likely due to how hard you have to work to befriend the various townspeople while you build your own farm.
Progressing a relationship only to have a villager open up to you, invite you to an important event, or even just come to you for help is always a moment you’ll remember, and that goes for the characters you don’t find yourself liking as much as others.
