Stardew Valley Expanded Mod Guide: Installation & Secrets

Getting Started with Stardew Valley Expanded

Ready to explore the vast new world of Stardew Valley Expanded? Before you can visit new locations like the high-tech Aurora Vineyard or meet characters like the adventurous Sophia, you'll need to set up the essential modding foundation.

This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything from basic installation to discovering hidden secrets that can transform your Stardew Valley experience. Whether you're a veteran farmer or new to the valley, SVE offers hundreds of hours of fresh content that reimagines the beloved farming simulator.

Essential Installation Steps

The absolute first and most crucial step is installing SMAPI (Stardew Modding API). This tool is the engine that makes all mods, including SVE, run.

Before You Begin

• Ensure you've launched the vanilla Stardew Valley game at least once to complete its initial setup
• Download the latest SMAPI version from the official website
• Run the Windows installer, carefully following its on-screen instructions

Required Supporting Mods

Once SMAPI is in place, you'll need two specific supporting mods for SVE to function:

• Content Patcher: This handles all the new content
• Farm Type Manager: This is essential for the mod's custom farm layouts

Important for Steam users: You must copy the command line text generated by the SMAPI installer and paste it into Stardew Valley's Launch Options within Steam. This ensures your Steam overlay, achievements, and playtime tracking continue to work seamlessly.

Starting Your New Farm

For the absolute best experience, it is strongly recommended to start a brand new save file.

When creating this new farm:

• Select the 'Standard Farm' type for the custom SVE maps to load correctly
• Only install one of the included farm layouts (like Grandpa's Farm) at a time to avoid conflicts

Quick Reference Checklist

• Install SMAPI (Stardew Modding API)
• Install Content Patcher
• Install Farm Type Manager
• Configure Steam Launch Options (Steam users only)
• Create new save file
• Select Standard Farm type
• Install one farm layout at a time

With these steps complete, you'll be ready to enjoy everything Stardew Valley Expanded has to offer.

The Expanded World Overview

The Stardew Valley Expanded mod fundamentally transforms the cozy confines of Pelican Town into a vastly larger and more complex world. This fan-made expansion adds a staggering 27 new NPCs and 58 new locations, offering veterans a completely fresh experience within a familiar setting.

The world you thought you knew is now brimming with new stories to uncover and corners to explore. This expansion is more than just new scenery; it's packed with deep gameplay additions, including 278 character events for richer storytelling.

New Characters and Storylines

Among the new faces are intriguing marriage candidates and memorable NPCs, each with their own unique stories and development arcs:

Marriage Candidates

• Claire: A JojaMart cashier with dreams of a more fulfilling life
• Magnus: The Wizard, whose detailed schedule includes tending to his magical research at his tower

Other Notable Characters

• Sophia: Associated with the new Blue Moon Vineyard, offering unique storylines and friendship opportunities

Each character comes with their own unique storylines, friendship requirements, and special events that add depth to the Pelican Town community. The mod doesn't just add people; it dramatically expands the social dynamics of the game, creating a more vibrant and living world.

New Locations and Areas

The mod dramatically expands the map, giving you countless new areas to explore. From high-tech facilities to rustic agricultural areas, there's something for every type of player.

Major New Locations

High-Tech and Industrial Areas

• Aurora Vineyard: A high-tech vineyard with cutting-edge farming techniques

Agricultural and Rural Areas

• Grampleton Fields: A rustic agricultural area with new farming opportunities
• Shearbridge Bridge: A scenic location perfect for relaxation and fishing

Eastern Expansions

• Areas East of Pelican Town: Expansive new territories waiting to be discovered

Enhanced Existing Areas

Even familiar places have been significantly enhanced:

Forest and Nature Areas

• Cindersap Forest: New content and access points throughout the woods

Transportation Hubs

• Railroad Region: Expanded with additional locations and secrets

Continuous Development and Updates

With continuous updates and active development throughout 2024 and into 2025, the world of Pelican Town remains an ever-evolving place to lose yourself in.

The mod receives regular updates that add new content, fix bugs, and improve performance, ensuring that your investment in the mod continues to pay dividends.

Advanced Gameplay Tips and Hidden Secrets

Veteran farmers diving into Stardew Valley Expanded (SVE) will discover a significantly overhauled secret note system, with three specific notes offering new challenges and incredible rewards.

The mod alters Secret Notes #18, #19, and #23 to integrate with its expanded world, making them a top priority for any advanced player.

Unlocking the Bear's Shop

The single most valuable change is to Secret Note #23. In the vanilla game, this note simply provides knowledge, but in SVE, it becomes the key to unlocking the Bear's Shop.

How to Unlock

The note directs you to bring Maple Syrup to the Bear's cave in the Forest West. This simple task unlocks a shop that becomes an indispensable resource.

Shop Benefits

Once unlocked, the Bear's Shop offers:

• Rare seasonal items like Premium Crafting Materials (Pine Tar, Oak Resin)
• The crucial Mahogany Seed for late-game crafting
• Exclusive, high-value recipes like Baked Berry Oatmeal
• A reliable source for quest-specific ingredients and powerful upgrades

This makes it a reliable source for quest-specific ingredients and powerful upgrades that can significantly accelerate your progress.

The Redesigned Treasure Hunt

Meanwhile, Secret Note #19 presents a unique challenge. Due to SVE's extensive map changes, the original treasure hunt pathway is completely redesigned.

The New Challenge

While the coveted Solid Gold Lewis Statue remains the prize, the route to find it is entirely new. The hunt starts from Jodi's house, but the path has been completely reimagined.

Success Strategy

Success requires:

• A strong familiarity with the mod's expanded layout of Pelican Town
• Careful exploration of new areas
• Patience and attention to environmental clues

Strategy for Success

For tackling these secrets, prioritize finding Note #23 first for its unparalleled shop benefits. The Bear's Shop becomes an invaluable resource that can significantly accelerate your progress through the game.

Always study SVE's modified maps before attempting Note #19's treasure hunt. The redesigned treasure hunt requires a completely different approach than the vanilla version.

Remember that the Bear's inventory changes with the seasons, so plan your purchases accordingly to maximize the shop's potential throughout the year.

Troubleshooting Common SVE Issues

Even the most carefully curated mod list can run into problems with Stardew Valley Expanded (SVE), but a systematic approach can resolve most headaches.

A frequent hurdle is sudden SMAPI compatibility warnings, a trend that continued into 2025.

Handling Compatibility Warnings

If you see an error stating SVE is "no longer compatible," your first stop should be the official SMAPI compatibility checker to verify your mod versions.

This is often followed by a visit to the mod's official page for any specific patches announced by the creator.

Improving Performance

Performance can also be a major pain point. SVE is a massive expansion, and pairing it with other large content mods can strain even high-end systems.

Performance Optimization Tips

For a smoother experience:

• Consider using a dedicated performance optimization mod
• Disable SVE's optional "seasonal edits" in its config menu
• Remove particularly heavy mods like Alternative Textures and Automate
• Close unnecessary background applications while playing

Community discussions suggest that these adjustments can yield significant improvements in frame rates and overall stability.

Using the SMAPI Log

When issues arise, your SMAPI log is your best friend. You can quickly parse this file using the official tool at smapi.io/log to pinpoint errors.

The log will reveal everything from missing asset indexes to graphics device exceptions, providing a clear roadmap for your troubleshooting efforts.

Community Resources and Ongoing Development

Navigating the vast world of Stardew Valley Expanded (SVE) is made easier thanks to a robust, community-driven support system.

Essential Community Hubs

For comprehensive information, players turn to the community-maintained Stardew Valley Expanded Wiki, an essential hub detailing everything from its 28+ new NPCs and 58+ new locations to gameplay mechanics and reimagined festivals.

Real-Time Support

For real-time interaction:

• The massive official Discord server with over 38,900 members offers a vibrant space for news, technical troubleshooting, and sharing experiences
• The r/StardewValleyExpanded subreddit, with approximately 114,000 members, serves as a bustling forum for discussion, wiki collaboration, and community assistance

The Future of SVE

The mod's development is far from over. Creator FlashShifter, who even contributed to ConcernedApe's official 1.6 update, is actively working on a major new project: Castle Village.

This will be a separate mod compatible with SVE, whose release will coincide with SVE's own significant version 2.0 update.

This ensures that the expansive world of Stardew Valley Expanded continues to grow, supported by its passionate and engaged community.

Conclusion: Transforming Your Stardew Valley Experience

Stardew Valley Expanded represents more than just additional content—it's a complete reimagining of the beloved farming simulator that breathes new life into every corner of Pelican Town.

From the essential SMAPI installation that forms the foundation of your modded experience to discovering hidden secrets like the Bear's Shop through modified secret notes, this expansion offers hundreds of hours of fresh gameplay.

The ongoing development and strong community support ensure that your investment in learning the mod's intricacies will continue to pay dividends as new content arrives.

Whether you're meeting new marriage candidates, exploring expanded locations, or troubleshooting the occasional compatibility issue, Stardew Valley Expanded transforms a classic game into an entirely new adventure that honors the original while boldly expanding its boundaries.