SMAPI

The trusted mod loader for Stardew Valley

SMAPI is a free video game utility software that enables you to load tons of mods for the popular farming simulation game Stardew Valley. Developed by Pathoschild, this mod loader is an open-source project compatible with GOG and Steam achievements. This doesn’t require anything else but the game itself to work properly. Note, however, that a whole lot of Stardew Valley mods will need this preinstalled.

Is SMAPI safe?

Stardew Valley is a 2016 simulation role-playing video game developed by Eric ConcernedApe Barone. Heavily inspired by the popular Harvest Moon video game series, players have to restore a dilapidated farm they inherited from their late grandfather by earning money through farming, raising livestock, crafting, mining, and more. There’s also a social feature wherein you befriend and romance NPCs and eventually start a family. Plus, an online multiplayer mode with up to three other players is available.

Due to the critical success of the game, its supportive fans made a whole treasure trove of mods. These can either improve certain aspects of the game or add all-new content. However, it’s not easy to use so many mods at once—you will often require a mod loader that supports these and make sure that they load in properly for the game. This is where SMAPI comes in, which is the modding tool needed for Stardew Valley.

This program has various uses aside from handling mods. It provides APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) and events for the mods so they can interact properly with the game. It can also rewrite mods for compatibility and intercepts errors—even automatically fixing saves and backing them up daily. Additionally, it provides update checks and compatibility checks. It’s guaranteed safe to use—with its only biggest issue being not working after big Stardew Valley updates from time to time.

A must-have utility

All in all, SMAPI is a tool you should try out if you’re planning on modding your copy of SV—as not only does it stabilize mods, but it’s also a required program for most of the game’s mods. It can read game store achievements and even back up and fix most errors on your mods. While it sometimes breaks after updates, that’s fixed soon enough since it’s a well-supported modding tool for the Stardew Valley community.