If you’re a fan of relaxing farming games, then you can’t go wrong with trying out either Roots of Pacha or Stardew 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.
11 Roots Of Pacha - It Has A Fantastic Aesthetic
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. It was an interesting choice, but one that seriously paid off.
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.
10 Stardew Valley - The People Are Amazing
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. The beautiful thing is that, while the characters seem shallow on the surface, they can surprise you quite a bit.
The longer you spend befriending the people in Stardew Valley, the more they’ll start to feel like 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.
9 Roots Of Pacha - The Game Was Made To Be Played With Friends
While Stardew Valley is a fantastic multiplayer game now, Roots of Pacha feels as if it were made to be played with friends due to the tribal nature of 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 aspect doesn’t leave the others feeling as if they don’t belong, once again thanks to the way your own clan works. While some games have shoe-horned multiplayer, Roots of Pacha’s is excellent.
8 Stardew Valley - Relaxing And Modern
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, the vibe, and the overall goal 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, and like anyone from any part of the world could be dropped in and would have just as incredible of a time.
7 Roots Of Pacha - The Animals Are Incredible
Roots of Pacha absolutely has the edge over Stardew Valley when it comes to wildlife. It is great to have access 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 can hang out with bison, and who wouldn’t want to do that?
6 Stardew Valley - Plenty Of Fun Side Activities
Stardew Valley manages to keep its gameplay interesting by throwing in a 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.
People who aren’t fond of fishing minigames being in every game somehow manage to enjoy the fishing that you can do in Stardew Valley. There’s just so much to do and explore that you’ll never fit everything into one single day.
5 Roots Of Pacha - The Festivals Are Wonderful
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 you go through a year of Stardew Valley focusing on a farm, festivals might not be much fun.
4 Stardew Valley - Better Options For Starting Out
At this point, you have so many fantastic options for starting a farm in Stardew Valley that you could replay the game multiple times and it would likely feel different each time. Starting out with a farm by the beach has its own perks but so does one in a forest.
Whichever farm you pick will either 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.
3 Roots Of Pacha - You Can Explore Life From A New Perspective
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 in order to cultivate thriving crops. While things may or may not be historically accurate, there are some cool things anyone can learn from a game with that perspective.
2 Stardew Valley - The Character Events Are Fantastic
Character is king in both of these games, but Stardew Valley tends to have the much more touching moments. 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.
1 Winner: Stardew Valley
While you'll be able to find a lot to love in both of these games, Stardew Valley is probably going to be the easier one to hop into and more appealing to the widest group of people possible. With some incredible people and places to experience, and an additional modding scene that adds a lot to the already huge game, it's a must-play for everyone.
That's not to discount Roots of Pacha, though. It is still an excellent indie game, and one that those who have already spent a serious chunk of time playing Stardew Valley might want to give a shot in the near future. Stardew Valley just has that something special that gives it the kind of edge that will always bring people back to it.