Does PingAim work with Stardew Valley?
Yes, fully compatible. Stardew Valley has no anti-cheat system, so PingAim's WFP driver works without any restrictions. PingAim detects Stardew Valley.exe and routes it through your chosen network interface. Note that Stardew Valley uses P2P co-op — traffic goes to the host's IP, not a game server — so PingAim is most useful when you have a second connection (phone tethering, dual ISP) to route through.
Why does Stardew Valley lag in co-op multiplayer?
Stardew Valley lag in co-op is almost always caused by one of three things: the host's internet connection is slow or unstable, there is congestion on your local network (other devices streaming/downloading), or there is a suboptimal routing path between you and the host player's IP. Unlike server-based games, both your connection AND the host's connection quality directly affect everyone's experience.
Does Stardew Valley have dedicated servers?
No. Stardew Valley multiplayer is host-based P2P — one player hosts the farm on their machine and others join. There are no Stardew Valley dedicated servers. The host's internet connection speed, their PC performance, and the routing path between players all determine connection quality. Community-run dedicated servers are possible with third-party mods like 'Always On Server'.
What ports does Stardew Valley use for multiplayer?
Stardew Valley uses UDP port 24642 by default for direct multiplayer connections. When using Steam invite links (the most common method), traffic routes through Steam Datagram Relay and you don't need to port forward anything. For direct IP connection or LAN hosting through a router, you'll need to forward UDP 24642 to your host machine.
Can I play Stardew Valley co-op with someone in another country?
Yes. Stardew Valley's Steam P2P system handles connections between any players globally. Latency will be higher with distant players (100-200ms for intercontinental play), but the game's slow pace makes this very tolerable — unlike competitive shooters. If the host is in a different country, the routing path between your ISPs determines your ping. A second connection via phone tethering may provide a shorter routing path in some cases.
Further reading
PingAim detects Stardew Valley automatically
No manual config. PingAim identifies Stardew Valley by process name and routes it through your fastest connection using a kernel-level WFP driver.