Most online tutorials explaining how to install Stardew Valley on retro handhelds (like the Anbernic RG35XX-H or RG40XX-H) are outdated. It took me some trial and error to play it on my device. Here is how to get the game files from Steam on your handheld…

Prerequisites

• an retro handheld with Portmaster (e.g., via Knulli CFW)
• an ext4/ formatted SD card for your ROM files
• you bought Stardew Valley on Steam
• you installed the Stardew Valley port via Portmaster on your handheld

Select the right game sources from Steam

To download the game, you need its app ID (here 413150) and the depot ID (= OS, here Linux), and then select the correct manifest (= version). On the manifest page, filter by compatibility. If you want a specific version, compare the manifest date with the version history. If not, use the most recent one (the one on the top).

Download the game sources

The easiest way to download the game is to use DepotDownloader. Download the latest version for your OS. In the SteamDB manifest list, click the copy button next to „your“ release. You will get something like this in your clipboard:

-app 413150 -depot 413153 -manifest 8332166493523218127 -beta compatibility

(Here, 8332166493523218127 refers to version 1.6.15.)

Use these parameters and include the -user parameter:

DepotDownloader -app 413150 -depot 413153 -manifest 8332166493523218127 -beta compatibility -user [your steam user name]

You will have to enter your Steam password to download the files. DepotDownload will download your files in a folder structure like this:

depots/413153/16826373

Copy files to your handheld / SD card

Copy the content of the bottom-most directory to your SD card to this folder:

<SD Card>/Ports/stardewvalley/gamedata/

Done!
Now, Stardew Valley should run fine.
(And yes, it takes about 30 seconds for it to start. Don’t worry.)

 

Note: If you want to update your Stardew Valley to a new version, follow all steps and re-install Stardew Valley via Portmaster on your device.

Note: You can also copy savegames from your computer onto your handheld and vice versa.

Note: I recommend scaling the UI and the Zoomlevel a bit – I use 110% (in the Stardew Valley Options).