How to find mystery boxes in Stardew Valley

Stardew Valley mystery boxes are filled with treasures for the taking, if you can find them that is. These curious packages of wonderment will fall from the skies at random occasions, but once they do it's time to head out to seek them. While we wish we could tell you what exactly you'll find inside, but the rewards are as random as the mystery boxes whereabouts.

This geode brings a real sense of mystery to the game, and while the concept is a fun one, finding the boxes isn’t easy. Although, unlike the Stardew Valley Bookseller who just appears at certain times, these boxes are just plain rare.

If you’re trying to figure out where to get them and how to open them when you do, you’re in the right place. Once you’re done searching, you might want to turn your hand to the Stardew Valley mastery system, or attempt to find all the Stardew Valley Golden Walnuts. It's most certainly a game that'll keep you searching, but let us make that a bit easier for you below.

How to find mystery boxes in Stardew Valley 

Before you can find mystery boxes in Stardew Valley, you’ll need to encounter a random cutscene event that plays when you go to sleep. For example, it took us 26 sleeps to happen upon it the first time. In the cutscene, players will see Mr Qi flying a plane across the screen and dropping mystery boxes from the sky.

Following this cutscene, the words ‘Mystery Boxes can now be found…’ will appear on the screen. Now, you can get to searching for them.

As random as the cutscene, finding mystery boxes in Stardew Valley also happens completely at random. Really, all you need to do is carry on with your day-to-day business in Stardew Valley and hope for the best. Finding mystery boxes happens when you’re completing your regular tasks like mining, fishing, or digging up artifact spots. Artifact spots, that look like three worms wiggling around in the ground, can be dug up with a hoe and will always give you an item in return. Sometimes, this item can be a mystery box.

There’s also a chance of uncovering golden mystery boxes that provide even more valuable rewards upon opening. For now, this option is only available after you’ve mastered the foraging skill and received the totem. 

Either way, to acquire a mystery box you’ll need to keep your eyes peeled and put in your usual work across the valley. They’ll appear at random, but finding out what mystery lurks inside is an exciting new feature from the Stardew Valley 1.6 update.

How to open mystery boxes in Stardew Valley 

So, you’ve acquired one of the mystery boxes and no doubt you’re eager to figure out what’s inside. To open a mystery box in Stardew Valley, you’ll need to visit Clint the Blacksmith situated to the east of Pelican Town, across the river. The Blacksmith shop is open every day, apart from Friday, from 9am to 4pm. 

First, you must approach Clint and interact with him, selecting the ‘process geodes’ dialogue option. He’ll then prompt you to place the mystery box on his anvil from your inventory and ask for 25g in exchange for opening it, no matter if it's normal or golden. A small price to pay to see what might be inside. 

While you might have a geode crusher on your farm, it’s no use to you here. It’s a great alternative for opening up your standard geodes in Stardew Valley, but when it comes to mystery boxes it’s completely defunct. Visit Clint and he’ll do the hard work for you.

There's plenty more phenomena to explore with Stardew Valley green rain, Stardew Valley sea jelly, and Stardew Valley trinkets. 

© GamesRadar+. Not to be reproduced without permission