The heart of Stardew Valley is its characters. Many players return to it again and again for its own sake, whether it’s a wedding favor or they want to revisit a certain cutscene of theirs.
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Cute gestures like weddings and even heart scenes are important, but what really creates an emotional bond between you and the characters of Stardew Valley are the little moments. These are the daily moments that exist between major events. They may seem odd or just a game mechanic, but time proves this to be something special. When they all come together, they create something special, and give big moments a big impact.
10
Finding Books
A reminder that people are thinking about you
I love finding books in Stardew Valley because you never know what you’re going to find. Sometimes they are requests, but there is a good chance that they come from your friends and neighbors showing their appreciation or gratitude, usually around a recipe or something you need. Being friends with Marnie means she sometimes sends hay, which I find to be a favorite early in the game when I haven’t built a barn yet or when wheat isn’t in season.
Finding bullets isn’t impossible, which makes it great if you’re out and about and find one out of nowhere. Finding hearts with villagers increases the chances of receiving a friendship letter, and when they arrive it’s like you’ve been gifted and cared for. Books often refer to conversations you’ve had with that character, which makes them feel even more authentic.
9
Greeting NPCs
A Conversation That Changes Over Time
Developing relationships means you have to go out and talk to people. This starts as a simple greeting, but you don’t know each other, and it’s not easy at first. These conversations are very short, the NPCs only give a line or two, but over time you get to know them better through these little conversations you have every day.
This exchange may seem normal, but it will gradually reveal information about the character’s life, personality, likes and dislikes. Over time, you find that you learn a lot about them. As you earn hearts and your relationships develop, the citizens of Pelican Town will begin to talk about different things and reveal interesting things about themselves.
8
Finding Favorite Gifts
Rely on Trial and Error
As in many cozy games, every character likes, likes, and dislikes gifts. Giving gifts is key to developing your relationships with characters, but giving them without using a guide can feel like a minefield.
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Using a guide is one of the most common ways to find an NPC’s favorite gifts, but I prefer the lifestyle of listening and noticing as it goes a long way in terms of emotional connection. Trial and error can be frustrating, especially if an unloved or hated gift leads to the loss of a relationship, but the results don’t last forever and going slowly can make the whole process feel rewarding and natural.
7
Image Changes
A Better View of the Characters
The photos are the closest we will get to seeing the emotions of the residents as they bring us close to their faces. Each character has several avatars that show different emotions, and they change subtly as you develop your relationship with them. Characters like Sebastian and Shane are quiet and reluctant to smile unless you give them something to like. As you develop your relationship with them, their pictures will make them smile more often, or show them confused.
I really like these changes as they make your relationships with all the characters feel more developed. While it can be alienating to meet someone early in the game and make them cold or rude, it’s nice to see that change as the game progresses, and the changes in graphics are one of the most effective ways to see it.
6
Caring for a Pet
Small But Mighty
Animals make up a large part of Stardew Valley, and they’re not just farm animals. Even in Vanilla Stardew Valley, having a pet is a healthy addition to the farm. When you interact with them, they respond heartily with a speech bubble, recognizing your attention. Getting your pet to have more hearts and a message that they love you at the end is a small moment that really cements your place in Stardew Valley.
I always get a cat as my first pet, and they go a long way in making my little house feel empty. Later in the game, when I have all the house improvements, having my cat has remained with me since the beginning a small but meaningful part of my life.
5
Finding Resident Cycles
Knowing Your Town
One thing about Stardew Valley that can frustrate players from other casual games is not knowing where to find NPCs since the map doesn’t show their location. Running around the entire map just to find one person to turn to destruction or save your hearts is annoying, but it gets better in a fun way.
Each NPC has a schedule for each season that they stick to, and as you meet them throughout the season, you’ll end up memorizing their schedules without having to explain them. This little memorization is a way to get to know the NPCs, their habits, and what they like.
4
Time Travel
Seasons are a powerful way to track change
Stardew Valley has four seasons, and each one brings changes to Pelican City. This obviously affects what plants you can grow and what you can eat, but it also affects the characters. Each character wears different clothes for each season, bringing much-needed variety, and they all react differently to each season according to their personalities.
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Seasons bring variety to the game, but they also mark the passage of time. As the months turn into years, Stardew Valley begins to feel like home, and its inhabitants begin to feel more like friends and family than random NPCs in town.
3
Festivals
Pelican Town Gets Together
Stardew Valley has two major festivals and several smaller festivals each season. Each festival brings together all the people of the town, and they all act according to their personalities depending on the festival. The power of each family is clear at the Winter Star festival as each family gets their own table, while characters like Leah and Elliot, who have no other family members in Pelican Town but are friends, share their table.
Characters like Sebastian, Abigail, and Sam live together as a separate group of friends, but Abigail often participates in the Egg Hunt while Sebastian hides in a quiet and dark corner. Seeing these characters once you get to know their personalities makes you feel like you really know them.
2
Family Power
Relationships with each other reveal character
The citizens of Stardew Valley are friendly to each other, but there are also several families living in Pelican City. These families all look different, and they all have different relationships with each other.
Sam has a much younger brother than him, and their father returns in year 2 after a long absence. Haley and Emily are sisters and their dynamic changes during the game as you know them. Sebastian and Maru are half-siblings, but they don’t get along for several reasons. Penny lives with her alcoholic mother in a trailer, which affects her personal relationships and self-esteem. Alex lives with his grandparents because his father abuses him and his mother died. All of this affects the stories of the characters, and you only understand the heart of these changes once you get to know the characters.
1
Letters Referring to Previous Interactions
Good To Be Remembered
Most of this list has to do with getting to know the characters of Stardew Valley a little bit, but they have a different kind of revenge. Characters will remember things you’ve said to them in the past and decisions you’ve made. There’s no way of knowing what they’ll remember, so it’s surprising when they bring it up even years later.
Later heart events and general conversation are all opportunities where characters will remember past interactions. Sometimes they reveal your favorite type of book, something you recommended, or details about your past. Appearance is important no matter where you are, and having actors remember the little details about you makes all the difference.
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- Released
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February 26, 2016
- The ESRB
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Everyone 10+ / Imaginary Violence, Mild Blood, Mild Language, Simulated Gambling, Alcohol and Tobacco Use
- Engineer(s).
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ConcernedApe
- Publisher
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ConcernedApe
- Engine
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Ownership
- Cross-Platform Play
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Stardew Valley does not currently support cross-play between consoles and PC
