Highlights
- Stardew Valley's success lies in its well-crafted storyline, quality characters, and sense of purpose, making it a prime example of a successful indie game.
- The game's social elements, including dating and marriage options, have contributed to the rise of romance-focused games like dating sims and RPGs with romance mechanics.
- Each bachelor in Stardew Valley offers a unique experience, but they can be ranked based on their behavior and compatibility with the protagonist.
A combination of a neatly crafted storyline with quality characters and a sense of purpose in a game is a recipe for success, and Stardew Valley is a prime example of this, evidenced by its dominance in the indie game scene over the past half-decade. There's no shortage of things to do in Stardew Valley, from rebuilding the town to sprucing up the farm, but the social elements are also a major draw for players. Dating sims are on the rise, and Stardew Valley's success has contributed to this, featuring 12 dateable candidates (six male and female each) with the possibility of marriage. Each bachelor offers a unique experience, and there's a way to rank them based on what they bring to the table with their behavior.
Romances are getting more representation in gaming, with even more RPGs like Baldur's Gate 3 employing the dynamic to add immersion and respite from the action. While such titles typically deal with short flings, Stardew Valley gives more permanence to its relationships, allowing players to go through the painstaking procedures of befriending characters before deciding to date and potentially marry them. The added layer of realism is a core component of Stardew Valley's charm, as gamers learn their prospective partners' likes, dislikes, and backstories to help them decide which character fits the protagonist best. There are six bachelors in Stardew Valley to choose from, and finding out their quirks is a key factor in settling down.
S Tier
Sebastian: An axiom states that nothing good comes easy, and the saying encapsulates Stardew Valley's romantic experience with Sebastian. Considered one of the harder characters to woo in the game, Sebastian is notoriously difficult to get to know, coming across as a gothic loner at first glance. He is reclusive in nature and can be described as a geek, spending long hours at a stretch glued to his computer for work and fantasy game leisure.
His popularity as a romance option stems from his character development once players get to know him better -- which involves a conscious effort to catch him outside at odd hours. Sebastian is one of the few marriage candidates who keep their jobs, gradually warming up to the player with displays of honesty and maturity, and he sets up an area to work on his motorcycle after getting married. His character arc is perhaps the most realistic in the game, as gamers can see his priorities change in real-time, making Sebastian Stardew Valley's best bachelor.
A Tier
Harvey: Doctors have had some iconic representation in video games, and Harvey doesn't disappoint the profession with his character in Stardew Valley. A nerd like Sebastian, Harvey has a nervous, socially awkward quality to him, but he's dedicated to his career as Pelican Town's only doctor, so he's not the easiest character to run into. Although he once harbored dreams of soaring in the sky as a pilot, Harvey is content with where life has led him, and he displays similar maturity in his conversations. There's a sense of security with Harvey, and he is a premier bachelor in Stardew Valley.
B Tier
Elliott: Novelists and romance go hand in hand, and Elliott has the intricacies of love at the back of his hand in Pelican Town. An artsy character who calls a cabin by the sea home, Elliott wows players with his passion, intelligence, and ambition. The budding writer is plagued by self-doubt, but he never loses his romantic charm even in marriage. However, Elliott's constant display of perfection can be a little unnerving.
C Tier
Sam: Players seeking a partner with a more fun personality love Sam, as the boyish musician is known for stealing hearts with his guitar. A cheerful chap with a bit of a rebellious streak, Sam can be seen rolling around town with his beloved skateboard, although his recklessness is the source of some tension between himself and his mom. Instead of having serious undertones like his brother after his dad's deployment in the military, Sam prefers to live life to the fullest, and the teenage-esque romance in Stardew Valley involves sneaking into his room to avoid his mom catching him with the farmer.
Alex: Stereotypical jocks in books and movies are sports-obsessed with little other context to their characters, but Stardew Valley's Alex tries to break the prejudice in some ways. Although he maintains the stereotypical lack of wit, Alex's vulnerability is unorthodox, and he gradually tells players of his emotional baggage, giving details of his mother's death and his alcoholic father's abuse. He doesn't require much maintenance after marriage, and his special event date lacks the pomp of other bachelors, but the romance with Alex has a certain allure that some fans will find difficult to resist.
D Tier
Shane: Relationships are hard work, and Stardew Valley emphasizes this dynamic with Shane's character, which feels like a more tedious experience than any other bachelor. Like many with dreams of stardom, Shane had hopes of becoming a film director one day, but the realities of life have pushed him into a mentally draining role at JojaMart. Darker tones of suicide are present in his character arc through emotional scenes, and he promises to get his life back on track. However, marrying Shane sometimes sees him slip back into his alcoholic habits, and his limited character development makes him the worst eligible bachelor in Stardew Valley.
Stardew Valley is available now for Mobile, Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, PS Vita, and Xbox One.
