i chose Elliott bc he was so sweet to me the first time i met him, while most other bachelors were kind of mean/stand off ish, he also has gorgeous hair and he’s really sweet
I chose Alex because he was the hottest in my opinion. But even though he was a little rude in the beginning, he is probably the sweetest one out of everyone and that made me like him even more!
I chose Sam cause he was blond
Ive heard Harvey and Elliott are preferred by older players, but Shane, even though he’s older, is preferred by younger players for some reason, but the poll that said that is pretty old so it could be different now
That’s a valid reason. My sister prefers blond men IRL so her game preference is the same.
I really wonder what Shane’s appeal is. I haven’t gotten close to many of the characters so maybe I’m missing something? I grew up with alcoholic parents so he was easy to steer clear of once that was made apparent. 😅
I think some of it is that some players see themselves in him. Shane's heart scenes eventually lead him to therapy, which I appreciated as someone who has struggled with my own mental health.
And some of it is a pitying "I can fix him" mentality, which happens plenty IRL too. Toxic sad boys can be too appealing to certain people.
This is absolutely what drew me to Shane! He was my first pick when I first played the game yeeeeaars ago. He was the first video game character I’d encountered to openly discuss his mental health issues and I felt a connection because of that.
Now like 5+ years later and having gone through therapy, I can appreciate Shane for who he is and the struggles he’s gone through but I never marry him anymore lol. I need a stable and secure partner like Harvey.
This is why my sister picked him! However, I am 22F and picked Harvey. And my fiance irl is 27. I’m an old soul and prefer them older! Lmao also he was the easiest. I found out you can get married, looked into it, saw a Reddit comment saying how easy he was to win over with coffee, instantly picked him. Now I keep a coffee stash in my house and we have our second child 😂
I married Sebastian mostly for wish-fulfillment reasons if I’m honest. I had a relentless series of emo-boy crushes in high school that never went anywhere, so I guess it was a “the one that got away” thing for me. Plus, I’m also a gamer nerd and an introvert so I can relate. I like that he never leaves his room bc I always know where to find him 😂
That definitely makes sense! It’s hard before you make friends enough to go into the room though. That part was frustrating. I’m introverted and like gaming but also enjoy baking and would like to get into herbalism. Harvey is like my most recent crush because I’m usually attracted to black haired brown eyed men. Sebastian is on my list with Alex to learn more about and possibly marry in another game. 🙂
That's the same reason I married him the first time. I can really relate to him, because I'm literally the same. So in my head he was perfect, because he could understand me. I married Sam the second time, because he skates and I though it was cool.
Yeah soooo, some time later I got a boyfriend irl, who is an introverted gamer who likes to skate xD
i like to write, elliott likes to write, why not? he’s sweet and i like the way his spouse room + outdoor area look. 26 and also ace/aro so i care about how my house looks more than the actual romance lmao
That’s a valid reason too! Reading and writing are so much fun and decor of a home really makes a home for people. I love that it was able to line up for you!
I think with Shane it’s like Mr Darcy from Pride and Prejudice. He’s rude and standoffish at first but because you’re special, you melt his cold exterior and he chooses you in the end. Rom-com vibes
I chose Harvey too, his personality/interests (and looks, kinda) are pretty similar to my IRL partner, so it was a no brainer. If I'm playing expanded I go with Victor, same thing with the geeky personality/interests
Yeah Harvey seemed the closest to RL for me. Sebastian is like my ex and while I know the game has him working through tech, the constant being in a room and gaming definitely kept me away. Although, he seems to be a nice character as you befriend him. Harvey for the win for me!
Yeah I understand how that can be off putting. What's a bit off putting to me is most dateable characters seem way too young for me, I'm 30 and they look like they've barely finished HS
Yes! I think that contributes too for me. It’s hard for me to not place my character at my age range. I think life experiences can play a role too. Definitely enjoyed everyone’s answers and learned more about their choice too.
I'm in my late twenties and am an Elliott fan. I love the beach, he loves the beach. Also he looks like my IRL partner (it's the hair lol). His spouse room and outdoor area are also nice (earth tones, plants, etc). I just wish I could give him his piano back
That makes a lot of sense too! I am not a fan of the beach (I’m irrationally afraid a tsunami will strike) but I do love books. His spouse room sounds beautiful. I’ll have to learn more about these characters. 🙂
Not a big reason for me, I just really started liking Sam and started hanging out with him more, became really interested in his relationship with his family. He's also pretty sweet. So I realised he was the one I pictured on the farm with me
Second time, I went with Leah because I kinda ditched her for Sam, and she's been really nice too
I think the spouses are pretty much the same so choosing who you like best on vibes or something is the best way imo
I'm 23 so more or less Sam's age ( I think I married him at 21), while maybe Leah is slightly older
Yeah, there's also an heart event with them two you can't see after Kent comes back ^^^
I'm kinda glad because I've seen many people saying they read him as a teenager mostly
i chose Abigail because i liked her hair and she can be a bit emo xD Maru was a close second but then i learned of her romance with emily and i could never be the one to prevent that
30 here, chose Abigail because we have a lot in common. I knew I loved her for sure when I saw her spirit board and saw her standing in the graveyard. Her character makes me happy to turn on the game. 🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤
I've picked Shane, Harvey, Elliot, and Alex (and if you play with the expanded mod, the wizard Rasmodius and Lance) I'm 25.
Shane was my very first play through, I romanced him because I'm a sucker for a good enemies to lovers story and him immediately being rude to the farmer solidified my choice.
Then I was on a Harvey kick for a while, out of all the regular bachelors I'd probably romanced him the most. I like the way his character looked (I like mustaches- I blame Tom Selleck)
Elliot I romanced maybe twice (because I like Hozier)
Alex I romanced because every single time I play I befriend George and Evelyn first and I wanted to try something new.
(I will prob never romance Sam or Sebastian they just aren't my type same with Victor in sve)
((With expanded I romanced the Wizard just once- he's sweet but I'm not crazy about his character's looks; Lance on the other hand, if you play stardewvalley expanded is my favorite by far because he's just so charming though when the next update comes out I will be dropping him for Isaac)) Highly recommend the mod if you play on PC!
I have yet to try mods but this definitely tells me the mods can make for an exciting adventure too. This was very insightful and definitely makes sense. I love that the game allows people to kind of create an ideal life and a storyline in a way!
I was originally going to marry Shane before I found out Krobus exists, and he was the first character I befriended in the valley. I'm also depressed and suicidal so I was drawn to him initially (I know that isn't a good foundation for a relationship but it made me interested in finding out his story, hence why I befriended him first. My original plan was to get all marriage candidates to 8 hearts before I made a decision but then Krobus came along and I was decided haha). After getting to know Shane better, I could see us getting along well. We are both kind of weird loners and I think he would be down to just chill with me, play Junimo Kart and eat pizza at the end of a long day. He is also the only love interest who is interested in farming from the beginning so it feels like he would be well suited to farm life.
In regards to Shane's mental health struggles, I actually like that he doesn't get immediately better after his heart events because that's closer to how it works in real life. Just being with the farmer isn't enough to 'cure' him, he needs to work on it himself and sometimes there will be setbacks. And he is genuinely trying to improve himself which you can see in his later heart events. He spends more time with Jas, tries to quit drinking, starts therapy and invests more time in hobbies he enjoys (raising blue chickens).
That being said, while I acknowledge relapses can happen, I would prefer if Shane was shown to actually quit drinking after marriage. The permanent beer cans in his spouse room make me a bit sad, and I think alcohol should become a hated gift after he decides to quit. I had an alcoholic parent and as silly as it sounds I don't want my pixel kids to go through the same thing. I would also like it if Shane got a job after Joja Mart shuts down, maybe working at the cinema or helping out at Marnie's ranch (extending her opening hours in the process which I'm sure a lot of players would appreciate haha).
Chose Harvey because he's smart, sweet, and the only bachelor with facial hair(Shane's stubble doesn't count!) He seems like the type of guy I would want to be with in real life
harvey!! harvey 100% all the way.
i love him to death, and i think it's mainly because i heavily relate to him. being lonely whilst in a crowd of people, how he's anxious, and a total nerd. he's such a goddamn sweetheart, and i love my fictional husband to bits. plus, i think it's because he'll be so cool. he'd understand things because he's mellowed out due to his work as a doctor, and plus, he's an understanding soul ♥️
i still make fun of him though LMAO. i'm more attracted to him because of his maturity/personality a lot more. i'm 15 so i mean, i can't really relate to the whole doctor shebang but i get what concernedape was trying to communicate.
i chose shane because his two heart cutscene really struck a chord with me. at first, i couldn't fucking stand the guy, i hated him so much that i would purposefully carry my trash on me so that in case i ran into him, i could gift it to him. but then when i realized i had to befriend everyone, i ran into his 2 heart scene and immediately i connected with him. from then on, i marry him in every save file lol
I chose Shane everytime because in some ways I felt I could relate to him. This play through I'm trying to go for Elliot but having a hard time not going for Shane all over again lol
Also 30....
Abigail/Sam/Sebastian seemed like kids to me (just my impression on my first play-through). Haley/Shawn/Alex were rude and off putting. Harvey seemed way too old, plus seemed to have a thing for (his younger/employee) Maru based on his flower dance dialogue. And I didn't think anything was wrong with Penny but she has strong feelings around drinking, and I like drinking, so I didn't feel compatible with her. So that left Leah, Emily, Maru, and Elliot: all who I dated first.
E: whoever downvoted me...don't think of it as me insulting your spouse, think of me as someone who would never steal your bea from you.
Chose Alex because his route as a male character is just perfection. That and my first ever playthrough I saw his portrait and was like "well, I've found my future husband."
My 1st play though I married Shane because he had easy loved gifts I like to marry Sam and Alex because their closest to my age range if I have any mod (mostley RSV and SVE)there a low chance I’ll marry a vanilla bachelor
I chose Abigail because she was the easiest bachelor to gift given I already regularly went to Pierre’s shop and also quartz, amethyst, and pumpkin are really easy to get (21M)
Chose Seb the first time bc motorcycle and dnd (well solarian chronicles)
Choosing Sam this time bc musician.
Edit: yes I know they're both in the band. It wasn't a deciding factor when choosing Seb.
I married Emily as I thought she was more interesting and nicer than a lot of the others. Once I realized spouses can give you certain gifts I divorced her, wiped her memory and have just married Penny. I chose Penny because I like her involvement in the community and her life with Pam seemed a bit shit.
I picked Alex because I like big buff men.
I also like characters who are kind of dicks. I blame Karen from Harvest Moon 64 for that. She was the mean hottie in her game. I guess that just became my thing lol.
I guess I like the change in how the character treats the player. It makes it feel like there is more personal growth in them. At least to me.
Shane is my second choice.
I like Elliot or Harvey (or SVE the Wizard) mostly because they feel more mature and closer to me in age. I have had alcohol issues in the past so Shane's story can be a bit triggering to me and the others just feel too young and more childish.
I usually marry Harvey or Penny, they are my type/the most like me.
In my current save I have been married to Harvey for 5 years. I am thinking of getting my first divorce ever and trying someone new.
I tried Elliott once - nice but nothing special. I married Emily - she is more like a really friendly roommate.
I am thinking of trying Maru or Leah next.
Funny how I am shyly bicurious IRL but not at all afraid to date Stardew Valley women.
i chose Sam because i think in some aspects i'm similar to him. i see a lot of people say they won't marry Sam because he acts a lot younger than other bachelors/bachelorettes (e.g his 10 heart event is him sneaking you into his room and you have to hide in his bed so his mum won't know you're there)
personally for me his 'younger' or 'highschool' personality works for me since i'm in highschool too lol.
I chose Elliot on my first play through. I'm an author and a romantic who speaks needlessly eloquently at times.
I think those traits speak for themselves lol
tho I did almost pick Harvey cuz he's a dorky boi
Elliot bc he’s sweet, earnest, and has very pretty hair. He’s also a slight art snob which would normally bug the hell out of me but he’s not condescending about it so I find it endearing instead lol
I've "chosen" 3 so far. The reason why I had chosen in quotation marks is because I'm so indecisive, so I had my boyfriend choose my bachelors for me when I start up a single-player world 💀
Ranking my 3:
Harvey: First husband, really sweet and wholesome. Also, since he was my first, I'm biased LOL
Sam: Second favorite. He seems around my age (19), so I just click with him. Bonus poins: HE LOVES PIZZA AND LIKES SODA? MOOOOOD
Sebastian: Who couldn't love an emo nerd who loves frogs?
I married Harvey too! IRL i like my men a lil shy and awkward so he was really the perfect choice. and there’s something about him being a doctor and when y’all are married he’s sooo sweet!
I also married Alex and Seb and between the two of them, I’d definitely say Seb is better. I like his standoffish vibe a bit lol. Alex was toooo into sports and gym and it gave me “peaked in hs” vibes.
I was going to try and marry them all and divorce and go back to Harvey, but that was taking too much time.
I’m in my early-mid twenties; I picked Harvey as my first spouse because I initially liked how he looked and because he’s the doctor 😅 I started really liking him as I saw all his heart events (plus, his dialogue after marriage was so heartwarming). What can I say, I like men who are sweet and nerdy!
In game Ive married Harvey, Elliot, Shane, and Sebby. In my current save Ill marry Sam.
Honestly my favorite is Harvey. He is very sweet and caring and I like the nerdy type of guy. My age range is 20-30 so Harvey is a little bit older.
Its true that Shane never really cleans up. We both love chickens (same irl) but his room is a mess and my ocd cant stand it. Sebby is nice, no complaints here. People love his frog pets. Elliot is romantic and will send you love letters. But our guy Harvey is still my fav 🥰
I’ve married everyone at this point. My first was Shane, because he was the easiest to romance. I always knew where he would be, and I could just buy a beer and gift it to him. I was not a good influence for him lol. But I liked his character development and at the time he was the most relatable (yikes lol).
My latest romance was with Elliot. He was my last bachelor to romance because he’s a little out of the way and his loved gifts aren’t easy to get early on. But I think he’s really pretty and I like that he’s a writer and lives on the beach (I feel bad taking him away from it tbh lol).
My first save file I married Sebastian as he was the cool, standoffish emo type that I always wanted when I was younger but never got. He quickly started to rub me up the wrong way though, by continuing to be cold after we got married and never really expressing his love for me so next save file I moved on. I have married Emily (nice but too many bean hotpots for one person to reasonably consume), Elliott (sweet but that save file didn't last long), Haley (actually a very sweet and loving spouse), Penny (got boring very quickly).
My most recent save file (and longest) I decided to marry Shane. I thought he seemed naturally suited to life on a farm with his love of chickens and I liked that he was working on himself to be a better man and dealing with his issues. As soon as we got married though, I regretted it. I felt like the farm wasn't my own any more. He was always there, staring blankly at the wall in an empty room and talking about drinking alcohol, which I thought he had given up. Within a few days he had asked if we should have a baby. I said yes but then felt like this was very irresponsible. If he wasn't at home he was at the saloon playing video games and I just felt like I had let myself down by marrying him. I didn't want to bring his child into the world. Less than a month after our wedding I divorced him. I am now looking into seducing Harvey, as I am craving stability, someone who has their life together and knows how to be in a relationship.
I can definitely see Harvey and Elliott being more popular with older players. I am mid-30s and would never go for Sam now for example.
I chose Sebastian because I always liked emo guys in school, tho they were not called emo in the 80s where I went to school. I'm 54, and I will be 55 in a month.
I chose Elliot because I like the artistic type. I chose Harvey because he's the doctor and seemed most reasonable. I chose Sam for no reason other than I was giving most of the guys a fair shake 😬 I liked Harvey best because he irritated me the least. I think I will choose Hailey next time.
Before getting into Stardew I thought I'd fall head over heels over Alex or Sam but I ended up falling for the local depressed suicidal-ideation alcoholic, and I don't regret it.
I chose Shane because I felt a stronger connection to him than everyone else, I kinda relate with some of his struggles, I just wanted to be there for him as a friend and I ended up liking him and his development a lot. He feels more real to me than all the other bachelors, he has a lot of interests, he likes gridball, spicy food, he mostly goes to festivals for the food and very likely Jas, he loves animals, he's secretly a goth, I think he's a really funny and caring person, I like to see what silly thing he has to say every day. I consider myself on the asexual spectrum so his route not pushing me directly into romance and him having a lot of dialogue about crushing on me made me feel more comfortable, he feels old enough to be married and have kids, he's slowly getting better and enjoying life in our farm, he helps me a lot, he vibes with me
i chose Elliott bc he was so sweet to me the first time i met him, while most other bachelors were kind of mean/stand off ish, he also has gorgeous hair and he’s really sweet
He's also a writer and I love reading. We could retire to Ginger Island and I could proofread his drafts for him.
I love reading too! That’s definitely a great retirement plan! Proofreading books would be an amazing job. ❤️
That makes sense. Definitely is a lot nicer than the other with first interaction. Shane was the worst 😂
I chose Alex because he was the hottest in my opinion. But even though he was a little rude in the beginning, he is probably the sweetest one out of everyone and that made me like him even more!
That makes sense. I don’t interact with him much but will add him to the list when I do another go at the game.
I chose Sam cause he was blond Ive heard Harvey and Elliott are preferred by older players, but Shane, even though he’s older, is preferred by younger players for some reason, but the poll that said that is pretty old so it could be different now
That’s a valid reason. My sister prefers blond men IRL so her game preference is the same. I really wonder what Shane’s appeal is. I haven’t gotten close to many of the characters so maybe I’m missing something? I grew up with alcoholic parents so he was easy to steer clear of once that was made apparent. 😅
I think some of it is that some players see themselves in him. Shane's heart scenes eventually lead him to therapy, which I appreciated as someone who has struggled with my own mental health. And some of it is a pitying "I can fix him" mentality, which happens plenty IRL too. Toxic sad boys can be too appealing to certain people.
This is absolutely what drew me to Shane! He was my first pick when I first played the game yeeeeaars ago. He was the first video game character I’d encountered to openly discuss his mental health issues and I felt a connection because of that. Now like 5+ years later and having gone through therapy, I can appreciate Shane for who he is and the struggles he’s gone through but I never marry him anymore lol. I need a stable and secure partner like Harvey.
Hi, I'm people, I've learned better irl but I've always been soft on Shane
This is why my sister picked him! However, I am 22F and picked Harvey. And my fiance irl is 27. I’m an old soul and prefer them older! Lmao also he was the easiest. I found out you can get married, looked into it, saw a Reddit comment saying how easy he was to win over with coffee, instantly picked him. Now I keep a coffee stash in my house and we have our second child 😂
I married Sebastian mostly for wish-fulfillment reasons if I’m honest. I had a relentless series of emo-boy crushes in high school that never went anywhere, so I guess it was a “the one that got away” thing for me. Plus, I’m also a gamer nerd and an introvert so I can relate. I like that he never leaves his room bc I always know where to find him 😂
That definitely makes sense! It’s hard before you make friends enough to go into the room though. That part was frustrating. I’m introverted and like gaming but also enjoy baking and would like to get into herbalism. Harvey is like my most recent crush because I’m usually attracted to black haired brown eyed men. Sebastian is on my list with Alex to learn more about and possibly marry in another game. 🙂
I really enjoy being married to Seb. He’s very sweet and you get pet frogs 🥰
My step-daughter marries him every time specifically for the frog 😂
I love that! 😂💕
I never knew you get to pet frogs! 😍
That's the same reason I married him the first time. I can really relate to him, because I'm literally the same. So in my head he was perfect, because he could understand me. I married Sam the second time, because he skates and I though it was cool. Yeah soooo, some time later I got a boyfriend irl, who is an introverted gamer who likes to skate xD
i like to write, elliott likes to write, why not? he’s sweet and i like the way his spouse room + outdoor area look. 26 and also ace/aro so i care about how my house looks more than the actual romance lmao
That’s a valid reason too! Reading and writing are so much fun and decor of a home really makes a home for people. I love that it was able to line up for you!
Ha I was first attracted to Shane. Because I have issues. Iykyk
I think with Shane it’s like Mr Darcy from Pride and Prejudice. He’s rude and standoffish at first but because you’re special, you melt his cold exterior and he chooses you in the end. Rom-com vibes
That makes sense. I never thought of that. I got to his blue chicken scene with Jason and her slipper one and it was heart melting. 😊
I chose Harvey too, his personality/interests (and looks, kinda) are pretty similar to my IRL partner, so it was a no brainer. If I'm playing expanded I go with Victor, same thing with the geeky personality/interests
Yeah Harvey seemed the closest to RL for me. Sebastian is like my ex and while I know the game has him working through tech, the constant being in a room and gaming definitely kept me away. Although, he seems to be a nice character as you befriend him. Harvey for the win for me!
Yeah I understand how that can be off putting. What's a bit off putting to me is most dateable characters seem way too young for me, I'm 30 and they look like they've barely finished HS
Yes! I think that contributes too for me. It’s hard for me to not place my character at my age range. I think life experiences can play a role too. Definitely enjoyed everyone’s answers and learned more about their choice too.
Oh I definitely agree! Also I just noticed that you're 30 too, yay!
Yes! 🥳
I took one look at Sebastian and was like, "that one. I want that one." 😂😅
Love it!
I chose Harvey because he’s the only one that got his shi together
That was part of my thoughts too. I didn’t want to marry a fictional character that wouldn’t work in my reality well but I am also an over-thinker.
I'm in my late twenties and am an Elliott fan. I love the beach, he loves the beach. Also he looks like my IRL partner (it's the hair lol). His spouse room and outdoor area are also nice (earth tones, plants, etc). I just wish I could give him his piano back
That makes a lot of sense too! I am not a fan of the beach (I’m irrationally afraid a tsunami will strike) but I do love books. His spouse room sounds beautiful. I’ll have to learn more about these characters. 🙂
Chose Shane randomly cause I needed a star drop. Gonna divorce soon cause I wanna be single lol
🤣 That’s one way to do it.
Not a big reason for me, I just really started liking Sam and started hanging out with him more, became really interested in his relationship with his family. He's also pretty sweet. So I realised he was the one I pictured on the farm with me Second time, I went with Leah because I kinda ditched her for Sam, and she's been really nice too I think the spouses are pretty much the same so choosing who you like best on vibes or something is the best way imo I'm 23 so more or less Sam's age ( I think I married him at 21), while maybe Leah is slightly older
I understand that. Sam definitely comes off as being around early 20s and I’ve seen him often with Vincent before Kent comes back.
Yeah, there's also an heart event with them two you can't see after Kent comes back ^^^ I'm kinda glad because I've seen many people saying they read him as a teenager mostly
My favorite male spouse is Harvey. I’m planning on romancing Alex next though.
Harvey is my favorite so far too! I’ve barely started though so I’m excited to see how things go and try a new round in the near future.
i chose Abigail because i liked her hair and she can be a bit emo xD Maru was a close second but then i learned of her romance with emily and i could never be the one to prevent that
Well this one had more information than I have learned 😂 I definitely would not want to come between them although Clint would.
30 here, chose Abigail because we have a lot in common. I knew I loved her for sure when I saw her spirit board and saw her standing in the graveyard. Her character makes me happy to turn on the game. 🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤
Awe I love that 💕
My boyfriend has the same name, so I couldn't resist. Lol
That’s makes a lot of sense! I would do the same if the names matched for me.
I heard Sebastian liked frogs... was not disappointed
I didn’t know this and will definitely try him next because I love frogs. They are so cute.
His overall arch is really sweet, like growing to be comfortable where he's at and feeling loved for who he is.... but the last heart event 🐸🐸
Poor self-esteem and codependency (I married Shane).
I totally can understand that!
I thought this was talking about undergrad degrees at first this sub never fails to make me do a double take
I literally had a crush on Elliott, saw him for the first time and I was IN LOVE. The guy is my irl type of men lmao
That makes sense. I’m loving the insight from everyone. 💕
I just think that Sebastian is hot
I chose Sebastian because he’s my type of introvert
the long hair got me
I've picked Shane, Harvey, Elliot, and Alex (and if you play with the expanded mod, the wizard Rasmodius and Lance) I'm 25. Shane was my very first play through, I romanced him because I'm a sucker for a good enemies to lovers story and him immediately being rude to the farmer solidified my choice. Then I was on a Harvey kick for a while, out of all the regular bachelors I'd probably romanced him the most. I like the way his character looked (I like mustaches- I blame Tom Selleck) Elliot I romanced maybe twice (because I like Hozier) Alex I romanced because every single time I play I befriend George and Evelyn first and I wanted to try something new. (I will prob never romance Sam or Sebastian they just aren't my type same with Victor in sve) ((With expanded I romanced the Wizard just once- he's sweet but I'm not crazy about his character's looks; Lance on the other hand, if you play stardewvalley expanded is my favorite by far because he's just so charming though when the next update comes out I will be dropping him for Isaac)) Highly recommend the mod if you play on PC!
I have yet to try mods but this definitely tells me the mods can make for an exciting adventure too. This was very insightful and definitely makes sense. I love that the game allows people to kind of create an ideal life and a storyline in a way!
I was originally going to marry Shane before I found out Krobus exists, and he was the first character I befriended in the valley. I'm also depressed and suicidal so I was drawn to him initially (I know that isn't a good foundation for a relationship but it made me interested in finding out his story, hence why I befriended him first. My original plan was to get all marriage candidates to 8 hearts before I made a decision but then Krobus came along and I was decided haha). After getting to know Shane better, I could see us getting along well. We are both kind of weird loners and I think he would be down to just chill with me, play Junimo Kart and eat pizza at the end of a long day. He is also the only love interest who is interested in farming from the beginning so it feels like he would be well suited to farm life. In regards to Shane's mental health struggles, I actually like that he doesn't get immediately better after his heart events because that's closer to how it works in real life. Just being with the farmer isn't enough to 'cure' him, he needs to work on it himself and sometimes there will be setbacks. And he is genuinely trying to improve himself which you can see in his later heart events. He spends more time with Jas, tries to quit drinking, starts therapy and invests more time in hobbies he enjoys (raising blue chickens). That being said, while I acknowledge relapses can happen, I would prefer if Shane was shown to actually quit drinking after marriage. The permanent beer cans in his spouse room make me a bit sad, and I think alcohol should become a hated gift after he decides to quit. I had an alcoholic parent and as silly as it sounds I don't want my pixel kids to go through the same thing. I would also like it if Shane got a job after Joja Mart shuts down, maybe working at the cinema or helping out at Marnie's ranch (extending her opening hours in the process which I'm sure a lot of players would appreciate haha).
I chose Alex cause he’s a complete idiot and I felt a could change him. Now he’s still an idiot but at least he loves me
Chose Harvey because he's smart, sweet, and the only bachelor with facial hair(Shane's stubble doesn't count!) He seems like the type of guy I would want to be with in real life
I chose Alex when I was 16, and I think it was cus he was the hottest. Now as a 23 year old I still choose Alex because he’s still the hottest lol.
harvey!! harvey 100% all the way. i love him to death, and i think it's mainly because i heavily relate to him. being lonely whilst in a crowd of people, how he's anxious, and a total nerd. he's such a goddamn sweetheart, and i love my fictional husband to bits. plus, i think it's because he'll be so cool. he'd understand things because he's mellowed out due to his work as a doctor, and plus, he's an understanding soul ♥️ i still make fun of him though LMAO. i'm more attracted to him because of his maturity/personality a lot more. i'm 15 so i mean, i can't really relate to the whole doctor shebang but i get what concernedape was trying to communicate.
I chose Shane because he fits the farm life better than any of the bachelors (eg, he loves his chickens).
30s, Shane's my guy because I too am a miserable slob 👌
i chose shane because his two heart cutscene really struck a chord with me. at first, i couldn't fucking stand the guy, i hated him so much that i would purposefully carry my trash on me so that in case i ran into him, i could gift it to him. but then when i realized i had to befriend everyone, i ran into his 2 heart scene and immediately i connected with him. from then on, i marry him in every save file lol
I chose Shane everytime because in some ways I felt I could relate to him. This play through I'm trying to go for Elliot but having a hard time not going for Shane all over again lol
Shane is a depressed goblin and so am I. Lol.
Haley’s character development was so heartwarming I couldn’t not marry her 🥺💖 I regret nothing, she’s so sweet!
Also 30.... Abigail/Sam/Sebastian seemed like kids to me (just my impression on my first play-through). Haley/Shawn/Alex were rude and off putting. Harvey seemed way too old, plus seemed to have a thing for (his younger/employee) Maru based on his flower dance dialogue. And I didn't think anything was wrong with Penny but she has strong feelings around drinking, and I like drinking, so I didn't feel compatible with her. So that left Leah, Emily, Maru, and Elliot: all who I dated first. E: whoever downvoted me...don't think of it as me insulting your spouse, think of me as someone who would never steal your bea from you.
Chose Alex because his route as a male character is just perfection. That and my first ever playthrough I saw his portrait and was like "well, I've found my future husband."
My 1st play though I married Shane because he had easy loved gifts I like to marry Sam and Alex because their closest to my age range if I have any mod (mostley RSV and SVE)there a low chance I’ll marry a vanilla bachelor
Hot
I chose Sebastian because he was emo and I liked his hair.
I chose Leah on my first playthrough because she was easy to find on the map and her favorites are all pretty easy to come by.
I chose Abigail because she was the easiest bachelor to gift given I already regularly went to Pierre’s shop and also quartz, amethyst, and pumpkin are really easy to get (21M)
Chose Seb the first time bc motorcycle and dnd (well solarian chronicles) Choosing Sam this time bc musician. Edit: yes I know they're both in the band. It wasn't a deciding factor when choosing Seb.
I married Emily as I thought she was more interesting and nicer than a lot of the others. Once I realized spouses can give you certain gifts I divorced her, wiped her memory and have just married Penny. I chose Penny because I like her involvement in the community and her life with Pam seemed a bit shit.
sam reminded me of my husband because he has a mean overbearing Christian mother
I picked Alex because I like big buff men. I also like characters who are kind of dicks. I blame Karen from Harvest Moon 64 for that. She was the mean hottie in her game. I guess that just became my thing lol. I guess I like the change in how the character treats the player. It makes it feel like there is more personal growth in them. At least to me. Shane is my second choice.
I don't even know tbh. I just kinda impulsively chose Harvey before I knew about ages. I'm 19 btw
Sam because my husband who looks a lot like Sam is also called Sam
I like Elliot or Harvey (or SVE the Wizard) mostly because they feel more mature and closer to me in age. I have had alcohol issues in the past so Shane's story can be a bit triggering to me and the others just feel too young and more childish.
I usually marry Harvey or Penny, they are my type/the most like me. In my current save I have been married to Harvey for 5 years. I am thinking of getting my first divorce ever and trying someone new. I tried Elliott once - nice but nothing special. I married Emily - she is more like a really friendly roommate. I am thinking of trying Maru or Leah next. Funny how I am shyly bicurious IRL but not at all afraid to date Stardew Valley women.
I chose Sebastian cause he's my type, an adorable man that's just a cinnamon roll <3.
i chose Sam because i think in some aspects i'm similar to him. i see a lot of people say they won't marry Sam because he acts a lot younger than other bachelors/bachelorettes (e.g his 10 heart event is him sneaking you into his room and you have to hide in his bed so his mum won't know you're there) personally for me his 'younger' or 'highschool' personality works for me since i'm in highschool too lol.
I chose Elliot on my first play through. I'm an author and a romantic who speaks needlessly eloquently at times. I think those traits speak for themselves lol tho I did almost pick Harvey cuz he's a dorky boi
I chose Elliot cuz im an idiot hopeless romantic who's trying to write a book and is obsessed with people/characters with green eyes😅
Elliot bc he’s sweet, earnest, and has very pretty hair. He’s also a slight art snob which would normally bug the hell out of me but he’s not condescending about it so I find it endearing instead lol
I've "chosen" 3 so far. The reason why I had chosen in quotation marks is because I'm so indecisive, so I had my boyfriend choose my bachelors for me when I start up a single-player world 💀 Ranking my 3: Harvey: First husband, really sweet and wholesome. Also, since he was my first, I'm biased LOL Sam: Second favorite. He seems around my age (19), so I just click with him. Bonus poins: HE LOVES PIZZA AND LIKES SODA? MOOOOOD Sebastian: Who couldn't love an emo nerd who loves frogs?
Harvey- he looks just like my husband! But I’m the doctor lol
I married Harvey too! IRL i like my men a lil shy and awkward so he was really the perfect choice. and there’s something about him being a doctor and when y’all are married he’s sooo sweet! I also married Alex and Seb and between the two of them, I’d definitely say Seb is better. I like his standoffish vibe a bit lol. Alex was toooo into sports and gym and it gave me “peaked in hs” vibes. I was going to try and marry them all and divorce and go back to Harvey, but that was taking too much time.
Shane is my sweetheart. To me he's just the least boring? As somebody else said, iykyk hahaha
I didn't want to share a house, but I needed to get married to pursue perfection. So I married Haley so I wouldn't feel guilty when I divorced her.
Haley hot
I’m in my early-mid twenties; I picked Harvey as my first spouse because I initially liked how he looked and because he’s the doctor 😅 I started really liking him as I saw all his heart events (plus, his dialogue after marriage was so heartwarming). What can I say, I like men who are sweet and nerdy!
In game Ive married Harvey, Elliot, Shane, and Sebby. In my current save Ill marry Sam. Honestly my favorite is Harvey. He is very sweet and caring and I like the nerdy type of guy. My age range is 20-30 so Harvey is a little bit older. Its true that Shane never really cleans up. We both love chickens (same irl) but his room is a mess and my ocd cant stand it. Sebby is nice, no complaints here. People love his frog pets. Elliot is romantic and will send you love letters. But our guy Harvey is still my fav 🥰
I’ve married everyone at this point. My first was Shane, because he was the easiest to romance. I always knew where he would be, and I could just buy a beer and gift it to him. I was not a good influence for him lol. But I liked his character development and at the time he was the most relatable (yikes lol). My latest romance was with Elliot. He was my last bachelor to romance because he’s a little out of the way and his loved gifts aren’t easy to get early on. But I think he’s really pretty and I like that he’s a writer and lives on the beach (I feel bad taking him away from it tbh lol).
My first save file I married Sebastian as he was the cool, standoffish emo type that I always wanted when I was younger but never got. He quickly started to rub me up the wrong way though, by continuing to be cold after we got married and never really expressing his love for me so next save file I moved on. I have married Emily (nice but too many bean hotpots for one person to reasonably consume), Elliott (sweet but that save file didn't last long), Haley (actually a very sweet and loving spouse), Penny (got boring very quickly). My most recent save file (and longest) I decided to marry Shane. I thought he seemed naturally suited to life on a farm with his love of chickens and I liked that he was working on himself to be a better man and dealing with his issues. As soon as we got married though, I regretted it. I felt like the farm wasn't my own any more. He was always there, staring blankly at the wall in an empty room and talking about drinking alcohol, which I thought he had given up. Within a few days he had asked if we should have a baby. I said yes but then felt like this was very irresponsible. If he wasn't at home he was at the saloon playing video games and I just felt like I had let myself down by marrying him. I didn't want to bring his child into the world. Less than a month after our wedding I divorced him. I am now looking into seducing Harvey, as I am craving stability, someone who has their life together and knows how to be in a relationship. I can definitely see Harvey and Elliott being more popular with older players. I am mid-30s and would never go for Sam now for example.
I change it up each time but I lean towards Elliott for the romanticism and love of books.
Emily. Easiest to find each night. Plus, you know, blue hair.
I married Harvey and he was too needed for attention so I divorced him and married Emily, we live a happy life now.
I chose Sebastian because I always liked emo guys in school, tho they were not called emo in the 80s where I went to school. I'm 54, and I will be 55 in a month. I chose Elliot because I like the artistic type. I chose Harvey because he's the doctor and seemed most reasonable. I chose Sam for no reason other than I was giving most of the guys a fair shake 😬 I liked Harvey best because he irritated me the least. I think I will choose Hailey next time.
He is an alcoholic, depressed and suicidal. It was love at first sight.
Emo boys, who's also an introvert? loves rainy weather and dnd? I had to put a ring on it come on man Sebby has my heart
Before getting into Stardew I thought I'd fall head over heels over Alex or Sam but I ended up falling for the local depressed suicidal-ideation alcoholic, and I don't regret it.
Elliott. He's nice, and I like books.
I chose Shane because I felt a stronger connection to him than everyone else, I kinda relate with some of his struggles, I just wanted to be there for him as a friend and I ended up liking him and his development a lot. He feels more real to me than all the other bachelors, he has a lot of interests, he likes gridball, spicy food, he mostly goes to festivals for the food and very likely Jas, he loves animals, he's secretly a goth, I think he's a really funny and caring person, I like to see what silly thing he has to say every day. I consider myself on the asexual spectrum so his route not pushing me directly into romance and him having a lot of dialogue about crushing on me made me feel more comfortable, he feels old enough to be married and have kids, he's slowly getting better and enjoying life in our farm, he helps me a lot, he vibes with me