Summary
Compared with the challenges that real-life dating can bring,Stardew Valley’stake on dating is all adorable and naïve. However, within the standards of Pelican Town, starting a romantic relationship with some bachelors is slightly more challenging than trying to do so with others. To prove this, the following tier list ranks all datable men inStardew Valleyfrom easiest to date to most complicated.
Updated on June 29, 2025, by Mohsen Baqery: Stardew Valley remains a cult favorite among farming simulator fans, and its enduring charm owes much to its beloved romance mechanics, allowing players to find their ideal pixel partner. While the latest update hasn’t introduced major changes to this aspect, we’ve revised this post to explore more interesting details about the bachelors and provide Stardew Valley fans with more useful insights. Players can now find brief personality overviews for each bachelor, along with lists of both their loved and hated gifts.
Before exploring the list, here’s a table showing all bachelors inStardew Valleyand their best and worst characteristics:
Is caring and loving
Can be reserved and detached
Is adventurous and risk-taking
Can be ignorant and selfish
Is energetic and motivated
Can be blunt and arrogant
Is romantic and empathetic
Can be emotionally insecure
Is levelheaded and emotionally stable
Can be dull and boring
Is loyal and friendly
Can lie and be lazy
Tier List Criteria
Although most similar rankings considerthe gift-giving aspects ofStardew Valleyand the NPCs’ schedules, the following list is based on the player’s overall dating experience. This includes (but is not limited to)the bachelors’ personalities, possible toxic traits, and Heart Events.
For those looking to discover which bachelors are the most difficult to datebased on their loved gifts,here’s a quick rundown: Shane and Sam are the easiest because their loved gifts are accessible. Elliott and Sebastian are the hardest because the player has limited encounters with them early in the game.
6Sam
The Challenge: He Can Be Immature
Dating Sam isn’t particularly difficult, but his occasional immaturity might be a challenge. However, his stable personality and simple gift preferences make him one of the easiest bachelors to romance.
Despite his immature behavior here and there,Samis mostly an easy guy to date. Out of all the bachelors, he is one of the few who demonstrates a stable personality from the beginning and doesn’t change that much throughout the game while never becoming boring or monotonous.
The most convenient thing about dating Sam is his loved and liked items. Players can easily ignite a romance with him just by giving him Pizza andJoja Cola, two of the most common edibles in Pelican Town.
5Sebastian
The Challenge: He’s A Reserved Loner
Sebastian’s introverted nature and tendency to isolate himself make him less approachable than other bachelors. While his gifts can be found early in The Mines, getting him to open up is challenging.
Sebastian,Pelican Town’s most beloved marriage candidate, is relatively easy to date. The biggest challenge players face when courting him is getting him to open up during the initial Heart Events. Since Sebastian often isolates himself in his room, he isn’t the most approachable resident.
While his loved gifts are not as easy to come by as, say, Harvey’s, players can obtain most of them for free byexploring the early floors of The Mines. Even better, his intriguing personality makes players genuinely want to get to know him — something few other bachelors can achieve.
4Elliott
The Challenge: He Is Hard To Find
What makes dating Elliott challenging is his withdrawn lifestyle, as he spends most of his time in his secluded beach cabin, making early connections rare.
Elliottis a particularly challenging romantic interest due to his reclusive nature. Living in his old cabin by the beach, players only have a few opportunities to interact with him early in the game.
Elliott’s sensitive and artistic personality is also worth considering. His overly romantic approach to relationships may not appeal to all players. His unhealthy attachment style becomes evident after a breakup, as evidenced by his letter of grieving claiming that the player has shattered all his hopes and dreams.
3Alex
The Challenge: He Can Be A Freeloader
The challenge with dating Alex is his off-putting arrogance and self-absorbed demeanor, which give him the stereotypical “jock” image.
Alex’sfondness for Complete Breakfast, Salmon Dinner, and the “Jack Be Nimble, Jack Be Thick” book contributes to his unpopularity in Pelican Town. Many players are reluctant to part with these items, as they can be valuable, but that’s not the only issue with Alex.
Dating Alex can be challenging on a personal level as well. He initially comes across as arrogant and self-centered, embodying the stereotypical “jock” persona. The player must give him several chances before he reveals more about his backstory and becomes a slightly more relatable character. However, the reality is that mostStardew Valleyplayers don’t offer him many chances to show this side.
2Harvey
The Challenge: His Stability Makes Him Dull
The problem with dating Harvey is his reserved, practical demeanor, which might lack the passion some players desire. Adding to the challenge is his aversion to popular treats like cookies and pancakes, making gift-giving tricky.
Harvey is undoubtedly one of the morepopular bachelors inStardew Valley, but that doesn’t mean dating him is easy. His level-headed personality can be a hurdle for players seeking a passionate romance; after all, he’s just a nice guy content with spending quality time with the townspeople.
Another challenge in dating Harvey is his peculiar dislikes. He isn’t fond of universally appreciated treats like cookies, cakes, pies, and pancakes. This unusual preference, paired with his mostly predictable and “normie” reactions to life events, can make him a surprisingly difficult bachelor to connect with.
1Shane
The Challenge: He’s An Alcoholic
Dating Shane can be a nightmare because of his struggle with alcohol addiction, which requires patience as players witness his downward spiral while ignoring significant red flags.
Shane is the worst bachelor to date inStardew Valley, largely due to his bad habits. While he may seem approachable and easy-going, his alcohol addiction makes the path to romance challenging. Players must be incredibly patient, watching him spiral downward while choosing to overlook the red flags and pursue a relationship with him.
If it weren’t for his personal struggles, Shane could actually be one of the easiest marriage candidates to date. He’s almost always at the saloon, making it simple to gift him a Beer, one of his loved items. However, Shane remains one of the least popular bachelors, with many players finding it difficult to befriend him, let alone consider marriage.
