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Best Stardew Valley Character Mods You Should Try

Published

5 hours ago

November 14, 2024

Stardew Valley has been a beloved farming sim for many years, with players and mod makers constantly finding new ways to enjoy their favorite title. From new crops to new mechanics, countless features have been added since its release.

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NPC characters have always been at the heart of the game, providing a new level of immersion and connection to the world. It’s no wonder then that players are looking to expand and improve that aspect, with visual overhauls, quality of life changes, and even entirely new characters. With mods, players can fine-tune their experience, and give a whole new feel to their next playthrough. These are some of the best character mods that players should try for Stardew Valley.

Updated on November 14, 2024, by Usama Ali: Stardew Valley’s Update 1.6 added a ton of new content to the game, including new NPC dialogues, custom gift reactions, and even winter outfits for all of the villagers. The dedicated modding community has also followed suit, creating mods with new characters, storylines, events, and dialogues. Certain character mods can also expand the existing characters’ storylines through additional cutscenes and dialogue, making them enjoyable for seasoned Stardew Valley players. This list has been updated with a few more character mods all Stardew Valley players should try.

21 Hugs and Kisses

Endorsements – 6,444

Everyone deserves some love. This mod just gives players more options and ways to show appreciation towards friends, loved ones, and roommates. Another interesting point is that the characters in the game also interact more with each other, making the game feel even warmer than before.

Players are free to customize the specifics of the mod, allowing them to customize their experience. But at the end of the day, it’s just nice to be able to give those characters that really need it, a well-deserved and long-overdue embrace.

20 More Animals

Endorsements – 2,442

Who doesn’t want more animals? The mod focuses on a different part of the game, particularly the farmer’s beloved pet. The default cat/dog options are great, but there’s always room for more variety, especially when it comes to pet breeds and colors.

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The mod adds 9 new variations for cats and dogs respectively, and lets players choose which one they prefer, or leave their new companion’s looks to chance. Some of the options are more playful than others, but all of them are absolutely adorable and will make any farm a better place.

19 Babies Take After Spouse

Endorsements – 25,126

This mod makes quite a lot of sense and is done in a very thought-out and well-detailed way. After all, the children in the game are a major step when it comes to character relationships, and it makes perfect sense for them to look like a part of the family.

Players are also free to customize the different visual aspects, such as hairstyle and much more, creating the middle ground between the farmer and their spouse. With other family mods, this is a great addition for those who are planning on going quite far in their next playthrough.

18 Satoru Gojo NPC Jujutsu Kaisen

Endorsements: 2,157

Satoru Gojo NPC Jujutsu Kaisen Stardew Valley

The Satoru Gojo NPC Jujutsu Kaisen mod for Stardew Valley is a fan-made mod that adds the popular character Satoru Gojo from the anime series Jujutsu Kaisen to the game. With this mod, players can interact with Gojo as any regular NPC in Pelican Town. They can give Gojo gifts to build their friendship with him and experience his heart events.

One of the most exciting features of this mod is that it lets players date and marry Gojo. As with other bachelors in Stardew Valley, players can pursue a romantic relationship with him and eventually marry him. If they want to, players can even have a child with Gojo, who looks exactly like him. From unique dialogue and events to Gojo’s custom portraits, this mod is perfect for fans of both Jujutsu Kaisen and Stardew Valley.

17 Shane’s New Job

Endorsements – 2,091

Shane’s entire story is a lot. The character struggles with a string of problems and problematic behavior but ultimately does a great job of recovering and growing into a bigger and better person.

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The vanilla version leaves Shane with no work after the farmer pushes JoJo away from the town, which ends up being not so great for him. The mod gives him a much brighter future, giving him a job that he enjoys. He will now be a bartender in the Saloon, alongside Gus and Emily, happily serving customers and getting some extra money for it.

16 Mister Ginger

Endorsements – 2,617

Does anything really need to be said about this gorgeous mod? No game has ever suffered from having a lovely, curious orange cat, especially one named Mister Ginger. In the game, Mister Ginger follows Jas around the town, accompanying her anywhere she goes.

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The player can certainly try to pet the lovely cat and even get a cute meow in response. The author has also mentioned another mod, with an alternative portrait for Mister Ginger, for those who would prefer a slightly more anime aesthetic.

15 Heart Event Helper

Endorsements: 1,143

To trigger a heart event with any villager, players need to reach a specific friendship level with them. This can be done by gifting them items they like, talking to them regularly, and completing quests for them. It sounds pretty simple, but it can be quite hectic to keep track of all the villagers’ preferences. This is where the Heart Event Helper mod comes in handy.

The Heart Event Helper mod simplifies the process of triggering heart events in Stardew Valley. It provides a visual indicator next to each dialogue option, showing how your choice will impact your friendship level with the NPC. This allows players to make informed decisions and maximize their chances of triggering heart events. It’s also compatible with various popular mods that add dialogue or events, like Stardew Valley Expanded, Ridgeside Village, East Scarp, and more.

14 Please Remember My Marriage

Endorsements – 4,856

It can be quite awkward when after a long-awaited marriage with the chosen candidate, other bachelors continue to make flirty comments and remarks or ignore it altogether. This mod does a fantastic job of solving that little conundrum, by adding many new lines of dialogue, at last acknowledging the marriage.

It does a lot to add another level of immersion and progression to the game, reflecting the players’ choices in the world of Stardew Valley. After all, the Farmer is an important part of the community, and at the very least their marriage should be noticed.

13 East Scarp

Endorsements – 6,326

East Scarp adds an incredible amount of content to the game, from new locations and elements, to completely new questlines. And of course, the mod comes with a collection of fresh, enigmatic NPCs that players can befriend and dive deep into their personal stories.

Aside from the new acquaintances, the mod adds an array of new animals for players to encounter, and even give gifts to. There are many ways to customize the mod and download additional content made by the creators.

12 No More Bowlegs

Endorsements – 15,397

A subtle, yet very effective stylistic change that many players have been looking for. The original design, while great, confused and bothered some people, breaking their immersion. This mod changes the way some of the character’s models, as well as their walking animations, giving a more realistic feel to them.

While not necessary, it is always nice to have the option to change something that bothers players. It is unknown if the creator is working to add all the affected characters, with players asking for updates on the mod’s page.

11 Custom Spouse Patio

Endorsements – 2,468

With this mod, players can create and customize special areas for their spouses in Stardew Valley. The mod supports almost unlimited variation, allowing for unique and creative locales, making the game even more immersive and enjoyable.

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Want to give a beloved spouse a cozy nook by the lake or a romantic spot under a tree? The possibilities are endless. Plus, one can easily switch up the tiles and location whenever they feel like it. Interestingly enough, the mod also allows for similar patios for other NPCs as well, allowing players to shake up their neighbors’ patterns.

10 The Farmer’s Children

Endorsements – 3,542

Players familiar with the game, know that a marriage will result in eventual babies, as long as the house requirements are met. However, no matter how many years pass in the game, they don’t really grow, which can be somewhat immersion-breaking.

This mod ages the children up a bit, to allow them to go to school with other kids in town, as well as roam the city and do their own tasks. This can be a good addition for those looking to change the late-game a little, expanding on the stories of their family.

9 Date Night Redux

Endorsements: 3,410

For those who are married in Stardew Valley, Date Night Redux is the perfect mod since it enhances the post-marriage experience by allowing players to go on romantic dates with their spouse. This mod is a continuation of the original Date Night mod by LiveOnSUPERT, updated for compatibility with Stardew Valley 1.6 and beyond.

Players can take their spouses on different dates, such as a Library Date, a Picnic Date in the Forest, a Beach Date, or even a Grocery Date. The type of date can vary depending on the season, making each date a unique experience. Certain spouses, like Alex, Haley, Emily, and Maru, have unique date ideas tailored to their personalities. By adding these romantic elements, the Date Night Redux mod breathes new life into the Stardew Valley marriage experience and helps players create lasting memories with the in-game spouse.

8 Shiko – New Custom NPC

Endorsements – 3,069

Shiko is an entirely new NPC, with her dialogues and events. She brings a very interesting dynamic to the town, with her unique and mysterious backstory that slowly unfolds as the players get to know her. It is interesting to see another character that is new to the Valley, similar to the Farmer.

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Players can also try to romance her, and eventually even propose a marriage. The story is wonderfully written, with interesting details and twists. This is a great mod for those looking to spruce up the population of the town.

7 Always Raining In The Valley

Endorsements – 3,026

This is another mod that adds custom NPCs, 3 to be exact. The Cooper family has their own dialogues, interactions, and events, with more on the way according to the author. Their story is unique and colorful, with each of the characters going through their own struggles and challenges that the player can try to help with.

Aside from that, the mod also adds plenty of new and adorable recipes, each with its own shapes and effects. The Coopers are a lovely addition to the game, and players won’t regret meeting them.

6 Get Glam

Endorsements – 7,921

The game offers a good variety when it comes to character creation, but surely there could be even more options. This mod adds an unbelievable amount of new accessories, clothes, and features for players to experiment with.

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Aside from all the options, the mod also adds the Dresser, which allows players to change up their look at any point in the game. This is a great choice for those who want even more control and freedom when creating their Farmers.

5 Stardew Valley Expanded

Endorsements – 99,362

While not exclusively a character mod, SVE adds so much to the game, that it can’t be overlooked. New questlines, characters, and locations are just the tip of the iceberg, as the game expands on almost every aspect and mechanic in the game.

Whether players are looking for new friends, or interested in romancing more characters, this is a great choice. And with the sheer amount of content, it is hard not to suggest this great mod to anyone who enjoys the game and would like to freshen up the experience.

4 Portraiture

Endorsements – 24,156

There are many portrait mods available on the platform, and players might be overwhelmed with installing and changing them on the fly. This mod allows for easy portrait customization, with an intuitive and effective way to quickly change the look of players’ favorite characters.

This is a great tool for those who find themselves frequently switching between different visual portrait styles. As always, please remember to carefully read each mod description and instructions, as certain mods might conflict with each other, or require supporting files to work properly.

3 Anime Mods

Endorsements – 44,116

Speaking of portraits, this is by far the most popular portrait mod, with over 3 million downloads. The portraits are remade from scratch, shifting the aesthetics of the characters towards a more anime look. Every artwork is incredibly detailed and looks fantastic in the game, without breaking the immersion.

Every NPC gets an overhaul, from potential love interests to townsfolk and event characters. Players looking to change up their playthrough will not be disappointed with these gorgeous avatars.

2 Ridgeside Village

Endorsements – 18,540

Incredibly, Ridgeside Village adds more than 50 NPCs to the game, completely changing the social experience of the game. Even meeting all the new residents will take players quite some time, each with their own curious story and secrets.

Some of the added characters are also interested in a romantic relationship with the farmer, so the Bachelor pool has been noticeably expanded. The mod has a lot of fresh content, and characters are only a part of the bigger picture, so players are encouraged to read the mod page for more details.