Can You Have Two Husbands in Stardew Valley?
The short and direct answer is: No, you cannot have two husbands (or two wives) simultaneously in the standard version of Stardew Valley. The game is designed around a monogamous marriage system, meaning you can only be legally married to one non-player character (NPC) at a time. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t explore romantic relationships with multiple characters before settling down or even after getting married, within certain limitations. Let’s delve deeper into the nuances of relationships and marriage in Stardew Valley.
Understanding Marriage Mechanics in Stardew Valley
Monogamy is the Core Rule
Stardew Valley allows you to woo and develop relationships with 12 different eligible NPCs. However, you can only choose one of these individuals to be your spouse. After reaching 10 hearts with a marriage candidate and presenting them with a Mermaid’s Pendant, you can get married. The marriage is a binding union in the game, and it’s designed around a single-partner relationship.
Dating Before Marriage
Before settling down, you have the opportunity to date all the marriage candidates simultaneously. Giving a bouquet to an eligible NPC will signify your romantic interest and allows you to have multiple romantic relationships before marriage. This is where a lot of the perceived “dating the whole town” experience comes in, because the game’s mechanics don’t prevent multiple romances at once.
Consequences of Multiple Relationships While Married
However, once you are married, dating other characters will have consequences. If you give a gift to a character of the same gender as your spouse, your spouse will become jealous. Although it will not have a lasting negative impact on your overall game, these moments of jealousy demonstrate the game’s commitment to the monogamous relationship model for marriage.
What about Mods?
The standard game enforces these single-partner rules strictly. However, the modding community has significantly expanded the possibilities within Stardew Valley. If you play on a PC or Android device, you can use mods to bypass the standard relationship limitations and, in fact, have multiple spouses.
Relationship Dynamics: Going Beyond Standard Marriage
Exploring Jealousy in Relationships
The jealousy mechanics in Stardew Valley highlight the importance of understanding NPC reactions to your actions. While you are dating, you can gift freely, but after marriage, gifts given to characters that could be considered romantic rivals will trigger a jealous reaction. This mechanic, though temporary, adds another layer of engagement to player choice.
The Option of Divorce
If you become unhappy with your marriage, Stardew Valley allows you to divorce your spouse for a cost of 50,000g. You can initiate divorce at Mayor Lewis’ house. However, divorcing your spouse will have lasting impacts on your relationship with them and your children in the game. Divorced spouses will hold resentment and only say one thing to you when you approach them. This will remain true unless you utilize the memory-wiping option at the Witch’s Hut, for an additional price of 30,000g.
The Witch’s Hut and Memory Wiping
If you regret your choice of spouse and want to try again with the same person, you can visit the Witch’s Hut. By using a shrine, for 30,000g, you can erase your ex-spouse’s memories of your marriage. This enables you to date and remarry that character again, if you wish. This feature provides a ‘second chance’ option, but this comes at a significant cost.
Children and Divorce
If you have children with your spouse, they will remain on your farm even after a divorce. But, they will no longer have the same normal interactions with you. Your ex-spouse will also not engage with you normally and not attend festivals, or your future wedding. Furthermore, you cannot have another child with an ex-spouse after a divorce unless the ex-spouse’s memory is wiped at the witch’s hut.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How many spouses are available in Stardew Valley?
There are 12 marriage candidates in Stardew Valley, split evenly between six men and six women.
2. Who are the marriage candidates in Stardew Valley?
The marriageable characters are:
* Male: Alex, Elliott, Harvey, Shane, Sam, and Sebastian.
* Female: Abigail, Emily, Haley, Leah, Maru, and Penny.
3. Can I have same-sex relationships in Stardew Valley?
Yes, you can absolutely have same-sex relationships and marriages in Stardew Valley.
4. Can I date multiple people at once in Stardew Valley?
Yes, you can date all the eligible bachelors or bachelorettes before marriage by giving them bouquets.
5. Can I cheat on my spouse in Stardew Valley?
You can date other characters even when married. However, this will lead to jealousy from your spouse, when giving a gift to a character of the same gender.
6. Can I remarry an ex-spouse in Stardew Valley?
Yes, you can. You’ll need to visit the Witch’s Hut and wipe their memory, and then you can date and remarry them.
7. What happens to the children if I divorce in Stardew Valley?
Your children will remain on the farm, but will no longer have normal interactions with you, nor attend your potential future weddings. They will stay in the toddler stage forever.
8. What if I am expecting a child when I get a divorce?
The child will not be born or delivered.
9. Are there any benefits to marrying a specific NPC?
While each spouse has unique dialogue and gifts, none provide huge game-changing benefits. Some, like Maru, may give rare materials for various situations, but many gifts are easily obtainable.
10. Can my spouse leave me in Stardew Valley?
No, your spouse will not leave you on their own. You will need to initiate the divorce by paying a fee.
11. Is there a polyamory mod for Stardew Valley?
Yes, there are various mods available for PC and Android that allow you to have multiple spouses simultaneously.
12. Can I sacrifice my children in Stardew Valley?
Yes, by using the Dark Shrine of Selfishness at the Witch’s Hut, you can “dismiss” your children with a Prismatic Shard.
13. Can I befriend my ex-spouse after a divorce?
No, your ex-spouse will not interact with you normally and not accept gifts unless you wipe their memories using the shrine at the Witch’s Hut.
14. Does my baby age in Stardew Valley?
Your babies will age up to the toddler stage and then stop growing. They will never grow into full adults.
15. What are the consequences of dismissing my children?
Once dismissed, your children are gone for good. You will, however, be able to have more children in the future. If they are wearing a hat at the time of dismissal, it will appear in the Lost and Found.
Conclusion
While you cannot have multiple spouses in the base version of Stardew Valley, the game provides many ways to experience love, heartbreak, and the complexities of relationships. Whether you are dating the whole town, facing jealousy from your spouse, or considering divorce and memory wiping, Stardew Valley delivers rich social dynamics. If you’re looking to bend the rules, the modding community is there to accommodate different gameplay preferences, allowing for the possibility of polyamorous relationships. The important thing is that you make the journey that is most enjoyable to you within the possibilities the game allows.