Dating Everyone in Stardew Valley: What Happens When You Romance the Entire Town?
What happens when you decide to charm your way through every eligible bachelor and bachelorette in Stardew Valley? The answer is a complex web of cutscenes, relationship management, and a potential dose of consequences. At its core, the game allows you to date multiple characters simultaneously without immediate repercussions. However, attempting to romance all the available singles will eventually lead to a unique cutscene. If you give a bouquet to all the bachelorettes/bachelors, raise their friendship to 10 hearts, and view each of their 10-heart events while remaining unmarried, a special cutscene will trigger when entering specific locations. The location differs based on whether you are romancing all the bachelorettes or bachelors. Specifically for the bachelorettes, you’ll encounter this scene when entering Haley or Emily’s house, and for the bachelors, when entering the Stardrop Saloon. This cutscene is commonly referred to as the “cheating cutscene” by players, though “caught dating” would be a more accurate description.
The “Cheating” Cutscene and Its Aftermath
The “cheating” cutscene is designed to act as a mild consequence for dating all the characters at once. The exact content of the cutscene varies based on the gender of the characters you are romancing. If you have dated all the bachelorettes, they will confront you as a group in Emily and Haley’s house, expressing their hurt feelings and disappointment. Conversely, dating all the bachelors will lead to a confrontation in the Stardrop Saloon with them expressing similar feelings. This cutscene can feel a bit dramatic, depending on your perspective.
After the cutscene, all the characters you dated will be angry with you, and their friendship levels will be reset to 5 hearts. While this sounds dire, you can rebuild those relationships. You can still give gifts and talk to them normally. The cutscene serves as a clear message that even in a charming town like Stardew Valley, there are consequences to your actions. Importantly, it’s not a game-ending punishment, but rather a temporary setback.
The Rabbit’s Foot Loophole
There’s a unique item that can help you avoid this confrontational cutscene entirely: the Rabbit’s Foot. If you are carrying a Rabbit’s Foot in your inventory at the time the cutscene would trigger, the cutscene won’t play. Instead, a more positive dialogue will occur in which they will simply admire the Rabbit’s Foot and be non-confrontational. This allows you to date multiple people without the usual repercussions, making it a useful item for those wanting to experience all the heart events.
Beyond Dating: Marriage and Romance
While you can date everyone in town simultaneously before marriage, your options change once you’ve said “I do.” Here are some key points to remember after marriage:
- Dating While Married: You can still date others while married. However, there are consequences.
- Spouse Jealousy: Giving a gift to someone of the same gender as your spouse while dating them can trigger jealousy in your spouse.
- Jealousy Penalty: When your spouse becomes jealous, you lose 30 friendship points with them.
- Wilted Bouquet: Giving a wilted bouquet will immediately break off any romantic relationships.
The jealousy mechanic makes it more challenging to romance multiple characters post-marriage. It also adds a touch of realism, as your spouse will react negatively to your amorous adventures. It is very much possible to date others after marriage, but the risk of your spouse being upset is high.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions about romancing characters in Stardew Valley:
1. Can I date everyone at once?
Yes, you can date all eligible bachelors or bachelorettes simultaneously by giving them bouquets. However, remember the “cheating” cutscene will trigger if you meet the prerequisites and you are not carrying a Rabbit’s Foot.
2. What is the “cheating” cutscene?
It’s a cutscene that triggers if you’ve dated all eligible bachelors or bachelorettes to 10 hearts, seen all their 10-heart events, and are not married. The location depends on the gender of the people you have dated.
3. Can I avoid the “cheating” cutscene?
Yes, by carrying a Rabbit’s Foot in your inventory when the cutscene would trigger.
4. What happens if I’m caught dating everyone?
Your friendships with the characters you’ve dated will be reduced to 5 hearts. They will be angry with you, but their relationships can be rebuilt.
5. Can I date while married?
Yes, you can continue to date others while married. However, be aware of the jealousy mechanic.
6. What is spouse jealousy?
If you give a gift to a person of the same gender as your spouse while dating them, your spouse may become jealous and their relationship with you will decrease by 30 friendship points.
7. What does a wilted bouquet do?
Giving a wilted bouquet will immediately end the dating relationship and reduce the friendship level with the character to 5 hearts.
8. How do I get a Rabbit’s Foot?
Rabbit’s Feet can be obtained by killing rabbits on your farm or in the skull caverns or by having a rabbit on your farm and hoping they drop it. They are a rare drop from rabbits.
9. Who is the hardest to romance?
Many players find Haley to be one of the more difficult characters to romance due to her initial personality and gift preferences.
10. Who is the easiest to romance?
Leah is generally considered one of the easiest characters to romance, as she loves foraged items, which are readily available.
11. Who is the most useful spouse?
Maru is considered one of the most useful spouses due to the items she provides, like rare materials for crafting or dishes like Crab Cakes and Fried Mushrooms.
12. Can I remarry my ex-spouse?
Yes, you can remarry an ex-spouse by going to the Witch’s Hut and erasing their memory for 30,000g.
13. Can I kiss my spouse too much?
No, you can kiss your spouse as often as you like. You receive a stamina bonus when you kiss them for the first time each day.
14. Can I dance with someone other than my spouse?
Yes, dancing with another character will increase friendship with them by 1 heart.
15. Can Krobus be my spouse?
Krobus cannot be your spouse. He can only be your roommate, which acts similarly to a spouse in many ways.
Conclusion
Romancing every character in Stardew Valley is possible but comes with consequences, the key one being the “cheating” cutscene if you get caught. While it can be fun to experience each character’s individual story lines, remember there are drawbacks when you are trying to be everyone’s special someone. Whether you choose to date them all, focus on one, or even pursue a life of celibacy with your farm, Stardew Valley offers players the freedom to explore a variety of social paths. Have fun with the many options!