Stardew Valley’s 1.7 Update is Adding New Marriage Options, and Here’s Who It’s Likely to Be

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In 2026, the beloved farming game Stardew Valley will celebrate its tenth anniversary. The game is well-known for bringing renewed interest to the farming simulator genre. Its creator, Eric Barone (also known as ConcernedApe), is currently developing the 1.7 update, which will expand the game with more character interactions, social features, and a brand new farm type.

In a recent interview with IGN, the creator of Stardew Valley announced that Version 1.7 will add two new characters you can marry. While Pelican Town already has several marriage candidates, these new additions will be able to be romanced and eventually married.

Sandy: A Desert Dweller Who Craves Connection

When players think about potential spouses in Stardew Valley, Sandy is often one of the first characters they consider. She’s a bit of a mystery and owns the Oasis shop in the Calico Desert, but you can’t meet her until you’ve fixed the bus that takes you there.

Becoming friends with Sandy leads to her sharing that she’s often lonely and dreams of visiting town—but she needs the player to invite her to a movie at the Stardew Valley theater to make it happen. A romance with her could center around her discovering she actually prefers the Valley to her desert home. She’s young, attractive, and a fan favorite, making her a popular choice for marriage.

Clint: A Bachelor Whose Crush Does Not Reciprocate

While Clint isn’t as beloved by players as Sandy, his single status and similar age to the player character make him a potential romance option. Some fans feel Clint’s personality is a bit underdeveloped, especially since his story ends soon after he starts dating Emily. Giving him a more fleshed-out romance and marriage arc could help him grow as a character, boosting his confidence and letting him move on from simply being infatuated with Emily.

Even if Clint isn’t made a marriage option in future updates to Stardew Valley, the game’s creator, ConcernedApe, could still expand his story. It would be great to see Clint heal after his relationship with Emily, become more self-assured, and make new friends. Currently, he’s one of the loneliest people in Pelican Town, and it would be heartwarming to see him connect with others and stop dwelling on Emily.

The Wizard: A Mysterious Outsider And A Major Fan Favorite

M. Rasmodius, the wizard living in the tower near Cindersap Forest, is a fan favorite in Stardew Valley even though he doesn’t appear much in the game. While his full history is never fully explained, the bits and pieces players discover about his past are really interesting.

There are so many mysteries surrounding his past! What’s the story with his ex, the Witch? Was Caroline unfaithful to Pierre with him, and is Abigail actually his child? Where did he learn to use magic, and what brought him to Stardew Valley? How did he become friends with the Junimo? It would be amazing if these questions were answered as you get to know him better through a romantic relationship.

Fans have created mods for Stardew Valley that let you build a relationship and even marry the Wizard, and many players would love to see this become an official feature. Expanding the Wizard’s backstory could also delve deeper into the magic system in Stardew Valley, which seems to be a key part of the developer’s next game, Haunted Chocolatier. Maybe marrying the Wizard could unlock new magical tools for the farm, like the teleportation pillars he currently offers?

Other Single Residents Are Less Likely, But Possible

In the upcoming 1.7 update to Stardew Valley, Clint, Sandy, and the Wizard are the frontrunners to become marriage candidates. But the developers haven’t ruled out the possibility of other single villagers becoming available for romance, too.

  • Gus, the friendly bartender and chef who runs the Stardrop Saloon. A marriage path for Gus could potentially involve adding new cooking recipes to his and the player’s repertoire.
  • Pam, the single mother of current marriage candidate Penny. Pam is a bit of a loner who is known for her grumpy attitude and love of drinking, and a romance could allow players to get to know her beneath the gruff exterior.
  • Linus, a wild man who lives in a tent. Despite being a loner who prefers nature to human companionship, Linus is one of the kindest characters in the game, and many players have expressed a desire to let him move into their farmhouse.
  • Willy the fisherman probably doesn’t want to leave his home on the docks, but perhaps he could marry the player and split his time between the farmhouse and his seaside shop.
  • The rancher Marnie and the mayor Lewis have a secret relationship—which the player can discover while searching for Lewis’ missing “lucky purple shorts” — but, if this relationship ended, either one could potentially pursue the player.

There’s a small possibility that a currently unmarriageable character could become a romance option. This includes characters like the Witch (who used to be married to the Wizard), the casino owner Mr. Qi, the museum curator Gunther, or Marlon and Gil from the Adventurer’s Guild.

The creator of the game could also give players the option to divorce and remarry characters in Pelican Town. There’s evidence suggesting the developer originally planned for Robin to be a marriage candidate, with a storyline involving issues in her marriage with Demetrius. If the game allows for ending marriages, players might then be able to pursue relationships with Robin, as well as Pierre, Caroline, Jodi, and Kent.

Will One Or Both Marriage Options Be A New Character?

Players are expecting more characters to become marriage candidates in Stardew Valley, but the developer, ConcernedApe, might also introduce two entirely new characters. The 1.5 update already added Leo to the game, so update 1.7 could follow suit. Still, after ten years with the residents of Pelican Town, most fans seem to prefer the possibility of romancing characters they already know and love rather than meeting someone completely new.

Good news for Stardew Valley fans! You won’t have to wait long to learn who the new marriage candidates are in the next update. The creator, Barone, plans to reveal them on February 26, 2026 – the game’s tenth anniversary. He might also announce when the 1.7 update will be released and give a sneak peek at the new farm type. With Stardew Valley turning ten, 2026 promises exciting things for players!

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2026-02-05 19:41