Who are the different characters I can meet in Stardew Valley?
Summary
Q.Who are the different characters I can meet in Stardew Valley?
A.Stardew Valley features dozens of interactable characters: 12 romanceable marriage candidates, many giftable villagers, shopkeepers, special/seasonal NPCs, and a handful of event-only or non‑giftable characters. The Stardew Valley Wiki has full lists and locations.
More info
You can meet dozens of characters in Stardew Valley, including 12 marriage candidates (six bachelors and six bachelorettes), many other giftable villagers, and a variety of special NPCs such as shopkeepers, traveling vendors, and story characters. For a comprehensive roster and short descriptions, see the community-maintained NPC list on the Stardew Valley Wiki (NPCs overview).
To give you a practical breakdown, characters fall into clear groups and include familiar faces: - Marriage candidates (bachelors: Alex, Elliott, Harvey, Sam, Sebastian, Shane; bachelorettes: Abigail, Emily, Haley, Leah, Maru, Penny). See the Villagers page for details. - Shopkeepers and service NPCs (Pierre, Clint, Willy, Robin, Gunther, Gus) who provide goods, upgrades, and museum services. - Special/seasonal and secret characters (Wizard, Krobus, Old Mariner, Mr. Qi) plus traveling merchants and festival-only attendees. - Non-giftable or event-only NPCs and monsters that flesh out quests and festivals.
Befriending villagers unlocks heart events, gifts, and sometimes marriage — and several community guides linked above list schedules, gift preferences, and heart events so you can plan who to befriend first.
