There are many mods available for ConcernedApe’s popular indie title Stardew Valley, and one of them – Stardew Valley Expanded (SVE) – comes with brand new NPCs that can interact with the player. Aiming to stay true to the original title, SVE strives to evoke the same feeling players first had when they picked up the original game. Currently the next best thing to a sequel, SVE allows users to meet new NPCs, including marriage candidates, in addition to having heart events with familiar characters that couldn’t previously be befriended.
[Warning: Spoilers For Stardew Valley Expanded Below]
The darling farming simulator Stardew Valley has come a long way since it released in 2016, and a flourishing modding community has evolved with it. There are tons mods available to enhance one’s farming experience and SVE delivers in a way that feels authentic to the game. This mod came out in April 2019 but continues to receive updates. Featuring 23 new locations, 126 new character events, never-before-seen NPCs, and so much more, SVE is a must-download for Stardew Valley fans who are ready for new content.
Modder FlashShifter’s goal is to “give the player the magical feeling they had when they first played Stardew Valley,” which SVE certainly delivers. In addition to 14 new NPCs, SVE incorporates a ton of novel dialogue, events, and animations for new and old characters alike. Most of these unfamiliar faces come with their own schedules, back stories, personalities, and more, offering plenty of content to keep players busy while they wait for new Stardew Valley content. Here is a look at each new NPC, including classic characters that players weren’t able to form relationships with in the original game.
Stardew Valley Expanded: Marlon
The leader of the Adventurer’s Guild isn’t a new character, but he was one players couldn’t befriend in Stardew Valley. Players could purchase combat-related items from Marlon, but he included no heart events to build a relationship. Similar to Gunther at the museum, players were also unable to gift him presents. SVE includes a backstory for the renowned monster hunter in addition to more interactions with this seasoned adventurer.
Stardew Valley Expanded: Morris
Morris is another original character in Stardew Valley that served as the antagonistic manager of Pelican Town’s JojaMart. Players previously couldn’t interact with him although he played a big role in completing Stardew Valley’s storyline, but SVE gives this ethically-questionable NPC a more rounded personality that seems to hint at some kind of redemption for the competitor of Pierre’s General Store.
Stardew Valley Expanded: Victor
A character not included in the original Stardew Valley, Victor is a new bachelor that can be wooed in SVE. Although he’s received a Bachelors degree in Engineering at a prestigious university, he’s come to Pelican Town unsure of his next steps in life. He’s close friends to Stardew Valley regulars like Sam and Abigail, and lives with his mother, Olivia.
Stardew Valley Expanded: Olivia
Victor’s mother, Olivia, is another new NPC in SVE. She used to be an accounting manager for Joja Corporation in Zuzu City – a location that often gets brought up in the original Stardew Valley game. Olivia made a lot of money after cashing out her Joja stocks, having since moved to Pelican Town to retire. She’s concerned about her son’s future, and is often seen enjoying expensive wine and fine dining. FlashShifter included an update last November where Olivia can also be a marriage candidate.
Stardew Valley Expanded: Andy
Andy owns a new farm in SVE – Fairhaven Farm, located in Cindersap Forest. He is reminiscent of Pam as they both enjoy drinking, aren’t fans of cleaning their homes, and support JojaMart. Andy has never married and is considered a loner, although he he is friends with Morris, George, and another new NPC in Stardew Valley, Susan.
Stardew Valley Expanded: Susan
Emerald Farm is another new area in SVE, located by the railroad. The farm specializes in juice production. It’s run by Susan, who Stardew Valley players won’t be able to meet until the large boulder is removed that blocks the path to the bath house. Susan enjoys caring for her plants, crafting, traveling, and cooking sweets, according to FlashShifter. She’s a friendly character who’s even close to bitter Andy.
Stardew Valley Expanded: Sophia
Sophia is the owner of the Blue Moon Vineyard and a new bachelorette that players have the option to marry. She’s a shy character and her only loved gift is hard to come by, so players must work harder than usual if they wish to propose to her. She enjoys anime, manga, and cosplay, and the player can buy wine and sprinklers from her.
Stardew Valley Expanded: Morgan
Morgan is considered a secret character that doesn’t make an appearance in SVE until the start of the third year. Morgan is a non-binary child and apprentice to the Wizard, M. Rasmodius, who lives in the Wizard’s Tower in Cindersap Forest. This magical apprentice has many of the same likes as Rasmodius and is often seen practicing magic.
Stardew Valley Expanded: Apples
Apples is a young Junimo, which are mystical forest spirits introduced in the original Stardew Valley. Apples appears after the player has completed the Aurora Vineyard questline. This cheerful and mysterious being can be gifted presents and become the player’s friend, allowing for more heart events in SVE.
Stardew Valley Expanded: Camilla, Claire, Scarlett, Isaac, & Alesia
In addition to the new characters that can be befriended, SVE has five more NPCs that function similarly to how Marlon, Gil, and Gunther did in the original game. These characters cannot be given gifts by the player, and weren’t initially added when the first version of the mod came out. Camilla is a witch who fights off monsters in Calico Desert. She also brews elixirs that can be purchased. Claire wears her hair in a bun and is an employee at Joja Mart. Scarlett is one of Sophia’s friends and fellow cosplayer who is introduced during one of Sophia’s heart events. Isaac and Alesia are both members of the Adventurer’s Guild, and they sell the player adventuring items.
It seems likely these last five NPCs could play a bigger role as more SVE updates come out, considering they were introduced with one. FlashShifter also provided a portrait and petting feature for Dusty, Alex’s dog that can be seen outside his house in the original game. There are also new monsters the player can fight in addition to the vast amount of extra content that comes with this mod. Between this and the many other mods available, Stardew Valley fans have a lot to explore outside of the original game.
Source: NexusMods/FlashShifter