Tabilkash
Greenhorn
I’ve been thinking about what could make the upcoming Stardew Valley 1.7 update feel fresh while still preserving the peaceful, simple identity that makes the game special.
Rather than changing Stardew Valley into something completely different, I think 1.7 could focus on something the game already does extremely well: making the valley, its people, and the player's farm feel more alive over time.
These suggestions combine ideas I would personally like to see with recurring requests and discussions from the Stardew Valley community.
1. Evolving Relationships After Full Hearts
One of the biggest areas that could be improved is what happens after reaching maximum friendship or marriage.
It would be great if relationships continued to evolve instead of feeling mostly complete once the heart meter is full.
Possible additions:
- More dialogue for villagers
- Seasonal and weather-based dialogue
- Situation-based conversations
- More high-heart events
- Additional post-marriage heart events
- Continuing character storylines
- NPCs reacting to major events in the player's life
- More interactions between villagers based on their relationships
The goal isn't to rewrite every character.
It's simply to make relationships feel like they continue to exist and develop.
2. Better Marriage and Spouse Life
Marriage should feel like the beginning of a new stage of life rather than the end of a character's relationship progression.
Possible improvements:
- More spouse dialogue
- More post-marriage events
- Seasonal spouse interactions
- Spouses commenting on the farm, weather, festivals, and seasons
- More interactions between spouses and other villagers
- Occasional activities or dates with your spouse
- More family-related conversations
- More unique daily-life moments
Even small changes could make spouses feel more like actual partners living on the farm.
3. Children Should Grow and Become More Involved
This is one of the community's biggest recurring requests.
Children could eventually grow into an older childhood stage instead of remaining permanently at their current stage.
Possible additions:
- Children growing older
- More dialogue
- More personality
- More interaction with the player and spouse
- Playing around the farm
- Appearing at festivals
- Interacting with other children such as Jas and Vincent
- Small family events
- Helping with simple farm activities
- More interactions with grandparents and other villagers
They don't need to become fully independent adults.
Even one additional growth stage would make the family feel much more alive.
🧑
4. Optional NPC Hangouts
Friendship could become more meaningful if players could occasionally spend time with villagers without needing gifts or heart events.
For example:
- Invite a friend to the Saloon
- Go fishing together
- Walk around town
- Visit the beach or forest
- Participate in a seasonal activity
- Invite several friends for a small group activity
- Spend some time together on the farm
These should remain completely optional.
Stardew Valley shouldn't become a fast-paced social simulator.
The idea is simply to make friendship feel like actually spending time with someone.
5. Make Pelican Town Feel More Alive
The town itself could have more spontaneous activity.
For example:
- Villagers talking to each other more often
- Small groups gathering around town
- More NPC-to-NPC interactions
- Villagers reacting to seasonal changes
- More villagers participating in festivals
- NPCs visiting different locations depending on the season
- Small random scenes that happen without requiring a quest
- More reactions to the player's achievements and farm
These don't have to be large events.
A few seconds of unexpected dialogue or a small scene can make the world feel much more alive.
6. More NPC Stories, Lore, and Friendship Options
Some existing characters still have room for additional development.
1.7 could provide:
- More backstory for existing villagers
- Continuation of unfinished character storylines
- New events involving existing NPC relationships
- More lore about the valley
- More opportunities to interact with currently underdeveloped characters
- Additional friendship opportunities where appropriate
New characters are welcome, but developing existing characters should come first.
7. More Late-Game Content
After completing many major objectives, the game can eventually become quieter.
Instead of creating an enormous new endgame system, 1.7 could add smaller reasons to keep playing:
- New optional quests
- Continuing friendship events
- More family events
- New seasonal activities
- Additional post-game story moments
- More reasons to revisit existing locations
- Long-term social goals
- More interactions after completing major milestones
The late game doesn't need to become endless.
It just needs to feel like life continues after the main goals are completed.
8. More Festivals and Seasonal Activities
The seasonal structure is one of Stardew Valley's greatest strengths, so expanding it could fit naturally into the game.
Possible additions:
- New small festivals
- Family-focused seasonal events
- More activities during existing festivals
- More NPC interactions during festivals
- More seasonal town activities
- More reasons for villagers to gather together
These should complement the existing festivals rather than replacing them.
9. More Farm and Animal Content
Some players would also like more depth in farming and animals.
Possible additions:
- A few new farm animals
- More animal interactions
- New animal-related events
- More uses for animal products
- Additional farm buildings
- More farm decoration options
- More customization for existing farm layouts
- Optional farm expansion
The important part is optional.
Players shouldn't be forced to completely redesign their farms.
10. Quality-of-Life Improvements
Not every valuable feature needs to be huge.
Some small improvements could make hundreds of hours of gameplay more comfortable.
Possible QoL additions:
- Better inventory organization
- Improved storage management
- Better item sorting
- More convenient access to stored items
- Improved purchasing controls
- Better map information
- Optional NPC location indicators
- Additional farm-management tools
- More convenient tool/inventory management
These aren't flashy features, but they're the kind of improvements players notice every single day.
11. Mobile-Specific Improvements
Since Stardew Valley is also played extensively on mobile, I think mobile players deserve specific attention in 1.7.
Day • Time • Weather Display
A compact information panel showing:
Day • Time • Weather
would be extremely useful on mobile.
It could be:
- Small and non-intrusive
- Optional through Settings
- Similar in usefulness to the PC interface
- Designed specifically for touch screens
- Hidden when players want a cleaner screen
This would make planning the day much easier without repeatedly opening menus.
Other Mobile Improvements
- More consistent touch controls
- Better touch interaction feedback
- Minor UI improvements
- Smoother day/night visual transitions
- Better mobile interface scaling
- Reliable cloud-save support
- Easier transfer of saves between supported devices
These aren't major gameplay changes, but they would significantly improve the mobile experience.
12. Optional Travel and Small World Expansion
A completely massive new region isn't necessary.
However, a small optional expansion could be interesting for long-term players.
For example:
- Train journeys connected to story events
- A small new explorable location
- A few new NPCs
- New quests
- New character stories
- Optional travel
- Connections to existing villagers and locations
The important thing is that exploration should remain optional and relaxed.
Stardew Valley doesn't need to become an open-world adventure game.
13. New NPCs — Quality Over Quantity
If new villagers are added, I think a small number of well-developed characters would be better than adding dozens of NPCs.
New characters should ideally have:
- Connections to existing villagers
- Their own stories
- Friendship events
- Unique dialogue
- Quests
- Connections to new or existing locations
A few memorable characters are better than a large number of shallow ones.
14. Make the World React to the Player
One feature that could tie everything together is more world reactivity.
For example:
- NPCs recognizing major accomplishments
- Family members commenting on farm changes
- Villagers reacting to Community Center progress
- Spouses commenting on major events
- Children reacting to changes at home
- Townspeople discussing major events
- Seasonal changes affecting NPC routines
This would make the player's actions feel like they actually matter to the world.
What I Think 1.7 Should Prioritize
If everything can't be added, I'd prioritize it like this:
Highest Priority
1. Children growing and becoming more interactive
2. More post-marriage content
3. More evolving NPC dialogue and stories
4. More NPC-to-NPC interactions
5. More late-game social and family content
🟠 High Priority
6. Optional NPC hangouts
7. More festivals and seasonal activities
8. More NPC lore and friendship opportunities
9. Quality-of-life improvements
10. More farm and family-life interactions
🟡 Nice Additions
11. New animals
12. More farm customization
13. A small new area
14. A few new NPCs
15. Additional optional quests
🟢 Optional / Experimental
16. Train-based story travel
17. Limited access to new locations
18. Larger world expansion
The Main Idea
I don't think Stardew Valley 1.7 needs to become bigger just for the sake of being bigger.
It needs to become more alive.
I would rather see:
- a spouse having new dialogue in winter,
- a child growing older and joining the family at a festival,
- two villagers having a conversation while walking through town,
- a friend inviting the player somewhere,
- a new small story appearing years after reaching full hearts,
- villagers reacting to what the player has accomplished,
than simply receiving hundreds of new items.
The strongest version of Stardew Valley 1.7, in my opinion, would be:
More relationships.
More family life.
More NPC life.
More seasonal activity.
More late-game reasons to stay.
Better quality of life.
And just enough new exploration to keep the world feeling fresh.
Most importantly, all of this should preserve the game's peaceful pacing and identity.
More life, not more complexity.
That's what I would love to see from Stardew Valley 1.7 on both PC/laptop and mobile.
If you could choose only a few features for 1.7, which ones would you prioritize?
Rather than changing Stardew Valley into something completely different, I think 1.7 could focus on something the game already does extremely well: making the valley, its people, and the player's farm feel more alive over time.
These suggestions combine ideas I would personally like to see with recurring requests and discussions from the Stardew Valley community.
1. Evolving Relationships After Full HeartsOne of the biggest areas that could be improved is what happens after reaching maximum friendship or marriage.
It would be great if relationships continued to evolve instead of feeling mostly complete once the heart meter is full.
Possible additions:
- More dialogue for villagers
- Seasonal and weather-based dialogue
- Situation-based conversations
- More high-heart events
- Additional post-marriage heart events
- Continuing character storylines
- NPCs reacting to major events in the player's life
- More interactions between villagers based on their relationships
The goal isn't to rewrite every character.
It's simply to make relationships feel like they continue to exist and develop.
2. Better Marriage and Spouse LifeMarriage should feel like the beginning of a new stage of life rather than the end of a character's relationship progression.
Possible improvements:
- More spouse dialogue
- More post-marriage events
- Seasonal spouse interactions
- Spouses commenting on the farm, weather, festivals, and seasons
- More interactions between spouses and other villagers
- Occasional activities or dates with your spouse
- More family-related conversations
- More unique daily-life moments
Even small changes could make spouses feel more like actual partners living on the farm.
3. Children Should Grow and Become More InvolvedThis is one of the community's biggest recurring requests.
Children could eventually grow into an older childhood stage instead of remaining permanently at their current stage.
Possible additions:
- Children growing older
- More dialogue
- More personality
- More interaction with the player and spouse
- Playing around the farm
- Appearing at festivals
- Interacting with other children such as Jas and Vincent
- Small family events
- Helping with simple farm activities
- More interactions with grandparents and other villagers
They don't need to become fully independent adults.
Even one additional growth stage would make the family feel much more alive.
🧑
4. Optional NPC HangoutsFriendship could become more meaningful if players could occasionally spend time with villagers without needing gifts or heart events.
For example:
- Invite a friend to the Saloon
- Go fishing together
- Walk around town
- Visit the beach or forest
- Participate in a seasonal activity
- Invite several friends for a small group activity
- Spend some time together on the farm
These should remain completely optional.
Stardew Valley shouldn't become a fast-paced social simulator.
The idea is simply to make friendship feel like actually spending time with someone.
5. Make Pelican Town Feel More AliveThe town itself could have more spontaneous activity.
For example:
- Villagers talking to each other more often
- Small groups gathering around town
- More NPC-to-NPC interactions
- Villagers reacting to seasonal changes
- More villagers participating in festivals
- NPCs visiting different locations depending on the season
- Small random scenes that happen without requiring a quest
- More reactions to the player's achievements and farm
These don't have to be large events.
A few seconds of unexpected dialogue or a small scene can make the world feel much more alive.
6. More NPC Stories, Lore, and Friendship OptionsSome existing characters still have room for additional development.
1.7 could provide:
- More backstory for existing villagers
- Continuation of unfinished character storylines
- New events involving existing NPC relationships
- More lore about the valley
- More opportunities to interact with currently underdeveloped characters
- Additional friendship opportunities where appropriate
New characters are welcome, but developing existing characters should come first.
7. More Late-Game ContentAfter completing many major objectives, the game can eventually become quieter.
Instead of creating an enormous new endgame system, 1.7 could add smaller reasons to keep playing:
- New optional quests
- Continuing friendship events
- More family events
- New seasonal activities
- Additional post-game story moments
- More reasons to revisit existing locations
- Long-term social goals
- More interactions after completing major milestones
The late game doesn't need to become endless.
It just needs to feel like life continues after the main goals are completed.
8. More Festivals and Seasonal ActivitiesThe seasonal structure is one of Stardew Valley's greatest strengths, so expanding it could fit naturally into the game.
Possible additions:
- New small festivals
- Family-focused seasonal events
- More activities during existing festivals
- More NPC interactions during festivals
- More seasonal town activities
- More reasons for villagers to gather together
These should complement the existing festivals rather than replacing them.
9. More Farm and Animal ContentSome players would also like more depth in farming and animals.
Possible additions:
- A few new farm animals
- More animal interactions
- New animal-related events
- More uses for animal products
- Additional farm buildings
- More farm decoration options
- More customization for existing farm layouts
- Optional farm expansion
The important part is optional.
Players shouldn't be forced to completely redesign their farms.
10. Quality-of-Life ImprovementsNot every valuable feature needs to be huge.
Some small improvements could make hundreds of hours of gameplay more comfortable.
Possible QoL additions:
- Better inventory organization
- Improved storage management
- Better item sorting
- More convenient access to stored items
- Improved purchasing controls
- Better map information
- Optional NPC location indicators
- Additional farm-management tools
- More convenient tool/inventory management
These aren't flashy features, but they're the kind of improvements players notice every single day.
11. Mobile-Specific ImprovementsSince Stardew Valley is also played extensively on mobile, I think mobile players deserve specific attention in 1.7.
Day • Time • Weather Display
A compact information panel showing:
Day • Time • Weather
would be extremely useful on mobile.
It could be:
- Small and non-intrusive
- Optional through Settings
- Similar in usefulness to the PC interface
- Designed specifically for touch screens
- Hidden when players want a cleaner screen
This would make planning the day much easier without repeatedly opening menus.
Other Mobile Improvements
- More consistent touch controls
- Better touch interaction feedback
- Minor UI improvements
- Smoother day/night visual transitions
- Better mobile interface scaling
- Reliable cloud-save support
- Easier transfer of saves between supported devices
These aren't major gameplay changes, but they would significantly improve the mobile experience.
12. Optional Travel and Small World ExpansionA completely massive new region isn't necessary.
However, a small optional expansion could be interesting for long-term players.
For example:
- Train journeys connected to story events
- A small new explorable location
- A few new NPCs
- New quests
- New character stories
- Optional travel
- Connections to existing villagers and locations
The important thing is that exploration should remain optional and relaxed.
Stardew Valley doesn't need to become an open-world adventure game.
13. New NPCs — Quality Over QuantityIf new villagers are added, I think a small number of well-developed characters would be better than adding dozens of NPCs.
New characters should ideally have:
- Connections to existing villagers
- Their own stories
- Friendship events
- Unique dialogue
- Quests
- Connections to new or existing locations
A few memorable characters are better than a large number of shallow ones.
14. Make the World React to the PlayerOne feature that could tie everything together is more world reactivity.
For example:
- NPCs recognizing major accomplishments
- Family members commenting on farm changes
- Villagers reacting to Community Center progress
- Spouses commenting on major events
- Children reacting to changes at home
- Townspeople discussing major events
- Seasonal changes affecting NPC routines
This would make the player's actions feel like they actually matter to the world.
What I Think 1.7 Should PrioritizeIf everything can't be added, I'd prioritize it like this:
Highest Priority1. Children growing and becoming more interactive
2. More post-marriage content
3. More evolving NPC dialogue and stories
4. More NPC-to-NPC interactions
5. More late-game social and family content
🟠 High Priority
6. Optional NPC hangouts
7. More festivals and seasonal activities
8. More NPC lore and friendship opportunities
9. Quality-of-life improvements
10. More farm and family-life interactions
🟡 Nice Additions
11. New animals
12. More farm customization
13. A small new area
14. A few new NPCs
15. Additional optional quests
🟢 Optional / Experimental
16. Train-based story travel
17. Limited access to new locations
18. Larger world expansion
The Main IdeaI don't think Stardew Valley 1.7 needs to become bigger just for the sake of being bigger.
It needs to become more alive.
I would rather see:
- a spouse having new dialogue in winter,
- a child growing older and joining the family at a festival,
- two villagers having a conversation while walking through town,
- a friend inviting the player somewhere,
- a new small story appearing years after reaching full hearts,
- villagers reacting to what the player has accomplished,
than simply receiving hundreds of new items.
The strongest version of Stardew Valley 1.7, in my opinion, would be:
More relationships.
More family life.
More NPC life.
More seasonal activity.
More late-game reasons to stay.
Better quality of life.
And just enough new exploration to keep the world feeling fresh.
Most importantly, all of this should preserve the game's peaceful pacing and identity.
More life, not more complexity.
That's what I would love to see from Stardew Valley 1.7 on both PC/laptop and mobile.
If you could choose only a few features for 1.7, which ones would you prioritize?