You’re standing there. It's raining in Mineral Town or maybe Olive Town, and you've got a single turnip in your hand. You're looking at a guy who spends all day talking to his horse or brooding by a waterfall. We’ve all been there. Picking between the various Story of Seasons bachelors isn't just about who looks the best in a pixelated hat; it’s about who won't drive you crazy after fifty hours of gameplay.
Honestly, the "best" guy is usually just the one whose schedule doesn't make you want to throw your controller. Some of these dudes are ghosts. You’ll spend half your stamina just trying to find them. Others? They’re everywhere.
The Reality of Romance in Mineral Town and Beyond
Most people start with Friends of Mineral Town. It’s the classic. The bachelors here are archetypes, sure, but they’ve got layers that only come out once you start shoving gifts in their faces every morning. Take Rick. People love to hate Rick because he’s overprotective and has that weird thing with his sister, Lillian. But if you actually put in the time, you realize he’s just a stressed-out guy trying to keep a failing poultry farm afloat while his mom is perpetually ill. It’s relatable, if a bit intense for a cozy farming sim.
Then you have Cliff.
Cliff is the ultimate "fixer-upper." If you don’t get him that job at the winery, he literally leaves town. Gone. Poof. That’s a lot of pressure to put on a player who just wants to grow some corn! But that’s the charm of the Story of Seasons bachelors—they have lives that happen with or without you, mostly.
Gray and the Blacksmith Grind
Gray is a fan favorite for a reason. He’s the classic "grumpy but actually a sweetheart" trope. He hates his grandpa, Saibara, which, if you’ve interacted with Saibara for more than five seconds, is totally fair. The man is a taskmaster.
Gray’s heart events are actually some of the most rewarding because you see him gain confidence. He stops being "the apprentice who sucks" and starts becoming a craftsman. Plus, he’s one of the easier ones to woo. Just mine some silver or copper. He’s a cheap date, basically. You don’t need to cook him five-star meals; just hand over a rock you found in the dirt.
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Pioneers of Olive Town: A Different Breed
When Pioneers of Olive Town dropped, the vibe shifted. The bachelors felt... sleeker? Maybe a bit more modern. Damon is the one everyone notices first. He wears a leather jacket and hangs out by the animal shop. He’s "edgy."
But then there’s Iori.
Iori is fascinating because his storyline feels like it belongs in a completely different game. There are assassins. Yes, actual assassins. While you’re worrying about whether your cows have enough fodder, Iori is dealing with high-stakes clan drama from his homeland. It’s a bit jarring, honestly. One minute you're talking about rice, the next he’s discussing his life being in peril.
- Damon: Likes coffee. Super moody. Has a motorcycle he never lets you ride.
- Ralph: The ranger. Very dependable. If you like men who talk about "the mountain" 80% of the time, he’s your guy.
- Jack: He works at the general store. He’s the most "normal" of the bunch, which makes him either endearing or incredibly boring depending on your taste.
The Problem with DLC Bachelors
Marvelous (the developers) decided to add legacy characters via DLC in Pioneers of Olive Town. This brought back icons like Ludus and Neil. Here’s the thing: they don’t feel integrated. They live on these tiny isolated islands. You have to take a boat just to say hi. It kills the immersion. If you’re going to marry one of these Story of Seasons bachelors, you want them to feel like part of the community, not a tourist you kidnapped.
Why the "Quiet Ones" Usually Win
In A Wonderful Life, the stakes are higher. You have to get married by the end of year one or it's game over. Literally. Your character just packs up and leaves. This forces a weird kind of desperation.
Marlin (now renamed Matthew in the remake) is the go-to for many. He’s cynical. He’s got health issues. He works for Vesta and seems perpetually annoyed by your existence. But in a game that spans decades, his evolution feels the most grounded. When you see him become a father, it hits different than the more "anime" tropes in other titles.
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Gustafa is the opposite. He’s a hippie who lives in a yurt. He plays the lute. He’s incredibly low-maintenance. If you want a peaceful farm life without the drama of a guy who thinks he’s in a brooding competition, Gustafa is the clear winner.
The "Secret" Bachelors You Probably Missed
Every game has them. The ones that require a guide and a lot of patience.
In Friends of Mineral Town, you’ve got Kappa. Yes, the green water imp. To marry him, you have to ship one of every single item in the game. You have to catch every fish. You have to find all the hidden treasures in the mines. And the reward? A husband who lives in a lake and barely visits.
It’s a flex. That’s all it is. Marrying a secret bachelor like Kappa or Won (Huang) is just a way to prove you’ve conquered the game's mechanics. Huang is actually pretty great because he lets you sell stuff to him, which breaks the game's economy in a very satisfying way.
Navigating the Gift-Giving Minefield
You can’t just talk to these guys. You have to buy their affection. It sounds cynical, but that’s the loop.
Most Story of Seasons bachelors have a "Love" item that is a total pain to get. For example, some might want a specific high-end dish that requires a kitchen upgrade, five different ingredients, and a recipe you only get from a random TV show on a Tuesday.
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Don’t do that to yourself.
Focus on the "Liked" items first. Most bachelors have something common they enjoy. Flowers, eggs, or even just certain ores. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. If you try to min-max your relationship in the first month, you’ll burn out before the first Harvest Festival.
Does Personality Actually Change After Marriage?
This is the big question. Honestly? Sometimes it’s a letdown. In older games, a lot of bachelors would just stand in your house and say the same three lines of dialogue. They stopped having lives.
The newer entries, especially the A Wonderful Life remake and Pioneers of Olive Town, have tried to fix this. They still go to work. They still have routines. But there’s still a bit of that "trophy spouse" energy that the series struggles to shake. You’re the one doing all the watering, milking, and mining while they "contribute" by occasionally giving you a sandwich.
Making Your Final Choice
Choosing from the pool of Story of Seasons bachelors comes down to what kind of "flavor" you want your farm to have. Do you want the high-energy city boy who’s out of his element? Go for someone like Skye (if you're playing DS Cute) or Brandon the artist. Do you want the rugged, salt-of-the-earth type? Look at Raeger or Ludus.
The biggest mistake is choosing based on the first two heart events. Those are designed to show you the character's "mask." The real depth—the stuff about their family trauma or their secret failures—doesn't come out until the green or yellow heart levels.
Actionable Tips for New Farmers:
- Check the Calendar: Don't miss birthdays. A gift on a birthday is worth way more than a week of daily chatting.
- Hoard Everything: That weird weed or mushroom you found might be someone's favorite thing. Check the wiki before you sell it all.
- Talk Twice: Sometimes the first interaction is just a generic greeting. The second time you talk to them in the same day often triggers unique dialogue.
- Watch the Rival Events: In some older games, if you take too long, someone else will swoop in and marry your guy. It adds a layer of tension that's actually kind of fun, though many modern players hate it.
Whatever you do, don't rush the process. Part of the magic of Story of Seasons is the slow burn. The day you finally see that red heart icon is much more satisfying when you've actually spent the seasons learning their routine and dealing with their quirks. Stick with the one who makes the farm feel less lonely, even if they are just a collection of pixels and scripts.