Forgotten Valley is a weird place. If you’ve spent any time in the 2023 remake of the GameCube classic, you know exactly what I mean. Unlike the frantic pace of Stardew Valley or the massive scale of Pioneers of Olive Town, this game is slow. It’s a literal lifetime. You watch your character age, your kid grow up, and your neighbors develop gray hair. Because the clock ticks differently here, every interaction carries a bit more weight. You can't just spam gifts at people and hope for the best. Well, you can, but you'll run out of resources fast.
Getting people to like you is the engine of the game. It dictates who you marry by the end of Year 1—which is mandatory, by the way, or it's game over—and it influences what kind of person your child becomes. Most players struggle because they treat the Story of Seasons A Wonderful Life gift guide logic like a checklist. It isn't. It’s about understanding the specific, sometimes picky, personalities of the residents. Some people want flowers you found by the river; others want a high-grade marble from the dig site that took you three hours to find.
The Art of the Daily Chat
Before you even reach into your rucksack, talk to them. It sounds basic. It is basic. But in A Wonderful Life, talking to an NPC before giving them a gift actually boosts the friendship gain. If you just shove a Moonlight Ore in Rock’s face without saying hello, you’re leaving points on the table.
Friendship is tracked in your diary in the residents' section. You'll see a meter. If it's in the red/pink zone, you're golden. If it's grey, they tolerate you. If you want to unlock the best items, like the specialized watering cans or the goat, you need those meters high.
Who Wants What: The Marriage Candidates
You have one year. That’s it. If you haven't secured a spouse by the time the first Winter ends, Takakura will basically tell you that farming isn't for you and the credits roll. It’s brutal.
Cecilia is arguably the easiest to please. She’s a farm girl. She likes the earth. If you find Flowers (Toy Flowers in Spring, Mist Moons in Summer), she’ll take them. She also loves Vegetables, specifically high-quality ones, and Eggs. If you’re digging at the mine, keep the Statues you find. She finds them fascinating.
Molly (formerly Muffy) is a bit different. She’s looking for something a bit more "refined," though she isn't a snob. She loves Flowers too, but she has a real soft spot for Coins and Gold Objects from the dig site. If you want to take the easy route, give her Moonlight Ore. It works every time.
👉 See also: When Was Monopoly Invented: The Truth About Lizzie Magie and the Parker Brothers
Then there's Nami. Nami is tough. She’s the "cool" traveler staying at the Inn, and she doesn't care about your flowers. Seriously, don't waste your flowers on her. She likes Artifacts. Specifically, the Clay Statues and Fossils Carter lets you keep. She also has a weird thing for Light Pickles, so if you’ve mastered the kitchen, that’s your way in.
Lumina lives in the mansion and spends her days at the piano. She likes Flowers, but she loves Strawberry Shortcake. Since you probably won't have the ingredients for that early on, stick to Moonlight Ore or Eggs. She’s surprisingly down-to-earth for someone living in a giant villa.
On the bachelor side, Gordy is the stoic artist. He won't even talk to you if his arms are crossed. Wait for him to uncross them. He likes Milk (any grade) and Eggs. He also appreciates Flowers, which is a nice contrast to his rugged exterior. Matthew (Vesta's brother) is the grumpy type. He likes Apples, Milk, and S-Grade Crops. He's basically a health nut. Rock is... well, Rock. He’s lazy. Give him Toy Flowers, Mist Moons, or Coins. He’s not picky as long as it looks shiny or smells nice. Gustafa is the local bard. He’s a nature lover. Give him Flowers, Mushrooms, or Curry.
The Villagers You Actually Need to Befriend
While everyone focuses on marriage, the secondary characters hold the keys to the kingdom. If you ignore the old timers, you miss out on the best tools in the game.
Daryl is the resident mad scientist. You want to be his best friend as soon as possible. Why? Because he gives you a Seed Maker for free. That machine costs 30,000G otherwise. Early game, that’s a fortune. Daryl loves Fish. Go to the river, catch a bunch of small fish, and bring them to his lab. He also likes Eggs. Just keep feeding him fish until he stops being paranoid about you stealing his ideas.
Galen and Nina are the sweet elderly couple. Nina is easy—she loves Flowers. Galen is a bit more prickly, especially after the events of Year 1. He likes Fish and Mugworts. If you stay on his good side, you eventually get the Epsilon Fishing Rod, which is the best in the game.
✨ Don't miss: Blox Fruit Current Stock: What Most People Get Wrong
Vesta runs the rival farm. You need her. She sells seeds, but more importantly, she's the gateway to better farming tech. She likes Flowers, Milk, and Vegetables. Don't give her fish; she isn't a fan.
The Dig Site Strategy
The dig site is the most underrated part of the Story of Seasons A Wonderful Life gift guide ecosystem. Every day from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM (except when Van is in town), you should be at the mine. Carter and Flora are there.
Flora is a great person to befriend early because she eventually helps you unlock the Hot Springs if you're playing the older versions, but in the remake, she’s just a solid friend who gives you recipes. She loves Fish. Carter loves Cheese and Eggs.
The items you dig up are currency for friendship:
- Coins: Give these to the girls (Molly, Lumina) or Rock.
- Statues: Give these to Cecilia or Nami.
- Fossils: Nami’s favorite.
- Golden Objects: Save these for the NPCs who are harder to impress.
Van: The Traveling Merchant
Van isn't just a guy you sell your junk to. He’s a resident of the world, even if he only shows up on the 3rd and 8th of every month. If you want to buy the Goat or the Camera, you need him to like you. He loves Eggs and Milk, but honestly, the best thing to give him is Lulu Knight or any Rare Ore.
Pro tip: If you drink a "Turbojolt" or "Bodigizer" in front of him, he sometimes comments on it. He likes stuff that smells like money or health.
🔗 Read more: Why the Yakuza 0 Miracle in Maharaja Quest is the Peak of Sega Storytelling
Food and Cooking: The High-Level Play
Once you get a kitchen, gifts change. Most NPCs prefer a cooked dish over a raw ingredient. Herbal Soup is the "universal" gift. It’s just one herb (Mugwort or Royal Fern) and a pot. Almost everyone in the valley likes it.
If you’re trying to win over the kids (like Hugh or Kate), sweets are the way to go. Pound Cake or Cookies work wonders. Sebastian, the butler at the mansion, has a refined palate. He likes High-Quality Milk and Fish Stew.
The Evolution of Gifts Through the Ages
The game is divided into chapters. What worked in Chapter 1 might not be the priority in Chapter 4.
In the beginning, your goal is survival and marriage. Your gifts should be cheap: flowers, wild herbs, and the occasional egg. You're broke. Don't give away your high-grade milk yet; sell that to buy more seeds.
By Chapter 2 and 3, you're focused on your child. Your child’s interests are influenced by who you hang out with. If you spend all your time giving gifts to Cody (the metalworker), your kid might develop an interest in art. If you hang out with Vesta, they might lean toward farming. The "gifts" here are more about the time you spend and the items you show your child. Showing your kid an Egg every day might make them a rancher. Showing them a Strange Item from the dig site might turn them into a scholar.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
A lot of people think they can just give everyone a flower and call it a day.
- Don't give Nami flowers. She will literally tell you she doesn't know what to do with them. It’s a waste of a turn.
- Don't give Daryl herbs. He thinks they're boring. Give him the fish.
- Don't ignore the sprites. The three little harvest sprites (Ace, Hart, and Bean) live in the big tree by the spring. You can't give them traditional gifts, but talking to them daily and finding the "Hidden Sprites" in objects around the valley helps you unlock recipes and the Blue Feather.
- Watch the timing. If someone is eating or working (like Gordy when he's sculpting), they might reject your gift. Wait until they are idle.
Actionable Steps for Your First Year
If you're starting a new save today, here is the most efficient way to handle the gift economy without going bankrupt:
- Spring 1-5: Pick every flower you see. Every single one. Give two a day to your preferred spouse.
- Spring 6-10: Visit the dig site daily. Collect the coins and statues. Save them in your storage box; don't sell them yet.
- Summer: Focus on Daryl. Catch three fish a day. One for yourself, two for him. You want that Seed Maker before Fall starts so you can process your Summer harvest.
- Autumn: Start cooking. Use the mushrooms found around the forest to make soup. Use this soup to talk to the "secondary" villagers like Chris, Sully, and Sebastian.
- Winter: This is the home stretch. If your spouse-to-be isn't at a red heart yet, use the Moonlight Ores you saved from the dig site. They are the "nuclear option" for friendship.
The beauty of A Wonderful Life is that it isn't about the "grind" in the way modern games are. It’s about the routine. You wake up, milk the cows, and go see your friends. By treating the residents of Forgotten Valley like people with actual preferences instead of just vending machines that spit out rewards, you’ll find the game much more rewarding. Grab those flowers, head to the dig site, and start making some friends. You've got a lifetime ahead of you.