Stardew Valley 1.7: A Wishlist for the Over 40s
What the 1.7 update could look like if Pelican Town grew up with us.
Stardew Valley has become one of the most played games by people in their 30s, 40s and beyond, and we now know that the average gamer is 41 years old. Many of us are balancing work, families, responsibilities, and the occasional back twinge from sitting too long at a desk.
And yet, when we step into Pelican Town, we’re always “the new kid”.
Recently, the legend that is ConcernedApe announced that a 1.7 update is on the way, and that it will include more character and social content, plus two new marriage candidates, which is HUGE!
But it also got me thinking…
If we’re expanding the social side of Pelican Town, what would a 1.7 update look like if it acknowledged the growing number of cosy gamers over 40?
1. Older Romanceable NPCs
Let’s just say it plainly: some of us (me) would happily romance Marnie.
Or Gus. Or the Wizard. Or Sandy. Or Pam. Or Marlon. OR LINUS!!!!
The current romance pool skews noticeably younger. When I play Stardew, it can feel slightly creepy building a romantic relationship with someone who reads as fresh out of sixth form.
With 1.7 already confirmed to include two new marriage candidates, this feels like the perfect moment to broaden the age range a little.
Pelican Town is full of complex, interesting adults with backstories, regrets, resilience and humour. A 1.7 update that opened up romance paths with older NPCs would immediately feel more aligned with many players’ realities.
We’re all out here saving Shane… can’t we save Pam too?!
2. The Option to Play as an Older Farmer
Right now, your farmer is clearly coded as young. NPCs call you “kid”. You’re treated like someone just starting out in life.
What if, when starting the game, you could choose your age range? And dialogue adjusted to reflect that.
Maybe you left a corporate career?
Maybe you just got a divorce?
Maybe you’re recovering from burnout?
Maybe you inherited the farm after decades in another life?
A couple shifts in dialogue would make the roleplay feel completely different.
3. More Body Diversity and Customisation
A 1.7 update could introduce:
Different body shapes
Allow the farmer to use mobility aids, including wheelchairs, crutches, canes, rollators, walkers, and scooters
Tattoos!!! Please tattoos
Age markers if players want them
Some of us (again, me) want a farmer with laugh lines and a tramp stamp from years gone by.
4. Hobbies That Aren’t Work
Farming is a grind. Mining is terrifying. Fishing is… relaxing?
Now, I know there are social spaces already, like the movie theatre, the arcade machines in the saloon, and the spa up in the mountains.
But imagine if your farmer could:
Join a book club
Paint landscapes
Brew tea as a ritual rather than a product
Visit a proper coffee shop space just to sit and chat
Play music with Sam and Abigail
At 40+, many of us are actively unlearning the idea that every activity has to be productive. It would be wonderful to see that reflected more in Pelican Town.
5. Co-Parenting & Blended Families
The current family model in Stardew is fairly simple and nuclear.
What if 1.7 allowed:
Step-children storylines
Adult children visiting
Grandparent dynamics
Choosing to remain childfree without it feeling like you’ve not explored the whole game
6. Accessibility & Low-Energy Options
A few optional settings could make a big difference:
Adjustable day length
Larger UI scaling
A toggle for more relaxed farming days (no idea how that would work, but let’s gooo)
Linus already models a slower rhythm of life. Giving players more flexibility to embrace that pace would make the experience feel even more cosy.
7. More Meaningful Friendship with Older NPCs
Some of the most interesting characters in Pelican Town are underdeveloped:
Marnie’s complicated love life with Mayor Lewis.
Pam’s struggle with alcohol and stability.
Gus holding the community together.
Linus’s decision to live apart from the town.
Marlon’s mysterious past.
Gil?
The Wizard’s lore.
Linus’s backstory is one of the most intriguing in the game, yet we barely scratch the surface. Expanding arcs like his, and giving other older NPCs equally nuanced development, would add so much emotional depth.
8. Seasonal Community Retreats
Festivals are fun. But what about slower events that are similar to the night market?
Maybe we could have things like:
A harvest supper where everyone shares stories, including the farmer
A winter reading evening hosted by Penny
A summer jazz night with Gus
A craft fair in the town square
A foraging retreat led by Linus
Just cute community stuff. Also, could we skip the easter egg hunt and do something else?
Update 1.7: Farming with Life Experience
We don’t want to turn Stardew into a midlife simulator at all, and I already love the game just as it is (thank you, Eric!)
I just want to nod to the fact that cosy gaming has grown up with us.
I know there are mods for some of these things. I’ve never used them. I’d love to see options like this in the base game so everyone, on every platform, gets to experience them.
With 1.7 bringing more social content and new marriage candidates, it already sounds like an exciting update. Pelican Town already feels like home to me, but I would really like to arrive there with a bit more life behind me.