Stardew Valley truly pioneered the cozy game genre. It has everything from crafting to farming, and from dynamic villager relations to fully-rounded romance. As a result, it feels like every life game has to have those exact same elements – realistically, we all just want to smooch our favorite villagers. Mirthwood, a farming sim that transports Stardew’s traditional mechanics into a hand-drawn, Fable-esque world, has sadly been lacking in the marriage department, but not anymore. Rejoice, my hopeless romantics: Mirthwood is finally letting you tie the knot, and it’s currently available at a discount.
But one does not simply marry someone without a ring. My favorite part of Mirthwood‘s romance system is the fact that you have to go out of your way to craft your own wedding bands. You’ll plan for your proposal, locate the relevant resources, and throw the cutest wedding party that the life game has ever seen.
If you do choose to get married, you’ll gain access to new, NPC-specific quests, and while you’re out adventuring they’ll potter around your home, using their own attributes to enhance your surroundings and provide various buffs. But spend too much time out in the field and neglect them, and things might start to get a little dicey. If you’re not willing to tend to them when they’re sick, or consistently put your own ambitions above their wellbeing, you may come home to a harshly worded letter.
Unfortunately, sometimes things just don’t work out, so you’ll be able to divorce your current spouse and pursue other romantic endeavors, or return to single life and continue to tend to your homestead. Sometimes, you just need a little bit of peace and quiet.
While the marriage and romance system is the focus of the, well, Marriage Update, Bad Ridge Games confirms that there’s a whole slew of extra content dropping alongside it. There’s the brand-new Craftsman’s Table for building furniture, as well as more recipes, items, armor sets, and enemy types.
Mirthwood’s Marriage Update is out now, and Bad Ridge Games is celebrating by offering 20% off on Steam as part of the Spring Sale. You can get it here.
If you’re looking for more cozy adventures, we have a list of the best relaxing games. Alternatively, if it’s Mirthwood’s fantasy feel that’s lured you in, we have a rundown of all the best fantasy games.
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