When I talk about gaming, I like to tell people I love farming sims. What I mean when I say that is, I like to pretend I am the 8-bit bachelorette, and the townspeople in any given game are my unwitting contestants. Simply put, I like games with a romance mechanic. My current favorite fictional town to wreak hopeless romantic havoc on is Sun Haven.  

Romance in Sun Haven is interesting. It’s partially gift-based, similar to other games of its nature, and every NPC has a list of loved, liked, and disliked items to keep pulled up in a separate window. Still, your relationships with Sun Haven’s characters also depend on the conversations you have with them. Paying attention to the dialogue you choose when communicating with NPCs in this game is very important, as certain options will gain or lose friendship points with them.  

There are a lot of romanceable characters in Sun Haven– 21 to be exact– and each one’s personality is different, so dialogue options that might gain you friendship with some characters might cause you to lose it with others. This is great because it increases the likelihood there will be a character you resonate with; however, it also means you’ve got a lot of fictional folks to keep track of.  

Have no fear, for I have compiled a brief description of every romanceable character in Sun Haven. You can thank me later.  

What is my authority on this matter? I am dating every townsperson available to me. Now that I’ve established credibility let’s get into it.

Anne

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to date one of the judges on Shark Tank? Anne is one of the first characters you’ll meet in Sun Haven, whether you like it or not. Her bold introduction involves her entering your home without necessarily being invited and hustling you for some rusty farming equipment. Some people feel her behavior is “off-putting” and “aggressive.” And, okay, maybe there’s some weight to those accusations. But as you get to know Anne, she comes to respect and even enjoy your character and begins to reveal her motives for her cutthroat attitude. Don’t get me wrong, she never loses her trademark arroga– er, confidence, but why should she? She’s worked hard to be where she’s at. She’ll tell you that herself.

Catherine

Is it an earthy herbalist with an immovable moral compass you desire? Catherine’s your witch. First things first, Catherine is a witch, but don’t let that fool you– she only uses her powers for good. Morality and the good of those around her is quite possibly the most important thing to her. She is immediately welcoming and friendly to your character, and she is excited to have someone in town who shares her passion for making things grow. Speaking of growth, as your friendship with Catherine blossoms, you’ll find strict morals don’t at all mean a lack of fun as she becomes playfully flirtatious with you. A romance with Catherine will certainly be magical– and she’ll surely keep you on the straight and narrow.

Claude

I am of the opinion Claude’s storyline is one of the most romantic in the game. He is a brilliant composer and a bit of a mystery to you and the rest of Sun Haven as he comes from a faraway city and tends to keep to himself. Between the giant mansion he lives in and his initial dismissive attitude, it may be easy to write him off as arrogant at worst and aloof at best, but there is so much more to this character. As you grow your friendship with him, Claude begins to feel comfortable with your character in a way he hasn’t been able to with anyone else, and he’ll begin to share bits of his past and present self with you, and his dialogue will gradually have you kicking your feet in the air behind you. Plus, the extra spending gold doesn’t hurt, either.

Darius

Do you love an enemies-to-lovers arc? Darius is the demon for you. If you can get past his self-centeredness and his unending desire for praise and admiration and the fact your first interaction with him involves him banishing you from his kingdom (I could),  the Prince of Withergate will assuredly be a fiercely loyal partner, if a little possessive. But what’s a good fantasy without a romance that has you questioning your morals a bit? Most jokes aside, Darius’s story is very compelling. As your relationship progresses, Darius begins to act sweetly toward you in the way only fantasy romance protagonists can get away with, and over time, he’ll reveal secrets and even a vulnerable side (gasp!) to your character. A future with Darius will definitely not be a humble one, but who doesn’t like the idea of being treated a little more like royalty?

Donovan

So he’s unemployed. So he lives in the sewer. What of it? Donovan is the first character in Withergate to regard you with kindness and offer a helpful hand– er, paw– in spite of your status as an exile. Donovan likes to have a good time and is not shy about sharing that. However, while he is certainly carefree, he’s not careless. Although the path to his heart is mirroring his breezy attitude toward life, becoming friends with Donovan reveals there may be more to him than you thought. While he may not always be the romantic, he undoubtedly has a heart of gold. A life with Donovan will surely never be boring. So long as you can stomach the sewer.

Iris

Iris is an elven enchantress living in Nel’Vari. She’s excited to learn about the world beyond her home but scared actually to venture out into it. That’s why your character is so intriguing to her. She loves to learn and senses there are a lot of things you could teach her. Your common background with plants and animals doesn’t hurt, either, and makes her feel closer to you. Iris is warm toward you from the beginning and only grows warmer the further your relationship progresses. Though she’s a bit of a homebody and won’t likely be visiting Sun Haven anytime soon, there’s no shortage of fun for you and Iris to have around Nel’Vari.

Jun

Naturally thoughtful with a deep desire to help anyone who needs it, it makes sense Jun is the town’s counselor. From the beginning of your relationship, he makes it clear he is there for you if you need a friend or simply a listening ear, and as you grow to know him better, it becomes clear why the townspeople trust him with what’s in their hearts and minds. Jun’s serenity and sincerity make your character feel safe around him, and you are actually the character who opens up about yourself in this storyline. It’s nice to have a break! Even as strangers, Jun’s dialogue borders on romantic, so if you’re looking for sweet talk, you’ve come to the right counselor.

Kai

Who is Kai? Well, you certainly can’t ask him that. You discover Kai shipwrecked on the beach in Sun Haven, and the wreck appears to have caused him to lose any memories of who he might be, where he might have been coming from, and why he might have been on a ship in the first place. In spite of this, his positivity never wavers, and he has no problem settling down in a humble cave along the beach he washed up on. The stronger your relationship with Kai grows, the more he begins to remember, and you might be shocked to discover just who you’ve really been getting to know.

Kitty

To put it simply, Kitty is a cat girl. No, I mean an actual cat girl. Like a girl who is also partially a cat. She also owns Sun Haven’s pet shop and farm animal shop. Kitty does have some personality quirks, including referring to herself in the third person and meowing at you, but above any of that, you’ll find she is an endearing character with a lot of love to give; you’ll see her come to care for your character just as much as she cares for her animals– so, a lot. Though her character is bubbling with positivity, she does reveal to you some of the townspeople don’t take her seriously. In spite of this, she tries not to let other people bring her down, and it’s difficult not to let her optimistic attitude be infectious.

Liam

Liam owns the town’s bakery and lives above it with his two young sisters. He is shy and often trips over his words, but he is also friendly and excited to welcome you as his new neighbor. You can tell upon meeting him he is passionate about the bakery; however, it’s equally clear his sisters are his priority. He doesn’t reveal at first why it is just the three of them living in Sun Haven, and you certainly don’t want to pry, but as you continue to build trust between Liam and yourself, he will begin to share his story with you. Life with Liam is sure to be sweet (see what I did there?) and rewarding in a way that sets Liam apart from the other bachelors and bachelorettes, as you’re not only building a relationship together but a family. Just make sure you leave his wheat field alone.  

Lucia

Blessed by the sun dragon with fire magic, Lucia is Sun Haven’s archmage. She admits the townspeople struggled to accept her as their leader at first because of her youth when she came into power, but it certainly seems any negativity from the town is in the past. Lucia leads the town competently, confidently, and benevolently, and it’s clear she is deserving of its respect. Though her job surely keeps her busy, she makes it clear she will always make time for you, and she is very open with you about herself and her past memories and mistakes. All in all, a caring town leader with proficiency in fire is not a bad person to have on your side.

Lucius

Lucius has existed in Sun Haven as one of Nel’Vari’s attendants to the moon and was made available as a romanceable character in the game’s most recent patch. Being an attendant to the moon means Lucius is one of a rare few who was chosen to take care of Nel’Vari under the light of the moon. He loves and is proud of his position, but he also perceives a disconnect between himself and the rest of the town as a result of it. Friendly yet fretful, Lucius is happy to make your acquaintance and to become your friend, but he tends to worry he’s said or done the wrong thing. As you grow closer to him, however, he begins to feel more sure of himself, and he credits you for that. You’ll find Lucius is a sweet character who cares a lot about the impact he is making on the people and the world around him. And who could resist being chosen by the man who was chosen by the moon?

Lynn

Lynn is moving to Sun Haven at the same time as you, and (assuming you don’t skip the intro!) she is the first character you’ll meet in the game. Her plan is to become an apprentice to the town’s blacksmith, and she is delighted to have you to lean on as she embarks on her adventure, though she may be a bit concerned you’re fitting into the town more quickly than she is. Actually, she seems to be a bit concerned about a lot of things, particularly her skills and whether she actually deserves the position she has been given because of them. As you spend more time with Lynn, however, her confidence begins to flourish, and she even finds herself thinking of Sun Haven as home. And if you really play your cards right, you might get her to help you craft some sturdy armor.

Miyeon

Miyeon is the third romanceable character introduced in the recent patch. She is a sweet angel (literally, she is an angel) who just moved to Sun Haven with her brother and parents, whose ultra-high expectations of her leave her riddled with anxiety. Her dialogue is marked with stuttering and apologies and stuttered apologies as she frets over doing the wrong thing, not doing enough of the right thing, or simply being in the way. As you befriend Miyeon, however, your character has the opportunity to help her discover what she wants to do rather than what she has been told she must do to be successful, much to her father’s chagrin, and she gradually seems to relax. It’s rewarding to see Miyeon plant her roots in Sun Haven and bloom, and a life with her is sure to be special. Just make sure you prepare for some awkward functions with the in-laws.

Nathaniel

Responsible, thoughtful, and ditzy, Nathaniel is the honorable Captain of Sun Haven’s military. Though his naivete sometimes makes him easy to tease, Nathaniel is actually quite respected by the people of Sun Haven and even serves as a sort of right-hand man to the town’s archmage. There is no one more dedicated to Sun Haven and its people than Nathaniel. It shows in the way he seems to beam with pride when talking not just about his job but his fellow soldiers as well. He notoriously puts the needs of the town above his own desires, and he even admits to having far more experience with swordplay than romance. Still, he makes a clear effort to show you how much he cares about you as you build a relationship with him.

Shang

New to Sun Haven as of the recent 1.3 patch, Shang is a warrior from a distant and tumultuous land who has come to Sun Haven seeking the sun dragon’s power. He is an enigmatic character who takes himself and his sword very seriously. As he slowly opens up to you, you’ll see his story unfold as one of the most fascinating in the game, and you’ll get to play an important role in helping him through his inner (and sometimes outer) conflicts. Shang’s formality and conviction stick with him throughout his storyline. Still, as you become his friend and ultimately his partner, you’ll see his focus shift from exacting revenge on the corrupt leaders in his homeland to adoration and gratitude for you and the new path you’ve led him on.

Vaan

The sky is blue, the grass is green, cats say “meow,” and Vaan is going to flirt with you. And, if you’re anything like me… It’ll work on you. Vaan is an air mage from Nel’Vari, and though he loves his home, he is passionate about seeing all the world has to offer him. You’ll learn through his dialogue he is certainly confident, but he never crosses the line into arrogance. Vaan is friendly toward your character from the beginning. He is not bothered by the fact you are an “outsider” to Nel’Vari but intrigued by it, feeling drawn to your adventurous spirit. If you find yourself drawn to his, you’re bound to have a rich story ahead of you full of fun and flight.

Vivi

If Vivi is the NPC for you, plan on playing the long game. You won’t get to meet her until you’ve progressed almost to the end of the main questline, and once you finally meet her, she… wants you dead. Yes, there’s a bounty on your head, and Vivi is after it. Don’t worry; she’s not a very effective bounty hunter at all, but it still feels as though there is a roadblock in front of any romance that might take place between the two of you. If you do manage to convince her to stop making attempts on your life, you’ll discover a sweet-in-her-own-way character who just wants what’s best for her tribe. As for her affinity for violence… just begin to think of it as a loveable quirk.  

Wesley

If you want Wesley’s affection, you’ll have to work for it. As Nel’Vari’s historian, adherence to tradition is very important to him… and nothing breaks tradition quite like allowing an outsider to live in the elves’ realm. It takes a lot of convincing to prove your reverence for Nel’Vari, but once you do, you’ll earn Wesley’s respect and, eventually, even his friendship. Wesley takes his work very seriously, and even as your relationship with him becomes romantic, it continues to feel like that’s what occupies the majority of his thoughts. However, after progressing through his storyline, it’s easier to respect him for that than hold it against him. The better you get to know Wesley, the harder that stuffy, awkward charm is to resist. Just trust me on this one.

Wornhardt

I must confess that Wornhardt captured my heart in my first playthrough of Sun Haven. I must also confess I still don’t know how to pronounce his name. Wornhardt is the right mix of serious and silly. He is the town’s doctor, and, like you, he is still fairly new to Sun Haven. Though he seems pretty easygoing, it is obvious he cares very much about his job and clearly cares for the wellness of the people of Sun Haven as well. As you get closer to Wornhardt, you’ll begin to see a vulnerable side to him as he opens up to you about his personal life and what really brought him to Sun Haven. Don’t worry, though. He’s never going to lose that playfulness that first made you fall for him.

Xyla

If you’ve got thick skin and an affinity for sometimes less-than-friendly banter, Xyla is your demon dream girl. Sure, she seems to have markedly more insults in her deck than compliments, but don’t think she can’t take what she dishes. You’re actually more likely to gain friendship with Xyla if you return her derisive attitude. It takes her longer than some of the other NPCs to develop a soft spot for your character, and if you think eventually she’ll stop referring to you as “Sewer Rat,” (certainly she must after marriage, right?) I’ve got bad news, but you know what? If she’s that committed to the bit, imagine how committed she’ll be to you.  

No matter which of these characters you choose, you really can’t go wrong. Each one offers a rich, intricately woven story you’ll be eager to reach the end of and sad when it’s over. The good news? There are twenty more stories to discover if you’re comfortable throwing caution to the wind and romancing the whole town.