Better Friendship
🟠 Updated over a year ago⚠️ Install Order · 2 steps
Install in this order, then this mod last — most mods fail to load without their framework and dependencies in place.
Preview

🔍 Analysis
- 👍 2.4% endorsement rate — high engagement, a strong quality signal
- 🏆 #34 of 382 Gameplay Mechanics mods in this game by downloads
📋 About This Mod
Ditch the menus! See real-time gift suggestions based on the items in your inventory!
Are you tired of constantly having to dig through multiple wiki pages or mod menus every time you want to give a villager a gift? Wouldn't it be easier if there was just a visual indicator of who can receive a gift and who you can talk to? You deserve Better Friendship!
Update 1. 1. 3 (2024/11/12): This adds a compatability fix for SMAPI 4. 1. 0 that was created by MaximillianRW.
Compatible with Stardew Valley 1. 6+ on Linux, Mac, and Windows. Requires SMAPI 4. 1. 0 or later.
Features
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[]Each villager shows an at-a-glance display of whether they can receive gifts or want to be talked to!
[
]Simple gift suggestions based on what you are currently carrying![]Customizable preferences with built-in config menu (requires Generic Mod Config Menu)
[]Toggle for the prompts to speak with villagers
[]Set minimum level of gift suggestions to display (e.g. Only show "loved" gifts)
[]Customize the number of suggestions to cycle through and time in between cycling
[]Ability to disable prompts when friendships are maxed and can't decay
[]Preference to only display the highest quality available for each item
Install
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[]Install the latest version of SMAPI.
[
]Unzip the mod folder into Stardew Valley/Mods.[](optional) Install Generic Mod Config Menu for easy config setting management.
[]Run the game using SMAPI.
Source
https://github.com/urbanyeti/stardew-better-friendship
Other Contributors
-
[]Profitrollgame
[
]Admonstrator[]SaltSouls
[]mitekano23
[]MaximillianRW
Special Thanks
- []NormanPCN has been incredibly helpful in providing background for some of the game mechanics and helping me test and debug!
- Omek97 for getting an updated version of the mod out there while there were still SDV 1. 6 compatibility issues
Other Mod
If you like this mod, consider checking out my other mod, Better Ranching (>30k endorsements)! I took a similar approach to try to remove some of the pain points from the ranching experience while still sticking to the spirit of the game.
-
[]Profitrollgame
-
[]Install the latest version of SMAPI.
Better Friendship adds thought bubbles over villagers in Stardew Valley, showing their favorite gifts from your inventory and when they want to talk. This quality-of-life mod helps players build relationships more efficiently, with high community approval (9,773 endorsements) and frequent updates.
✨ Key Features
📊 Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- Huge community trust with nearly 10k endorsements and 414k downloads.
- Saves you from alt-tabbing to the wiki every time you want to gift someone.
- Actively updated (Nov 2024) so it should work with the latest game version.
⚠️ Cons
- May require a mod manager like SMAPI, which isn't mentioned but is standard for Stardew mods.
- Thought bubbles might clutter the screen if many villagers are on screen at once.
For Stardew Valley players who want to maximize friendship points without memorizing gift preferences. If you're a completionist aiming for full hearts with every villager, this mod is a must-have. Skip if you prefer discovering gifts through trial and error or want a more immersive experience without UI hints.
💡 Beginner Tips
- Install SMAPI first—it's required for most Stardew Valley mods, and Better Friendship likely depends on it.
- After installing, load your save and check if the thought bubbles appear over villagers when you have gifts in your inventory.
- If bubbles don't show, make sure you're holding a gift item and standing near a villager—the mod triggers based on proximity.
📊 Mod Details
- Game
- Stardew Valley Mods
- Author
- Urbanyeti
- Version
- 1.1.3
- Downloads
- 414,941
- Endorsements
- 9,773
- Category
- Gameplay Mechanics
- Created
- 12/7/2021
- Updated
- 11/13/2024
🔗 Required By 2 Mods
These mods list this mod as a dependency.
🧩 Commonly Used Together
Users add these mods to the same collections — a real compatibility signal, not an AI guess.
🔧 How to Install Stardew Valley Mods
Download from Nexus.
📖 Full step-by-step install guide for Stardew Valley →
Visit the official mod page for specific installation instructions for this mod.
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