Hello, everyone! As you may know, in Stardew Valley, your grandfather’s spirit returns in the third year to evaluate your progress and light candles at the Shrine, depending on your performance.
Understanding the Scoring System
In the game, you can only see how many candles are lit, not the actual score. The number of candles lit corresponds to your score as follows:
- Less than 4 points: 1 candle
- 4 to 7 points: 2 candles
- 8 to 11 points: 3 candles
- 12 or more points: 4 candles
Earning Points
To earn points, you’ll need to achieve specific milestones. Earning a total income of one million gold awards 7 points. Total income refers to the cumulative gold earned, not your current balance. It’s similar to a country’s GDP. Reaching one million gold within two years is relatively easy.
Next, your combined skill levels across farming, mining, foraging, fishing, and combat contribute to your score. A combined level of 30 or more earns you 1 point, while maxing out all skills earns an additional point.
Achievements and Friendship
Some achievements also grant points, such as:
- Completing the museum collection: 1 point
- Selling every type of item: 1 point
- Catching every kind of fish: 1 point
For friendship, you can earn points by:
- Upgrading your house twice, getting married: 1 point
- Having at least 8 hearts of friendship with 5 villagers: 1 point
- Having at least 8 hearts of friendship with 10 villagers: 1 additional point
Your pet’s friendship also contributes to your score. Having a 5-heart relationship with your pet earns 1 point.
Other Point-earning Opportunities
Other ways to earn points include:
- Acquiring the Skull Key (reaching level 120 in the mines): 1 point
- Obtaining the Rusty Key (by donating 60 items to the museum): 1 point
- Completing all Bundles at the Community Center: 1 point
- Completing the Community Center itself: 2 points
Grandpa highly favors the Bundle route, as it awards 3 points.
Tips for Easily Earning 12 Points
If you follow the Bundle route, earning 12 points is quite simple. By completing the Community Center Bundles, you’ll have 3 points. Earning one million gold nets you another 7 points, and reaching a combined skill level of 30 or higher adds 1 point. By the time you reach level 120 in the mines and acquire the Skull Key, you’ll have your 12 points.
On the other hand, if you choose the JojaMart route, you’ll have to befriend villagers and pets, and maybe even get married. It’s still possible to reach 12 points within two years with this approach.