There is a wide variety ofStardew Valleymods that can alter the way you play the game. On top of this, there are smaller mods that tweak what the game looks like. One type of visual mod will make character portraits appear different. Portraits are the icons of NPCs that appear while they are talking.
Here, we are going to take a look at some of the best portrait mods available in Stardew Valley. These mods can breathe a bit of life into the game, making the NPCs feel more ‘real’. We’ve included the download link for each mod, so you’re able to easily install it and get to playing.
Due to updates in Stardew Valley, some of these mods may be a bit outdated. Before downloading any mods we have here, be sure to look at the description or comments on the page. Some may have newer versions of the mod linked that are compatible with the current version of the game.
Updated July 05, 2025 by Jacqueline Zalace:Still looking for the best Stardew Valley portrait mods? We’ve updated this list with a few more portrait mods that are worth checking out.
15Leyalluna’s Portraits
First up on our list is Leyalluna’s Portrait mod. This is a simple portrait mod that, as expected, changes the appearance of the sprites slightly. This does not completely overhaul their appearance, providing an experience that isn’t too far from the vanilla version of Stardew Valley.
These redesigned sprites are complete with cute little blush spots right on their cheeks. This gives a Ghibli-esque feel to the villager portraits, which is great for a cozy farming sim.
14Gigi’s Hi-Res Portraits
Gigi’s Hi-Res Portraits gives each portrait a stylized makeover fit for a ’90s cartoon. Just look at Pam above, complete with her purple eyeshadow and large hoop earrings!
This portrait mod has been updated several times since its original launch, adding new portraits and refining existing ones. Additionally, some characters have two sprites; you may choose between a true-to-game Wizard, or opt for the younger version.
13Shie’s Portraits
Shie’s Portraits mod is another stylized take on the characters of Stardew Valley. Each character’s personality is brought out, giving them a bit more, well, character. For example,Maru’sportrait has been refreshed; she now looks like the eager inventor that she actually is.
This mod doesn’t just pertain to the marriage candidates. You can find new portraits for everyone, including Gil from the Adventurer’s Guild and Grandpa’s ghost. These two characters aren’t always included in portrait mods, so we welcome these additions.
12Seasonal Outfits - Slightly Cuter Aesthetic
One of the best Stardew Valley mods out there is Seasonal Outfits - Slightly Cuter Aesthetic. This mod swaps out NPC’s basic clothing for various outfits based on the current season. For some reason, the base game has NPCs wearing the same thing, regardless of the temperature.
With this mod, NPCs will have different hairstyles and unique outfits. Now, when it’s snowing outside, the residents in the valley will wear cozy Winter clothes! NPCs even have different Winter clothing depending on whether they are outside or inside.
11Stardewvalley Anime Mods
Are you an anime fan who dreams of having the NPCs of Stardew Valley in anime form? With this portrait mod, your dreams will finally come true. Each NPC has an improved anime look, making them uniquely adorable.
This mod is also compatible withStardew Valley Expanded, which adds new characters and locations to the game. While this mod doesn’t change the overall character appearance, it’s great if you are looking for a cute portrait style.
10RukaBravo’s Portrait Mod
RukaBravo’s Portrait Mod adds a bit of realism to the game, making NPCs look like visual novel characters. While they are still cartoonish, the NPCs have more detail and proportional features.
Overall, these mods have a very clean look while still looking like quaint residents of a small town. Currently, this mod isn’t compatible with Stardew Valley Expanded, but rest assured, RukaBravo is working on it!
9The Farmer’s Children
The Farmer’s Children is exactly what it sounds like; a mod that tweaks the portraits and behavior of your children. With this mod, your children won’t just be useless toddlers who never leave the house.
In addition to each marriage candidate’s unique child appearances, the children will also be able to venture into town. They can go to school alongside Jas and Vincent and develop their own hobbies. Overall, this is a great mod that accompanies new portraits.
8Nyapu’s Portraits
Nyapu’s Portraits is a portrait mod that overhauls the design of nearly everything in the game, right down toTrash Bear. These portraits have a chibi look to them; interestingly, the design was inspired by Harvest Moon, which itself is a game that inspired the creation of Stardew Valley.
Although the style is different from the usual, pixelated portraits, Nyapu’s Portraits maintain the hair and clothing of an NPC. Thankfully, the mod is compatible with many other character-adding mods; it can even be used with The Farmer’s Children mod mentioned previously.
7DCBurger’s High Res Portrait Mod
DCBurger’s High Res Portrait Mod is one of the most popular portrait mods for Stardew Valley, and it’s for a good reason. These portraits are clean and detailed, giving more personality to each NPC. For example, as a busy mom, Jodi looks a bit exhausted in her portrait.
Pam, on the other hand, really embraces the bus-driving, beer-drinking aesthetic, complete with the Joja hat. DCBurger does not have portraits for Stardew Valley Expanded, but thankfully, there is aseparate mod that adds these characters in the style of DCBurger.
Vlad’s Revamped Portraits mod gives NPCs a realistic appearance, while still keeping in line with the pixelated style of the game. The mod doesn’t include every NPC, however the existing portraits in the mod are nothing short of impressive.
By using more pixels in each portrait, NPCs such asSebastian(shown above) look more real and lifelike. It’s been a while since this mod was updated, but we hope that Vlad comes back to finish what was started!
