Almost a decade after its release, Stardew Valley still manages to capture the attention of players, in part because of the many mysteries the game holds. Though most of the unusual occurrences in Stardew Valley are either typical fantasy-world tropes or character quirks that are eventually explained, certain items, like the game’s cave jelly, might always leave fans without answers to their questions.
Stardew Valley has become known for its deep gameplay and lore hidden just behind the cute pixel art style that draws players in. Stories about a war between the dwarves and the shadow people, sightings of aliens, sea monsters, and mermaids, as well as the enigmatic Mr. Qi, have caused fans to speculate about the unknown aspects of Pelican Town's past. But one smaller mystery has hardly been touched since the game’s release. Stardew Valley's cave jelly can only be found in specific locations and doesn’t have many applications, begging the question as to what it is, why it’s in the game, and if it might have some hidden secret behind it.
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What is Stardew Valley’s Cave Jelly?
Three types of jelly can be found in Stardew Valley while fishing in certain locations. While they all function similarly, Stardew Valley's sea jelly and river jelly are easier to catch compared to cave jelly. Unlike the other two, cave jelly only appears while fishing on floors 20, 60, and 100 of the mines. For players trying to catch some, floor 100 is the best place, as it’s one of only three catchable items there, along with trash and lava eels.
Perhaps the strangest thing about cave jelly is that it can be found in the fish section of the collection tab and counts towards the completion of fishing achievements despite not being classified as a fish. Considering that cave jelly isn’t a fish, it’s even stranger that the only other place to catch it is in Stardew Valley's lava eel fish pond.
Aside from fishing, players can receive cave jelly as a gift from their pet turtle as well. Because all the jelly varieties are located in water, it’s clear that they have some sort of aquatic origin, and yet, they don’t count as fish in recipes, bait makers, smokers, or ponds. This probably means that the jelly isn’t a living organism like a jellyfish, but rather some odd, gelatinous mass that forms underwater.
What is Cave Jelly Used For
Even though it isn’t clear exactly what cave jelly is, one thing about it is certain: it’s gross. This is clear based on the fact that, if gifted to any NPC in the game, they will hate it. It also can’t be used in tailoring or bundles, and isn’t associated with any quests. It does have a few minor uses, such as creating red dye or being traded to the bookseller, but cave jelly really only has one major capability.
All three types of jelly are needed to craft Stardew Valley's fish smoker, which is very useful for players who catch a lot of fish.
By smoking them, any fish will sell for double what it would if it were sold raw. Cave jelly can also be sold for 180g or, for those with an iron stomach, consumed to gain health, energy, and luck.
Everything in a game has its purpose, however small it might be, and cave jelly is no exception. It may be unusual, and it’s unclear why jellies were created to craft a smoker rather than using an already existing material, but the strange collectible has found its place in the mysteries of Pelican Town. As Stardew Valley tops the Steam charts, there’s no denying that it’s a game with staying power, meaning that new players will uncover this strange item for years to come. So, cave jelly is likely to remain one of the biggest oddities in Stardew Valley.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 90 /100 Critics Rec: 99%
- Released
- February 26, 2016
- ESRB
- E for Everyone (Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Mild Language, Simulated Gambling, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco)
- Developer(s)
- ConcernedApe
- Publisher(s)
- ConcernedApe
- Engine
- Proprietary
- Multiplayer
- Local Multiplayer, Online Multiplayer
- Cross-Platform Play
- Stardew Valley does not currently support crossplay between different consoles and PC
WHERE TO PLAY
- Cross Save
- cross-progression is only available between the PC and mobile versions of the game
- Number of Players
- 1-4
- Split Screen Orientation
- Vertical or Horizontal
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Verified
- Genre(s)
- RPG, Simulation
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
- Local Co-Op Support
- 1-4 Players
- How Long To Beat
- 53 Hours
- X|S Optimized
- No
- File Size Xbox Series
- 1 GB (November 2023)
