Yes, eligible partners are not restricted by your gender
Community reports from a developer-preview video say you can pursue eligible romance candidates regardless of your character's gender in Harvest Moon: Echoes of Teradea. That means you can choose your protagonist without assuming that same-gender romance is unavailable. The important exception concerns Robert and Carol: the protagonist you play cannot also be your partner.
For players asking “Harvest Moon: Echoes of Teradea can you marry anyone regardless of gender,” the useful distinction is between an eligible romance candidate and every person in town. The preview report supports gender-independent romance within the candidate roster; it does not say that all villagers are marriageable.
The information about gender eligibility comes from community preview coverage, rather than a marriage completed in a launch-version playthrough. Natsume's official Echoes of Teradea launch trailer is also available for a look at the game's announced cast and romance presentation.
Robert and Carol explain the nine-option exception
Community reports describe ten announced romance characters, with Robert and Carol included in that total. Those two are also the protagonist choices. Selecting one as your player character leaves the other as a potential partner.
| Your protagonist | The other protagonist described as a candidate | Why the total changes |
|---|---|---|
| Robert | Carol | Robert is your player character |
| Carol | Robert | Carol is your player character |
That is why the developer-preview account describes nine possible partners in a single playthrough despite a ten-character overall lineup. It is a roster-counting issue, not a report that choosing a particular gender locks you out of the other candidates of that gender.
If your specific goal is to romance Carol, choose Robert. If you want to romance Robert, choose Carol. For the remaining eligible characters, the preview account says your protagonist's gender does not impose that restriction.
Separate partner eligibility from marriage progression
Being allowed to pursue someone does not mean a wedding is immediately available. The same community preview account says marriage becomes available after the main story is completed.
Use that as an expectation for planning your playthrough, while keeping it separate from a verified proposal checklist. The supplied coverage does not establish all required gifts, friendship thresholds, house upgrades, or proposal items for Echoes of Teradea.
A practical approach is to pick the protagonist you want to play, keep the Robert-and-Carol exception in mind, and develop the relationship you are interested in while following the story. Do not treat an early lack of a proposal option as evidence of a gender restriction.
Know which details are still unverified
The supported answer here is about eligibility. Exact wedding conditions, a complete heart-event schedule, and whether particular relationship choices affect later dialogue are not established by these sources.
Likewise, older discussions about removing gender restrictions in another Harvest Moon release do not answer this game's question. The relevant evidence is the preview account specifically discussing Echoes of Teradea and its protagonist roster.
This keeps two decisions clear: choose your player character with the other protagonist's availability in mind, then choose among the remaining eligible partners based on whom you like.
FAQ
Is same-gender romance available?
Community reports from the developer-preview coverage say eligible partners can be pursued regardless of the player character's gender.
Can I marry every villager?
No such claim is supported. “Anyone” in this context refers to eligible romance candidates, not the entire population.
Why are there ten announced characters but nine options?
The reported ten-character lineup includes both protagonists. You play as one of them, leaving the other protagonist and the remaining candidates available in that playthrough.
Can I marry as soon as I meet a candidate?
The community preview account says marriage is available after completing the main story. It does not provide a complete verified list of additional proposal requirements.
Related guide
Continue with Harvest Moon: Echoes of Teradea Beginner Guide: Farming, Travel, and First Goals.