With the release ofHarvest Moon: One Worldfast approaching, now is as good a time as any to get those farming juices flowing and play some of the many games out there inspired bythe SNES classic. Taking a much more relaxed type of gameplay than most games out there, theHarvest Moonseries replacesaction-packed combatwith some light-hearted farming activities instead.
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While there are manyHarvest Moongames out there that you can dive into before the release of the latest entry in the series, there are also just as many games that aren’t a part of the long-running series with similar gameplay elements, some of which are considered even better in some cases.
10Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Although it didn’t come into being until the early 2000s,Animal Crossingis thePokemontoHarvest Moon’sDigimonand is definitely a fierce contender for the series that has the potential to be even better than what came before it. With a relaxing gameplay style reminiscent ofHarvest Moon, exchanging the focus on farming for other activities, such as fishing,bug collecting, and generally relaxing busywork, there’s no reason why you wouldn’t love the latest entry in theAnimal Crossingseries if you are a fan ofHarvest Moon.
9Stardew Valley
Taking much more inspiration fromHarvest MoonthanAnimal Crossing,Stardew Valleywent from an unknown indie gem to a global sensation virtually overnight. With apixel art stylereminiscent of the SNES era as well as a heavy focus on farming and community growth, there are few games out there that capture the essence of what it feels like to playHarvest MoonthanStardew Valley. While there it is easy to see the comparisons between the two games,Stardew Valleystands on its own merits and isn’t simply a rip-off of a beloved series, being well worth your time even if you aren’t aHarvest Moonfan.
8My Time At Portia
My Time At Portiais a relatively new take on the relaxing farm simulation genre, taking repetitive farm work and connecting with the people who live in your town while adding a sprinkling of combat that is missing fromHarvest Moongames. This alone makes it more accessible for anyone wanting to get into this niche genre, as it is more in line with most other combat-centric games out there.
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While it does have some pacing issues, it has done well enough that a sequel,My Time At Sandrock, has been announced for a 2022 release date on consoles, whileSteamwill receive an early access version sometime in 2021.
7Yonder: Cloud Catcher Chronicles
At first glance,Yonderlooks more like it was inspired byZeldathanHarvest Moon, particularly the latest mainlineZelda game,Breath of the Wild. However,Yonderlacks any sort of combat entirely and its main gameplay focus is oncollecting magical creaturescalled sprites to defeat the villain of the game. AsYonderhas a much greater focus on its end goal, rather than the open-ended nature of games likeHarvest MoonandAnimal Crossing, this gives it a sense of purpose that those other titles sorely lack, though this also means the game can feel a lot more linear as a result.
6Calico
One of the more recent indie games inspired by similar titles that focus on relaxing busy work,Calicohas an art style that can sometimes be an eyesore, though it is also quite unique. The pastel-colored world ofCalicosees you take over a coffee shop that was once owned by your aunt while alsofilling it with many, many cats. This game is definitely a love letter to all things feline, so if you are more of a dog person, you may not enjoy what this game has to offer, though it is still a fun time regardless of your inclination in pets.
5Summer In Mara
For the most part,Summer in Marais aHarvest Moongame if it took place on The Great Sea ofThe Wind Waker. Throughout the game, the main character, Koa, explores a variety of islands to expand her island farm while also looking for information on her adoptive mother. While the farming aspect isn’t bad, it is let down by some poor design choices that make the work more tedious than it could be, as well as an overabundance of fetch quests that see you travel from one side of the map to the other repeatedly.
4Forager
LikeMy Time At Portia,Foragertakes the farming aspect ofHarvest Moonand sprinkles some combat elements into it to change up the gameplay. InForager’scase, however, it is more reminiscent of2DZeldatitles, complete with dungeons, bombable walls, and bosses to defeat. While it is a fun title, there are a few things that might hold it back for fans ofHarvest Moon.
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The main downside ofForageris its complete lack of story, with the only incentive to move forward being your own desires to explore the map and see what else is out there. This can also be liberating, however, as you aren’t shoehorned into any one biome and can explore the world however you like.
3Graveyard Keeper
The easiest way to describeGraveyard Keeperis that it’sStardew Valleyif you were taking care of a graveyard instead of a farm. With a near-identical pixel art style and gameplay elements,Graveyard Keeperis set in a medieval fantasy world where skeletons come to life, where you are tasked with finding the right magical items so that you can open a portal and return to the world you came from. There are also a handful of DLC expansions that expand both the gameplay and side stories and give you a better understanding of the world you are trying to make a living in.
2Minecraft
Minecraftmay have spun off into several different genres by now, but there’s no denying the similarities it has with theHarvest Moonseries. While you aren’t needing to take care of a plot of land and grow your farm,Minecraftgives you a similarly blank slate to work with and lets you loose into its world to create whatever you want. While there are several ways in which you may recreate the gameplay ofHarvest Moon, the main draw ofMinecraftis in the sheer freedom the game allows you, letting you create whatever you want and go wherever you want.
1Story of Seasons Series
If you’re a long time fan of theHarvest Moonseries and eagerly awaitingOne World, then the best thing you can do to pass the time is to dive into one of their previous entries in the series. While it may have a different name, theStory of Seasonsgames are a part of the same series thanks to an overzealous business decision between the North American publishers and Japanese publishers ofHarvest Moon. The name may be different, but the gameplay is essentially identical in every way between the two games and is worth looking into if you are aHarvest Moonfan.
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