Games like Harvest Moon have a unique way of turning farm labor and management into captivating activities. Toss in a social RPG element, and you have the formula for a fun, addicting game that’s sure to consume many hours of your life.
We’ve put together a list of games for those who enjoy Harvest Moon and are looking for more games that offer similar farm management and role-playing experiences. While games like Story of Seasons or Rune Factory are obvious choices for Harvest Moon fans, we’ve chosen to list games that are relatively new and are available on the most current gaming platforms.
Stardew Valley
- Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC, Mac, Linux
Stardew Valley is the go-to choice for gamers looking to get their Harvest Moon fix. This one-man project was inspired by the Harvest Moon games, which explains the stark similarities. Stardew Valley combines farming, mining, and exploration with social role-playing features, making for a rich, story-driven experience. Stardew Valley quickly became a huge hit on Steam back in 2016, and has since become available on nearly every major gaming platform, including its recent debut on Nintendo Switch.
World’s Dawn
- Platform: PC
World’s Dawn is described as a colorful social simulator inspired by the Harvest Moon series. Although the game still features farming, fishing, and mining, World’s Dawn focuses more on its RPG aspects. This game is ideal for those seeking a more social experience driven by unique character interactions. With its colorful aesthetic and simple design, World’s Dawn is a great choice if you enjoy the role-playing elements of farming sims.
Yonder: Cloud Catcher Chronicles
- Platform: PS4, PC
Yonder: Cloud Catcher Chronicles is more of an open-world adventure than a strict farming simulator, but there’s enough farming and socializing in the game to justify it scratching that Harvest Moon itch.
In Yonder: Cloud Catcher Chronicles, players explore a vast island where various towns have been affected by a mysterious murky entity. Players can help contribute to these towns through farming, crafting, and building relationships with the local residents. Yonder: Cloud Catcher Chronicles is inherently laid-back, perfect for those looking for a more relaxing farming experience.
Golf Story
- Platform: Nintendo Switch
Though there’s no farming in Golf Story, the game’s nostalgic design and RPG features are enough to warrant Golf Story on this list. After launching on Nintendo Switch in September, Harvest Moon fans and Nindies lovers alike flocked to this unique sporty RPG.
Of course, Golf Story is primarily focused on golfing, but the dramatic story helps elevate it above your typical sports game. Players compete on various courses, upgrading their golfer and helping out people along the way. Golf Story is just as much about its quirky cast of characters as it is about being a golfer, which makes this game a worthy option for those looking for a fresh take on socially-driven RPGs.
Spellbound
- Platform: TBA
Spellbound (still a working title) is a magic school-themed simulator/RPG currently being made by Chucklefish, the creators of Starbound and publishers of Stardew Valley. Okay, so this one might be cheating a bit since the game isn’t out yet, but considering how well Stardew Valley has done, we figured we can expect a similar performance from Chucklefish's next project.
There’s little information about Spellbound beyond a few teaser images and a short art style demo video, but so far, it looks like things are coming along nicely. The game looks like a Little Witch Academia-inspired take on Stardew Valley, which sounds promising for any fan of these sorts of life simulation RPGs.
It will be interesting to see how Chucklefish implements familiar game systems like farming and crafting into a magic-centric RPG, and how much it will differ from Stardew. We’ll keep you up to date as soon as an official announcement is made about Spellbound, but until then, farming sim fans should definitely keep this one on their radar.
There you have it. Hopefully these farming simulation RPGs satisfy your Harvest Moon cravings. If you’re particularly interested in indie games for the Nintendo Switch, check out all the upcoming Nindies scheduled for the Switch in 2018.
