Story of Seasons is the next Harvest Moon game in spirit, as legal shenanigans meant former localizer Natsume kept the rights to the series name (also possibly the house and the kids) in the split.
While Natsume’s doing its own good work, long-time fans can sleep easy knowing this Moon hasn’t set, and Story of Seasons picks up right where the Harvest Moon series left off.
After striking it out on your own to become a proper land-hand in the quaint Oak Tree Town, your character’s main goal is to work hard and become the farmer you were always meant to be. All the mainstays are there: planting crops, caring for animals, harvesting and selling goods, and generally living a miniature version of the farming lifestyle. Some more tedious tasks have been streamlined, allowing you to plant, water, and harvest an entire field at once from the start, rather than leveling into the privilege. Plus, in case you get bored brushing cows and picking carrots, Story of Seasons features a delightfully divergent safari park where you can pet polar bears, carry penguins, and interact with all kinds of exotic animals. Because why would you not want to do something that adorable?
Really though, if Story of Seasons is about anything at all, it’s your character and the life you build for them. Your character is also fully customizable, and relationship-building is once again an important game crux, so developing your life in this sleepy little town is just as important as tending to your homestead. It’s a simple life, and idyllic venture, and Story of Seasons brings it right to you in one tiny, adorable package.