Every Harvest Moon Game, Ranked Worst To Best

Virtual farming in the Harvest Moon and Story of Season game series has been a way of escape for many since the release of the first game in 1996, however, picking which game to invest in can be intimidating for those looking to get started decades later. The Story of Seasons and Harvest Moon games are slice-of-life simulations that focus on raising crops, livestock, and relationships in sleepy towns far from the stresses of big cities. Players can befriend the local townsfolk, reinvigorate failing economies, and eventually marry one of the many marriage candidates present in the games. However, some games are more enjoyable than others due to specific mechanics or freedoms not present in every title.

The Story of Seasons games were once known as the Harvest Moon series. However, in 2012, developer Marvelous and publisher Natsume split, with Natsume keeping the game’s title and Marvelous rebranding the mechanics and gameplay loved by fans to Story of Seasons. While the older games have kept their originally naming, recent remakes like Story of Season: Friends of Mineral Town have been adjusted to include the change. The transition has also created some confusion, as Natsume continues to make similar farming titles with different visuals, gameplay, and storylines under the original Harvest Moon name.

Below is a ranking of all Harvest Moon and Story of Seasons games developed by Marvelous that were released in the US. The ranking focuses on the accessibility, gameplay, mechanics, and overall playability of each title. Rerelease games like Harvest Moon: More Friends of Mineral Town and Harvest Moon: Another Wonderful Life won’t be included, and instead focus on the original releases. The games in the Harvest Moon and Story of Seasons franchise have covered many consoles, but a large number aren’t easily available to players currently, due to the inaccessibility of outdated consoles.

#22 – Harvest Moon 2 GBA

Harvest Moon 2 GBC was released in North America in 2000 for the Game Boy Color, and for the Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console in 2014. The second title in the Story of Seasons series for Game Boy devices is ranked low due to limited gameplay and aged graphics. While the title added a few new things to gameplay, like the ability to raise sheep and build a Greenhouse, it is more fun as a nostalgic collector’s item than a game many would want to sink time into playing. Especially with so many other titles available on the 3DS’ eShop.

#21 – Harvest Moon GB

Released in North America for the Game Boy and Game Boy Color in 1998 and the Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console in 2013, Harvest Moon GB was the second Story of Seasons title to release for the series. The “classic” farm simulation formula is used here, with the player inheriting a farmstead from a deceased grandfather. While fun to play, the step from a home console to a handheld platform limited gameplay and makes it slow and grindy compared to more modern titles in the series. Like many older, experimental games from the Game Boy era, it didn’t age well.

#20 – Harvest Moon 64

Harvest Moon 64 was released in North America for the Nintendo 64 in 1999 and the Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console in 2017. It’s a funny combination of classic N64 graphics and clunky gameplay. The visuals, which are more recognizable as classic Story of Seasons art styles, are a combination of 2D textures and 3D models.

Players have more freedom to move around, go about their daily lives, and enjoy the inherited farm storyline that had become a staple of gameplay. However, glitches and buggy visuals make the game difficult to enjoy on modern consoles like the 3DS. Limited gameplay also makes daily routines repetitive and bland.

#19 – Harvest Moon 3 GBC

Harvest Moon 3 GBC was released in North America for the Game Boy Color in 2001 and the Nintendo 3DS Virtual Consol in 2014. Players can select between the characters Pete and Sara, both of which have a specialty. When playing as Pete, players will focus on raising crops and doing fieldwork, while Sara is geared towards rearing livestock. While this gives the game replayability, the gender roles also lock players out of content that is a staple of the simulation genre of gaming. Additionally, the heavily-gendered gameplay has aged poorly in the more diverse and inclusive simulation gaming community.

 #18 – Harvest Moon

Released for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1997 and the Nintendo Virtual Console in 2008, this was the original Harvest Moon experience. Setting out as a young man on a small farm, players engage in classic farming mechanics. What is particularly appealing about the first game of the series, outside of nostalgia, is the graphics that are similar to Stardew Valley. Because of this, the dated gameplay can be less frustrating to many players, despite its limitations. It is also a popular simulation game for those who prefer the retro mechanics of older releases.

#17 – Harvest Moon DS/Cute

Harvest Moon DS  was released for the Nintendo DS in 2006 and Harvest Moon DS: Cute was released for the Nintendo DS in 2008. While the games didn’t release together, they are technically the same game with minimal changes. The primary being in the first game, the player can only select a boy, and in the second, which has been labeled “cute” in an attempt to appeal to a female audience, players can only select girl protagonists. Like other gender-segregated games in the series, Harvest Moon DS and Harvest Moon DS: Cute rank low for a lack of inclusion that impacts gameplay, or overtly uses gender as a sales point when not needed.

#16 – Harvest Moon 3D: A New Beginning

Harvest Moon 3D: A New Beginning was released for the Nintendo 3DS in 2012. The game introduced many of the concepts that would become popular during the transition in branding from Harvest Moon to Story of Seasons. The updated graphics of the 3DS gave players a bright world, cute animal models, and more sandbox-style gameplay.

However, the game suffers from growing pains in mechanics, with exploration and farming elements held back to keep it more closely resembling older titles in the series. At this time, players were starting to branch out to open-world exploration like Minecraft, and the series hadn’t implemented many of these popular mechanics. Because of this, Harvest Moon 3D: A New Beginning felt underwhelming.

#15 – Harvest Moon DS: Island Of Happiness

Harvest Moon DS: Island of Happiness was released for the Nintendo DS in 2008. It suffers from particularly poor graphics, with character sprites, environments, and models all feeling rushed and awkward. However, the game puts a spin on otherwise unchanged gameplay, taking players to a far-away island to farm in a tropical paradise after a shipwreck. This change of narration gives the Story of Seasons formula a pleasant twist and is a fun adventure for fans of games like Animal Crossing: New Horizons, thanks to its similar setting.

#14 – Harvest Moon: The Tale Of Two Towns

Released in 2011 for the Nintendo DS and the Nintendo 3DS, Harvest Moon DS: The Tale Of Two Towns puts another new spin on the Story of Seasons gameplay, with an ongoing competition between two primary towns in the story. Players compete regularly in cooking competitions while also maintaining their farmstead, raising livestock, and building romantic relationships with NPCs. While the graphics don’t hold up to other Story of Seasons games for the 3DS, the cooking focus can be a great option for those who enjoy using what they farm.

#13 – Harvest Moon: Grand Bazaar

Harvest Moon DS: Grand Bazaar was released for the Nintendo DS in 2010, and offers players a refreshing twist to gameplay similar to the cooking mechanics of The Tale of Two Towns. Instead of dumping crops and animal products in a shipping bin to earn profits, players work their farms to provide merchandise for the weekly bazaar. This concept, which is later seen in the form of sales carts in Story of Seasons (3DS), helps flesh out the ways players can utilize resources and adds a level of shop management to the game that fans of shop-keeping simulation titles will enjoy.

#12 – Harvest Moon: Hero Of Leaf Valley

Implementing many changes to Story of Seasons gameplay, Harvest Moon: Hero of Leaf Valley was released for the PlayStation Portable and PlayStation Store in 2010. While players are again limited to a male protagonist, the game begins to integrate a more open style of exploration that isn’t available on the Nintendo consoles. The graphics, while not as cute as recent titles, have aged well after over a decade, and the gameplay is reminiscent of older titles in the series, with updated mechanics and progression. This is a great option for those who want a retro experience with 3D art instead of a more dated, pixelated look.

#11 – Story Of Seasons: Friends Of Mineral Town Remake

Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town was released for the Nintendo Switch in 2019 and PC in 2020. The game was designed to test drive mechanics on the powerful Nintendo Switch console while remaking a beloved classic. While the remake includes needed gameplay elements like LGBTQA+ inclusive marriage options, content is frustratingly lacking for a home console title.

Players have one large farm area they can keep, a barn, and a coop. However, the types of livestock are unpleasantly small. The gameplay quickly becomes repetitive in a way that works on older consoles, but isn’t enjoyable with so many better options, like Stardew Valley, available to play.

#10 – Story Of Seasons: Pioneers Of Olive Town

Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town was released for the Nintendo Switch and PC in 2021. The title, which sought to broaden the capabilities of the franchise with open-world-inspired gameplay, was a hollow recreation of previous titles. Events are almost non-existent, characters lack personality, and there is limited late-game story content to make progression rewarding. However, it does utilize a large farmstead with almost limitless customization options. This offers players who enjoy decorating and building games like Animal Crossing similar mechanics, while also being able to raise animals, keep pets, and grow crops.

#9 – Harvest Moon: Tree Of Tranquility

Harvest Moon: Tree of Tranquility was released for the Wii in 2008. The game uses the motion control capabilities of the Wii Remote in gameplay, offering players a more interactive farming adventure. Like Hero of Leaf Valley, the graphics and exploration in Tree of Tranquility make use of the more powerful Wii console, allowing players large areas to farm, detailed 3D models, and more realistic animals. However, the character models in this game are terrible, which could be a frustrating setback for those who prefer the more detailed and colorful models of recent Story of Seasons games.

#8 – Story Of Seasons: Trio Of Towns

Story of Seasons: Trio of Towns was released for the Nintendo 3DS in 2017. The game brings the cultures of the three towns together through the actions of the player. The game boasts numerous contests and events for those who enjoy the social aspects of Story of Seasons but greatly simplifies the leaps made in Story of Seasons (3DS) in regards to farming and homestead management.

Players aren’t able to freely till the land or place buildings. Instead, the game uses a “tile” system and requires players to build machines and plots to place, with each area of the farmstead only able to hold a certain number of tiles. The game’s social atmosphere is superior to most previous games, however, and makes interacting with every character fun and engaging.

#7 – Harvest Moon: Save The Homeland

Released in 2001 for the PlayStation 2, the PlayStation 3 store in 2011, and the PlayStation 4 store in 2017, Harvest Moon: Save The Homeland is one of few titles to continuously update to modern consoles. Players get to engage in classic Story of Seasons gameplay, while also facing a limited frame of time, one full year, to save a small village. Every year, this Harvest Moon game resets, but the progress of the player’s farm remains, allowing the farmland to grow, but the narrative to be experienced in many different ways. This is the only Story of Seasons title to use this type of gameplay.

#6 – Harvest Moon: Back To Nature

Harvest Moon: Back to Nature was released in North America for the PlayStation in 2000 and for the PlayStation Store in 2011. Like many early titles in the Story of Seasons franchise, players will only be able to select a male protagonist in Back to Nature. However, the game was also the first in the franchise to be brought to the PlayStation console and did a good job of blending the 2D art and character portraits with 3D models. However, the thing that makes the game stand out even among modern titles is the art quality. Despite its aged appearance, the game is still delightful to play decades later and has the same quality of enjoyment that the original Final Fantasy 7 graphics possess, making the content endearing rather than clunky.

#5 – Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life

Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life was the first game in the Story of Seasons series to release on the GameCube in 2004 and released for the PlayStation 4 in 2017. The game focuses on lifespan progression, allowing the main character, their spouse, and their child to age through the story. This mechanic, which is currently being explored in modern titles like the indie game Kynseed, is an exciting way to enrich the narrative of a simulation title, and currently is only regularly seen in games like The Sims. Like Save the Homeland, A Wonderful Life’s availability on modern consoles makes it a great choice for exploring older Story of Seasons titles.

#4 – Harvest Moon: Animal Parade

Harvest Moon: Animal Parade was released in North America for the Wii in 2009. Set in the same world as Tree of Tranquility, it also uses Wii motion controls to enhance gameplay mechanics. However, the game overhauls many quality-of-life improvements that weren’t available in Tree of Tranquility.

It ranks highly as a good option for those wanting an older Story of Seasons game with updated graphics and quirky changes. Players can also raise an Ostrich as a livestock option. While the other options aren’t as diverse as the cover suggests, the more exotic animal is a fun change from chickens and cows.

#3 – Harvest Moon: Magical Melody

Harvest Moon: Magical Melody was released for the GameCube in 2006 and then on the Wii in 2009. Unlike other installments of the Story of Seasons series, Magical Melody has a musical element to gameplay. Players must find and collect music notes in order to restore the Harvest Goddess. However, the rest of the gameplay is similar to other titles, with farmwork, romance, and exploration taking up the majority of the player’s time. The game also highlights an interesting period for the progression of 3D animal sprites, with many types of livestock similar to Pioneers of Olive Town’s more refined Nintendo Switch versions.

#2 – Harvest Moon: Friends Of Mineral Town

Harvest Moon: Friends of Mineral Town was released in North America for the Game Boy Advanced in 2003. While not as visually impressive as Story of Seasons: Freinds of Mineral Town for the Nintendo Switch, the game was the gateway into the Story of Seasons series for many longtime players. The classic adventure as a male protagonist includes staple mechanics, but all in a portable system. Unfortunately, the original version of the game isn’t as accessible as the remake but is as delightful to play on a vintage system as the earlier Pokémon games, thanks to a gracefully aging pixelated art style.

#1 – Story Of Seasons 3DS

Released for North American players on the Nintendo 3DS during 2015, Story of Seasons was the debut game marking Marvelous’ split with Natsume. Story of Seasons is packed down with gameplay, allowing players to not only manage their own farmstead filled with animals and crops, but also a number of fields for rent, and a small shop. Players can place themed buildings on their farms to specialize their output, with cheese, wine, fabrics, and furniture all acting as different pathways for gameplay. The title offers a number of excellent marriage candidates, a fulfilling narrative, and well-balanced events and festivals, making it a pleasure to get lost in. Story of Seasons manages to capture everything that was enjoyable in previous titles of the series, and add splashes of new content, without overwhelming the player. The only downside to the game is the overly long opening tutorial.

While Story of Seasons is a fantastic game, it is currently limited to the Nintendo 3DS. Due to the planned closing of the 3DS eShop, players may want to invest in a digital version before it is no longer available, to ensure a copy is accessible. Due to the lack of ports for recent games in the series, and no announcements by Nintendo or Marvelous to bring titles forward, it is possible Story of Seasons may become locked to outdated consoles like so many previous games in the series. Hopefully, due to the popularity of the older titles, previous entries on newer consoles will receive a remaster for the Nintendo Switch, giving players more access to Harvest Moon and Story of Seasons games, and keeping the previous content relevant for those looking for new farming adventures.

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