When you think of Harvest Moon, you probably picture yourself managing a quaint little farm, getting to know your neighbors, and embracing the leisurely pace that comes with living in a small town.
Like many farming sims, Harvest Moon has always encouraged players to take things at their own pace and create their own vision of a perfect farm.
Although the series is technically still around today, due to a publisher legal battle, the original Harvest Moon had to be rebranded as Story of Seasons. While you’ll still find new games releasing under the Harvest Moon name, these are nothing but cheap and shallow imitations looking to cash in on the brand recognition.
Thankfully, there are plenty of other great farming sims with interesting characters and rewarding gameplay. Here, we’ll be highlighting the best games to play in 2025 that are either directly influenced by Harvest Moon or explore similar ideas.
Don’t forget to return later for updates and browse our other curated collections for extra gaming recommendations.
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Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town
Developer: Marvelous Inc. rnrnPlatforms: PC, Switch
Like we mentioned at the top, the original Harvest Moon now goes by Story of Seasons as of 2014. The latest entry in the rebranded franchise is actually a 3D remake of a GBA Harvest Moon game called Friends of Mineral Town.
Outside of updating the graphics, Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town stays loyal to the original’s story and gameplay.
You play as a young city slicker who returns to the countryside village of Mineral Town to take care of their late grandfather’s farm. The game sees you caring for an assortment of fruits, vegetables, and livestock in addition to side activities like cooking and shopping.
Players can purchase presents for neighbors and even pursue a romantic relationship with various potential suitors, eventually establishing their own household.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Developer: Nintendo rnrnPlatform: Switch
Considering Animal Crossing and Harvest Moon have historically catered to the same audience, 2020’s New Horizons is an incredibly satisfying alternative that’s sure to keep you entertained for hundreds of hours.
While it strives to breathe new life into the series by introducing a new DIY crafting system, updated graphics, and a host of improvements, the core concept remains the same.
Days are spent tending to gardens, catching bugs and fish, and buying up furniture to decorate your cozy little home courtesy of Nook Inc.
Additionally, new terraforming tools allow you to customize your island retreat with personalized paths, rivers, cliffs, forests, and more. Think of it as a digital escape away from your virtual farm in Harvest Moon.

Graveyard Keeper
Developer: Lazy Bear Games rnrnPlatforms: PC, PS4, XB1, Switch, Android
If you can look past its gloomy subject matter, Graveyard Keeper is an engaging management sim set during the medieval ages with clear Harvest Moon influences, namely its vintage 16-bit visuals.
Instead of maintaining a farm and getting married, the game sees you exploring an array of sinister and supernatural activities such as burying bodies, crafting magical potions, and attending witch burnings.
If it wasn’t clear up until now, Graveyard Keeper has a twisted sense of humor that’s reflected in just about every aspect of gameplay. At times, you may find yourself having to cut costs just to keep your cemetery business viable.
This can lead to difficult moral decisions like whether to invest time and resources making quality potions or just use random ingredients from nearby caves and creeks, potentially poisoning your customers in the process.

Travellers Rest
Developer: Louqou rnrnPlatform: PC
Travellers Rest is another Harvest Moon inspired management sim set during the medieval ages, only instead of running some sort of peculiar cemetery, you’re the owner of a tiny tavern with thirsty customers.
The game tasks you with keeping patrons’ glasses topped with their preferred beverage while preparing food and improving the bar’s facilities.
Eventually, you do unlock a farm where you can plant and harvest crops. There are also abundant opportunities for customization, from your character’s appearance to the bar’s layout; Travellers Rest goes a substantial way towards making you feel like you’re in control of the entire experience.
As you familiarize yourself with your bar’s regulars and listen to local tales and gossip, you’ll progressively feel like a part of the community and become immersed in their lives.

Staxel
Developer: Plukit rnrnPlatform: PC
At first glance, Staxel looks like any other ordinary Minecraft clone; but give it a chance, and you’ll discover its actually quite unique in how it approaches blending RPG mechanics with farming sim gameplay.
Combine this with a lack of combat and a plethora of low stakes quests, and you have a satisfying, modern alternative to classic Harvest Moon.
Like many other farming sims, Staxel sees you turning an empty plot of land into a thriving farm while building relationships with villagers by completing tasks. Eventually, your hard work will pay off, and you’ll be rewarded with a beautiful-looking farm and home.
Additionally, the game supports online co-op, allowing you to take your buddies along for new adventures.

The Sims 4
Developer: Maxis rnrnPlatforms: PC, PS4, XB1
You simply can’t talk about life sims like Harvest Moon without mentioning the forerunner of them all, The Sims.
The most recent entry in the now 30-year-old franchise is a culmination of every game that came before it. Where previous Sims games would offer glimpses of feeling completely immersed in a different world, The Sims 4 really delivers.
Whether you’re looking to build a criminal empire, explore the deep stretches of space as an astronaut, or become the most famous gardener in all of Willow Creek, The Sims 4 has just about every walk of life covered.
Not to mention the game’s extensive building tools that allow you to turn your dream home into a virtual reality. As the series has progressed, so too has its romance system, allowing for same-sex marriages and the ability to adopt children.

Garden Paws
Developer: Bitten Toast Games rnrnPlatforms: Switch, PC
Although life sims come in all shapes and sizes, none come even close to matching the degree of cuteness in Garden Paws.
Inspired by titles like Harvest Moon and Animal Crossing, the part management sim, part adventure game puts you in the shoes, or rather paws, of delightfully small animals. You can play as a rabbit, a chipmunk, a dog, a cat, or even a diminutive dragon.
Between managing a farm, gathering supplies, and exploring caves, beaches, and forests for treasure, you’ll find there’s always something to do in the world. The game also includes a robust shopkeeping component that can be useful for convincing other animals to come visit your island.
While completing tasks can be quite comprehensive, life sims are all about taking the time to stop and smell the roses.

Farming Simulator 19
Developer: Giants Software rnrnPlatforms: PC, PS4, XB1, Switch
If farming is your favorite part of Harvest Moon, then you may enjoy how comprehensive Farming Simulator 19 gets with its crop cultivation. After all, in the actual world, managing a farm entails a lot more daily tasks than simply planting a seed, sprinkling water on it, and waiting for something to grow.
You have a daily checklist of tasks to get through, such as tending to livestock, organizing crops, and performing routine maintenance on your equipment.
The game inches its way towards realism, but thankfully never takes itself too seriously. We recommend diving headfirst into FS19‘s Career Mode, which offers a substantial amount of different scenarios designed to teach you everything you need to know about the game.
The best part is climbing onto one of those massive tractors and cruising around your land like some proficient farmer.

Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles
Developer: Prideful Sloth rnrnPlatforms: PS4, XB1, Switch, PC
Yonder takes its Harvest Moon influences beyond the confines of a small rural town and into a vibrant open-world with distinct locales ripe for exploration. In it, you play as a hero on a quest to rid the world of a noxious poison called “Murk” that’s plaguing the land.
Your only hope is to seek out creatures known as Sprites whose magical powers can aid in defeating the Murk once and for all.
Although Yonder is a lot more story-driven than HM, life sim enthusiasts will still find plenty of familiar systems to immerse themselves in. Your character can take up occupations to acquire skills, establish farmland throughout the world, make friends by completing favors, and even adopt animal companions.
Like many of the other games on this list, Yonder benefits from its relaxed approach to gameplay and advancement.

My Time at Portia
Developer: Pathea Games rnrnPlatforms: PS4, XB1, Switch, PC
If you prefer life sims that prioritize variety over substance, then chances are you’ll enjoy Pathea Games’ expansive-world RPG My Time At Portia. In it, you play as the new resident of Portia, a historic coastal village with the potential to become a thriving city.
The game presents players with a multitude of everyday activities to keep themselves occupied, such as fishing, farming, mining, constructing, and cooking.
Each task is wonderfully woven into an open-ended narrative that encourages you to cooperate and build relationships with the residents of Portia. Objectives range from crafting a particular gadget to make life easier, to harvesting new crops for neighbors in need.
Similar to Harvest Moon, players can decorate their homes, find romance, and even have children.

Stardew Valley
Developer: ConcernedApe rnrnPlatforms: PS4, XB1, Switch, PC, Android, iOS
Directly inspired by the Harvest Moon series, Stardew Valley is a farming sim RPG that offers players a soothing adventure presented in 16-bit pixel art visuals. In it, you create your own character and set off for your grandfather’s ancient farm in hopes of restoring it to its former glory.
Throughout several in-game years, you’ll get to know the numerous ins and outs of running a farm before moving on to other fields like ranching, wine-making, baking, etc.
The game features a day/night cycle that encourages you to plan out your day ahead of time, whether that be investigating mines, talking to neighbors, tending crops, or just hanging out at the local tavern.
The people of Stardew have diverse characters that enable you to create strong connections as friends or romantic companions. If you choose to establish a home, tie the knot, and start a family, your new household will also dwell with you.

World’s Dawn
Developer: Wayward Prophet rnrnPlatforms: PC, PS4, XB1, Switch
World’s Dawn leans heavily into the retro aesthetic of early Harvest Moon games by presenting its blend of pixel art graphics and hand-drawn character overlays in the classic 4:3 aspect ratio offered by older televisions.
And of all the entries on this list, it comes the closest to replicating the feeling of early HM games before they made the switch to 3D. Not to mention it’s one of the most relaxing video games you’ll ever play.
This stems from its open-ended design, which encourages you to set your own objectives and aims. Whether that means honing your skills as a farmer, raising an army of fit and satisfied cattle, or focusing your efforts on finding a soulmate.
If you’re yearning for a genuine HM experience minus the outdated hardware those games are confined to, World’s Dawn is the next best thing.

Ooblets
Developer: Glumberland rnrnPlatforms: PC, XB1
Released just this year, Ooblets is a novel take on life sims that feels like a “greatest hits” mashup of the entire genre. You’ve got the dynamic social interactions of Animal Crossing, the farm management of Harvest Moon, and a sprinkling of Pokémon-inspired turn-based dance battles for a bit of RPG pizzazz. The end result is a one of a kind life sim with adorable visuals and a lot of variety.
You assume control over a customizable character who lives in a world where humans and adorable creatures known as “ooblets” coexist. Ooblets come in all shapes and sizes and, after some persuasion, will join your party and follow you around everywhere you go.
Additionally, you can combine characteristics from different ooblets to create new species that will sprout up in your garden.

Castaway Paradise
Developer: Stolen Couch Games rnrnPlatforms: PC, PS4, XB1, Android, iOS
Despite its mobile game presentation, Castaway Paradise is a comprehensive life sim that’s not ashamed to show its admiration for Animal Crossing and Harvest Moon, being as bold as to reference both Nintendo series by name in the game’s description. In it, you play as your own original character who finds themselves trapped in a storm before eventually washing ashore on a stunning tropical island.
After introducing yourself to the locals, they decide to aid you by setting you up with a tent. It’s not long before you’re put to work as just about every inhabitant has a request or favor to throw your way.
Contribute and get ornaments for your home, discover new places, and experience the joy of making friends with animal characters.

Mineko’s Night Market
Developer: Meowza Games rnrnPlatforms: PC, Switch
To help prepare you for future Harvest Moon cravings, we’ve taken the liberty of including a couple upcoming titles that fall within the life sim/farming management umbrella. One such game is Mineko’s Night Market, a visually-appealing adventure game with social sim gameplay mechanics and more cat cameos than you can possibly handle.
In it, you play as an inquisitive girl who’s still trying to adjust to her new life on a Japanese-inspired island overrun by felines. While the main story focuses on uncovering the island’s many secrets, namely the existence of a legendary Sun Cat named Abe, there’s a lot more to explore.
When you’re not unraveling cat-god related enigmas, you’re tasked with running a shop, crafting goods, and caring for the island’s fuzzy infants.

Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin
Developer: Edelweiss rnrnPlatforms: PC, PS4, XB1, Switch
For Harvest Moon fans who aren’t afraid to roll their sleeves up and get messy, Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin is an action-packed farming sim that throws real-time combat into the mix.
In it, you play as young rice farmer whose been banished to live on a dangerous island reserved for social outcasts. While exploring the island’s stunning yet treacherous environments, she finds a home in a mountainside village amongst the locals.
However, to prove her worth and earn a place amongst her peers, she’ll have to contribute by growing rice harvests and making the village more protected. Players’ time is split between managing a rice paddy using authentic farming mechanics and venturing into the island’s most perilous areas to defeat monsters and gather valuable resources.
It’s unclear how these two components will mesh in the final game, but it’s worth checking out if not for Sakuna‘s gorgeous visuals.

Farm Folks
Developer: Overgrown rnrnPlatforms: PC, PS4, XB1, Switch
Last but not least, Farm Folks is another farming sim RPG that wears its Harvest Moon influence on its sleeve. The upcoming game sees you customizing your own character before setting off into its vibrant and colorful open-world.
Players are free to tackle whatever objectives they want, be it growing crops, raising livestock, mining in caves, or fishing for that next big catch.
Along the way, you’ll get to meet the island’s inhabitants and unlock recollections from your past. As new memories are discovered, the game’s narrative starts to unravel, revealing more about the player’s history and the world around them.
It’s an intriguing premise and significant addition to the farming sim genre, which typically emphasizes gameplay over story.