Farming simulators may not be the most adrenaline-pumping, action-packed titles in the video game industry, but theyr remain part of a persistently popular genre with successful releasesHarvest MoonandStory of Seasons.Harvest Moonwas a foundational entry in the farming simulator landscape, helping to inspire the incredibly popular and critically acclaimedStardew Valley. However, some may be a bit confused about what the difference is betweenHarvest Moonand the similar-lookingStory of Seasonsfranchises.
Franchise continuity and consistent branding can be vital for long-running series, with developers wanting to ensure that fans of one game can easily access its sequels. However,Harvest Moonhasn’t had the smoothest ride in Western markets thanks to some developer changes and rights issues. This may have left players confused when trying to work outhow it’s connected toStory of Seasons, but what’s important to remember is that the franchise originally calledHarvest MoonisStory of Seasonsin the modern day.
RELATED:Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life Has to Avoid the Pitfalls of the Original Games
Harvest Moon’s Connection To Story of Seasons
From the outside, it can be hard to decipher just what the difference is between the charming farming simulator seriesHarvest MoonandStory of Seasons, and fans could be forgiven for thinking that they were the same thing. Both franchises are actually versions of the Japanese gameBokujou Monogatari,which was originally translated and released in Western markets bypublisher Natsume under the nameHarvest Moon.
However, things got complicated whenHarvest Moon’s developer parted ways with Natsume, effectively ending the series as players knew it. Natsume retained the rights to theHarvest Moonname, and continued producing its own version of the games with Appci Corporation as a new developer. TheHarvest Moonbrand continued, but the formula that fans were familiar with wasrebranded asStory of Seasons, which is now published by Xseed Games. To look at it simply,Harvest Moona new series with a name that gamers might recognize more easily, whereasStory of Seasonsis the older franchise with a new name.
The Future of The Farming Simulation Franchises
Both franchises continue to release games, and with new titles launching around the same time last year it’s understandable why players might be confused. Name changes and publishing rights aside, bothHarvest MoonandStory of Seasonsseem like they’re aiming to keep producing farming-focused titles, asStory of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive TownandHarvest Moon: One Worldproved in 2021.
On the surface, fans may think these games are interchangeable, but there are lots of differences between the two farming simulators. The newerHarvest Moongames have tried to differentiate themselves with new characters, and even introduced exotic animals. By contrast,Story of Seasonscan rely on more traditional aspectsof the series based on the olderHarvest Moongames, and will likely appeal more to die-hard fans.
The upcomingStory of Seasons: A Wonderful Lifewill be a 2023 remake ofHarvest Moon: A Wonderful Life, creating another connection between the two franchises and bringing a lot of the original features back alongside a slew of welcome changes. What’s next for Natsume’s ongoingHarvest Moonseries remains to be seen, but it’s likely the publisher will keep relying on this popular brand name for as long as possible.
Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Lifelaunches summer 2023 for Nintendo Switch.
