Harvest Moon (2007 video game series)

Harvest Moon is a farm simulation role-playing video game series published by Natsume. The main objective of the games is to rebuild a run-down old farm and turn it into a successful one. The most recent game was Harvest Moon: Light of Hope, released for Microsoft Windows in 2017.

This article is about the series which began in 2007. It is not to be confused with the Story of Seasons series which was titled Harvest Moon between 1996 and 2013.

Harvest Moon
The Harvest Moon series logo.
Genre(s)Life simulation
Farming simulation
Role-playing game
Puzzle
Developer(s)Platinum-Egg Inc. (2007–2009)
Appci Corporation (2014–present)[lower-alpha 1]
Publisher(s)
Platform(s)Android, BlackBerry, iOS, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
First releasePuzzle de Harvest Moon
6 November 2007
Latest releaseHarvest Moon: Mad Dash
29 October 2019

Previously, Natsume published the series Bokujō Monogatari in North America under the title Harvest Moon. However, the developer, original publisher and owner of this series, Marvelous, decided to have their own American division, Xseed Games, take over North American distribution in 2014. However, due to Natsume keeping the rights to the Harvest Moon name, the latest titles in the series were rebranded Story of Seasons while Natsume began to produce their own series under the Harvest Moon name.[1]

Origins

The name "Harvest Moon" was originally used for the series created by Marvelous known in Japan as Bokujō Monogatari (牧場物語, lit. Ranch Story). Natsume initially distributed this series under the name Harvest Moon outside of Japan until 2014. At that time, Natsume maintained the rights to the Harvest Moon series name after Marvelous announced that it would have its subsidiary, Xseed Games, take over North American distribution.[2] Because of this, Xseed began localizing the series to North America under the Story of Seasons title, beginning with the release of the game of the same name.

In 2007, Natsume has taken the opportunity to develop their own video game series using the name Harvest Moon in North America and Europe, and in 2014, it released Harvest Moon: The Lost Valley, the first farm simulator game in the new series. The resulting spin-off series, at least since Harvest Moon: The Lost Valley, has caused some degree of confusion among fans and video game news sources, due to the game not actually being a part of the same series as the games titled Harvest Moon before it.[3][4]

List of games
Title Details
Puzzle de Harvest Moon

Original release date(s):[5]
  • NA: 6 November 2007
 Release years by system:
2007 – Nintendo DS[5]
Notes:
  • Puzzle de Harvest Moon is a spin-off puzzle game which uses farm-related activities from the role-playing games of the series[6]
Harvest Moon: Frantic Farming

Original release date(s):[7]
  • NA: 7 August 2009
 Release years by system:
Notes:
  • Harvest Moon: Frantic Farming is the second puzzle game in the series following Puzzle de Harvest Moon
  • It is the first game in the series to be released for iOS and BlackBerry
Harvest Moon: The Lost Valley

Original release date(s):
  • NA: 4 November 2014
  • EU: 19 June 2015
  • AU: 20 June 2015
 Release years by system:
2014 – Nintendo 3DS
Notes:
  • The first non-spin-off released without involving the developers of Story of Seasons.
Harvest Moon: Seeds of Memories

Original release date(s):[10][11]
  • WW: 14 January 2016
 Release years by system:
2016 – iOS, Android
Harvest Moon: Skytree Village

Original release date(s):
  • NA: 8 November 2016
  • EU: 2 June 2017
  • AU: 30 May 2017
 Release years by system:
2016 – Nintendo 3DS
Harvest Moon: Light of Hope

Original release date(s):[12]
  • WW: 15 November 2017
 Release years by system:
2017 – Microsoft Windows
2018 – Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Android, iOS
2020 – Xbox One
Harvest Moon: Mad Dash

Original release date(s):
  • WW: 29 October 2019
 Release years by system:
2019 – Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows
2020 – Xbox One
Harvest Moon: One World

Original release date(s):[13][14]
  • NA: 2 March 2021
  • EU: 5 March 2021
 Release years by system:
2021 – Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4
TBA – Xbox One

Reception
Aggregate review scores
Game Metacritic
Puzzle de Harvest Moon (DS) 41[15]
Harvest Moon: Frantic Farming (DS) 72[16]
Harvest Moon: The Lost Valley (3DS) 46[17]
Harvest Moon: Seeds of Memories (iOS) 68[18]
Harvest Moon: Skytree Village (3DS) 59[19]
Harvest Moon: Light of Hope (Switch) 62[20]

Notes
  1. Formerly known as Tabot, Inc. before 1 June 2018

References
  1. Colin Moriarty (28 May 2014). "Harvest Moon Returns in Story of Seasons on 3DS". IGN.
  2. Moriarty, Colin (28 May 2014). "Harvest Moon Returns in Story of Seasons on 3DS". IGN. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
  3. Whitehead, Thomas (3 June 2014). "Natsume Announces Harvest Moon: The Lost Valley for a 2014 Release on 3DS". Nintendo Life. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
  4. Campbell, Evan (3 June 2014). "Harvest Moon: The Lost Valley Announced - IGN". IGN. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
  5. "Puzzle de Harvest Moon - Release Summary". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 29 September 2012. Retrieved 10 September 2008.
  6. Provo, Frank (27 November 2007). "Puzzle de Harvest Moon Review". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 29 September 2012. Retrieved 1 May 2008.
  7. "Harvest Moon: Frantic Farming for IP". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 29 September 2012. Retrieved 10 August 2009.
  8. "Related Games - Release Summary". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 29 September 2012. Retrieved 3 June 2009.
  9. "Harvest Moon: Frantic Farming for BlackBerry". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 29 September 2012. Retrieved 8 November 2010.
  10. Nunneley, Stephany (2 June 2015). "Harvest Moon: Seeds of Memories coming to PC and Wii U this winter". VG247. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
  11. "Harvest Moon: Seeds of Memories new version v1.6 APK".
  12. Romano, Sal (18 September 2020). "Harvest Moon: Light Of Hope Special Edition Complete now available for Xbox One, Windows 10". Gematsu. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  13. "Harvest Moon: One World announced for Switch". Gematsu. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  14. Ivan, Tom (16 September 2020). "Harvest Moon: One World for Nintendo Switch has been delayed to March 2021". Video Games Chronicle. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  15. "Puzzle De Harvest Moon". Metacritic. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  16. "Harvest Moon: Frantic Farming". Metacritic. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  17. "Harvest Moon 3D: The Lost Valley". Metacritic. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  18. "Harvest Moon: Seeds of Memories". Metacritic. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  19. "Harvest Moon: Skytree Village". Metacritic. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  20. "Harvest Moon: Light of Hope". Metacritic. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
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