Things have gotten a bit confusing in the farming simulation community. For years, the Harvest Moon games have been the go-to franchise for those looking to live a peaceful life on a ranch. A few years ago, though, the franchise suddenly changed its name to Story of Seasons.
Things get even trickier since both franchises are now releasing games that don't come from the same series. Just which one is the franchise you remember from childhood, and are the two series related at all? Below is everything you need to know about the confusing name swap of your favorite farming sim.
Updated July 7th, 2023 by David Kinder: It's been a decade since Harvest Moon and Story of Seasons had their split. Even after all this time, there's still confusion about which game is which. It doesn't help that every time Story of Seasons announces a new game, Natsume has a new Harvest Moon. If you don't look carefully, they even seem similar too. With this and many other factors in mind, it's no wonder why "is Story of Seasons Harvest Moon" the first thing that pops up in autocomplete. As a word of advice, Story of Seasons is the Harvest Moon game you grew up playing in the early 2000s.
8 They Have Different Names Because Of Licensing
Until 2012, Natsume was the publisher of Harvest Moon games. Marvelous is the studio that comes to mind when you think of Harvest Moon. However, they decided to change publishers to Xseed Games. There was only one problem. Natsume owned the Harvest Moon name, so Marvelous couldn't make any games under that brand anymore.
This is where Story of Seasons comes into play. Story of Seasons is the original series under a new name. Any new Harvest Moon game released since 2012 has been developed by Natsume. It's a tad confusing. Fortunately, that's the biggest difference you need to know.
7 They Have Completely Different Characters
You're not going to find the same characters in either franchise. Archetypes are a different story. If you love seeing familiar faces, Story of Seasons will be your go-to option. Harvest Moon prefers to give players a clean slate with each new title.
If you're hoping for rich, in-depth dialogue that reveals more about citizens, don't hold your breath. There are a lot of hit-or-miss features with both games. Some Story of Seasons titles will have fun dialogue, while others will make you want to play another game. Natsume's Harvest Moon suffers from the same problems.
6 The New Harvest Moon Has Mobile Roots
Story of Seasons wasn't intended for mobile gaming. In 2019, Marvelous announced a mobile app for the franchise, but it hasn't come to fruition. Natsume, however, is more familiar with apps with two on the market. While it's easy to say Natsume's experience has influenced this gameplay, it would be drawing unnecessary conclusions.
You can bring up the 3DS as an example of mobile gaming, but there's a marketed difference. Apps tend to be more microtransaction heavy and limited in their design. There was an outcry when the Harvest Moon app was brought to consoles: it didn't meet fan expectations.
5 Different Building Philosophies
So you want to terraform your land like it's Animal Crossing? Both games offer it in one form or another. Story of Seasons has pretty limited customization options for your farm. What you see is what you get. Harvest Moon, on the other hand, has pushed for further changes to give you control over how your environment looks.
Their customization options are a bit primitive, but they tend to get the job done. Don't expect the world when the developers are giving you a shovel. Hopefully, a more comprehensive system will unfold in future titles for both franchises.
4 They Have Different Development Philosophies
Marvelous's intent for Story of Seasons is to make a game that feels like home. They want players to see the bright side of life and feel invested in their world. Their goal leads to an emphasis on socialization and farming activities. They also wanted players to be able to see their entire journey and have a complete experience.
Natsume's design philosophy for Harvest Moon is creating an open-ended experience with terraforming and characters at the front of gameplay. They also wanted the user experience to feel intuitive and unique, which can be seen through their adaptive tool system.
3 They Focus on Different Mechanics
Story of Seasons tries to keep things more traditional and adds a complementary modern touch here and there. Natsume's Harvest Moon has tried to differentiate itself with more unique creatures, characters, quests, and farm customization.
For Natsume, the unfortunate consequence has been a lack of specialization and depth. A constant complaint players have had is that the world feels hollow. It doesn't help that there is an unusually static quality to the overworld. You can feel like you've walked into the backrooms of an old PS1 game.
2 The Grind Varies Between Franchises
Natsume's Harvest Moon can feel like doing a mountain of chores just to see more responsibilities pile up. However, instead of doing chores, you're aimlessly trying to get from one place to another. Even farming is stretched out into an unnecessarily tedious process. A farming simulator shouldn't feel this slow and boring.
The only thing that's remained consistent is the relationship grind. They're still a feature in both titles. Until recently, only Story of Seasons had LGBTQ+ relationships. Now you can pick your favorite bachelor or bachelorette without having to reset your game and pick a new avatar.
1 Different Designs and Style
Story of Seasons's art style is more vibrant and detailed. While it's a far cry from its 90s aesthetic, it's appropriately fitting for this generation. Even though the world isn't 100% brimmed with detail, it's still a pleasant sight for the eyes. Even characters feel unique and stand out.
Natsume's Harvest Moon has a more generalized art style. It's reminiscent of early 2010s mobile apps and Zynga-era games with a touch of anime. Unfortunately, the environments are less compact and detailed. Fewer characters have memorable appearances. The rest of the cast can end up feeling like mob (background) characters.