8 Other Games That Will Make You Cozy Inside!
Story of Seasons is the new brand name for Harvest Moon. However, the elements fans loved from the latter remain in the former. This game provides gamers with a boatload of farming fun mixed with romantic features. While the game’s graphics aren’t as charming as its predecessor entries, fans always love returning to this series to speak with NPCs, plant crops, and interact with its animal life.
If you’ve finished playing Story of Seasons and are looking for alternatives – fret not! We’ve combed through the archives and saved you the hassle with our top 8 picks.
Of course, for all the games we’ve reviewed, we’ve also added a handy link, so you can check out our full thoughts on that and see if it’s something you want to invest your time in.
So without further ado, we present 8 games to check out if you’re looking for a game like Story of Seasons.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Animal Crossing: New Horizons is the latest entry in the franchise. It offers fun gameplay, a cozy atmosphere, and a remarkable band of cuddly characters for you to befriend. It’s one of Nintendo’s staple franchises, and one many people flock to when they need to let out some steam. In it, players must craft the island of their dreams.
You’ll complete numerous tasks under the watchful eyes of Tom Nook, a wealthy raccoon. This game doesn’t feature a grand narrative and it may take players time to achieve the freedom they’re after. However, once you complete Nook’s mandatory tasks and receive new skills as rewards, you’re given free terrain to turn this barren landscape into something delightful.
Like Story of Seasons, Animal Crossing is all about plotting lands, growing communities, and maintaining peace. You’ll devote many hours to the game and get punished for slacking off. You can make money to buy upgrades to your home and island. The game’s online mode isn’t too enjoyable as there’s not much you can do. Regardless, you’re bound to create some charming memories with your friends while playing this game.
Stardew Valley
Stardew Valley offers Story of Seasons fans a fabulous world to explore and build to your heart’s content. Like Story of Seasons, players will enjoy the game’s countless activities from taming livestock to planting crops. The game’s storytelling is grand and will hit close to home with a specific audience.
In it, players control a girl who inherits her grandfather’s farmland. You must help her transform this plot into something spectacular. This will not only bring honor to her grandfather’s name but will help reignite Stardew Valley’s residents’ passion. Although fulfilling her goals is essential to the plot, Stardew Valley grants players immense freedom.
You can explore caves, visit nearby buildings, converse with residents, and among other things. This is a game you’ll spend a large amount of time playing. If you’re looking for an incredible pixelated farming simulation game that captures similar energy to Story of Seasons, check out Stardew Valley.
Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles
Graveyard Keeper
Graveyard Keeper is a wonderful life simulation game with a medieval fantasy theme. In it, players must build upon a medieval graveyard. You’ll encounter ethical hardships and make questionable decisions while defending it. The game harbors slight inaccuracies but promises fans will enjoy its take on resource management.
The game’s romantic storyline and dark undertones will appeal to diverse audiences. You’ll stumble across dead corpses, which you can sell to the game’s local butcher for profit. Nonetheless, Graveyard Keeper offers some amusing moments in its dialogue and story beats that will provide players with room to breathe.
All in all, this game should satisfy people who enjoy the farm simulation elements in the Story of Seasons series.
Dragon Quest Builders (Series)
Despite being known for its JRPG gameplay, Dragon Quest has evolved over time. Dragon Quest Builders is a spin-off series that feels more in line with simulation titles like Story of Seasons and Minecraft. However, this spin-off’s storytelling is on par with the former’s. Dragon Quest Builders 1 and 2 have well-written characters and many emotional scenes that’ll tug at your heartstrings.
For its gameplay, you must complete numerous NPC tasks. Most consist of you building something for them to receive rewards. You can build almost anything in this game from houses to large structures. You’ll receive recipes for items over time, allowing you to create things of your wildest imagination.
The things you can make in Dragon Quest Builders look remarkable in comparison to what you’d find in Story of Seasons. If you’re looking for a stellar builder game with a charming cast and well-crafted narrative, check out both Dragon Quest Builder titles.
Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout
Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout is a stellar JRPG. It boasts colorful characters, a riveting story, and fun gameplay mechanics. This is one of the most cherished series from the Atelier franchise and will surely give you a great deal for your money. In it, we follow Ryza, a girl who wants to go on a phenomenal adventure away from her boring village.
One day, Ryza and her friends stumble upon the forbidden “island across the shore,” where alchemy, monsters, and endless fun await them. This game boasts a richer narrative than Story of Seasons. It leaves players with a strong message about celebrating their youth to the fullest as adulthood is inevitable.
The gameplay offers a mixture of turn-based and real-time combat. This helps the battles feel unique and more intense. As you fight alongside your party, you’ll grow attached to the game’s cast and cheer for them. With its brilliant approach to gathering resources, fabulous battle system, and well-developed cast, you can’t go wrong with this one.
Slime Rancher
Slime Rancher offers gamers a wholesome experience. This game contains adorable character designs, luscious environments, and excellent gameplay. It’s a wholesome adventure title with a simple premise. It follows a feisty rancher named Beatrix, who embarks on a mission far from Earth.
She must enjoy life on a ranch entrusted to her by a fellow rancher named Hobson. While there, Beatrix must wrangle up slime-like creatures with her handy vacpack. Her life’s never dull as she must overcome many obstacles. She’ll find herself growing crops, harvesting resources, and exploring wild areas.
Like Story of Seasons, Beatrix’s activities contribute to her rebuilding Hobson’s ranch. However, there are secret areas hidden in the game for players to discover on their own time. With its fun missions, adorable visuals, and comforting gameplay loop, you’ll adore what Slime Rancher delivers.
Rune Factory 5
Rune Factory is the result of combing farming simulation with RPGs. What started as a spin-off of Story of Seasons became known as one of Marvelous’s best series today. It features the farming and community aspects fans loved from Story of Seasons but incorporates strong fantasy and dungeon-crawling elements to give it more depth.
Rune Factory 5 is the latest entry in the series. It follows an unnamed hero who loses their memory. The hero joins a ranger group called SEED and tends to the land given to them. The hero must complete numerous tasks from battling monsters to harvesting and planting crops. While the hero can be male or female and has a default name, you can change it to anything you’d like.
The fifth entry was well-acclaimed for its cast, gameplay, and storytelling. However, its visuals and scope aren’t as impressive. However, if you’ve never played a Rune Factory title before, this one is a great starting point.
So there we have it, our 8 video game picks to keep you busy after playing Story of Seasons.
What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!