
There’s just something so appealing about the thought of leaving the big bustling cities and settling down in a quiet countryside town to live a humble life on a farm.
This is a sentiment that a lot of people share given the popularity of games like Stardew Valley and other farming simulator games released in the past few years. Having relaxing games that offer stress-free challenges and at the same time gives the players freedom to play at their own pace may have just been exactly what people needed. If a vacation is out of the question, these games can bring you a sense of comfort and peace, and allow you a temporary escape from your busy life.
So if you’re looking for a game that can provide you a breath of fresh air (and the nostalgia factor of Harvest Moon, then the cozy yet exciting gameplay of the Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life would be perfect for you.
What Is Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life?

Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life is the latest entry to the Story of Seasons series but you may find it more familiar to you than you would expect. This game is actually a remake of Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life, one of the best-selling titles in the Harvest Moon series, which was first released around two decades ago in 2003. This rebirth revisits this iconic community with updated systems, character designs, and visuals that revitalize Forgotten Valley while maintaining the charm that made the original a beloved classic.
What Happened With Harvest Moon?

It’s understandable that fans of the original game may be confused as to why it’s being remade under a new name, so much so that they might not even be aware that their favorite Harvest Moon game is getting a remake in the first place.
While the games have always been called Bokujou Monogatari in Japan, it is the Western localization that has had trouble over the years. It was originally translated and released for Western audiences under the name Harvest Moon by publishers Natsume.
However, when the developers of the games, Marvelous, parted ways with the publishers, it was Natsume that retained the rights to the brand name Harvest Moon. Thus, Marvelous needed to retitle their series to Story of Seasons in the west.
The confusion between the two titles continues to this day and largely stems from the fact that Natsume, though having lost the rights to the original games, has continued to produce its own version of the charming farming simulator game under the name of Harvest Moon, now with developers Appci Corporation.
So while Western players are more likely to recognize the Harvest Moon name, it is the Story of Seasons series that brought them the farming simulator games that they loved in their childhood. But if you really can’t get enough of these types of games, Harvest Moon’s newest installment, titled Harvest Moon: The Winds of Anthos, is releasing just around the corner on September 26, 2023.
A New Start in Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life

Much like other games in the genre, Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life starts off with you inheriting your father’s farm in the peaceful town of Forgotten Valley after he has passed. Your father and his friend Takakura once dreamed of running a farm and now it’s up to you to fulfill their legacy. Apart from growing crops and raising animals on your farm, you’ll meet the valley’s residents that you can socialize and befriend- from eccentric townsfolk to charming sweethearts. As the seasons go by, you’ll find your lifelong partner, raise a child together, and watch them grow up before your very eyes.

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Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life’s Features
Here are all the things you can do in Forgotten Valley:
Farming

What is a farming game without, well, farming? Players are given a huge plot of farmland to till, sow seeds, and grow a variety of crops. Farmers will have to take note that certain types of seed can only grow in specific seasons but this game does introduce the idea of hybrid farming which produces new and rare crops that can grow in multiple seasons. You can also use fertilizers to improve the quality of your produce and as you expand your farm, you may gain access to more nutrient-rich fields. When your crops are ripe, harvest the fruits of your labor and use them however you want. You can sell them, give them as gifts to the townsfolk, cook them, or just eat them right away.
Animal Raising

Besides a huge field that you can plant crops on, your farm has a chicken coop, barn, and a pond that you can make use of. Players can raise up to nine different kinds of animals on the farm. Treat them with enough TLC and they will reward you with high-quality animal byproducts like milk, eggs, and wool. These can be processed further to products like butter and cheese which can be sold for a higher price.
Fishing

Fishing is a staple in farming simulator games nowadays as an alternative way to earn money as you wait for your crops to grow. There are plenty of fishing spots all around Forgotten Valley that you can choose from with different kinds of fish to catch. The fishing gameplay is not complicated either as players only need to wait for the fish to bite before having to mash the button to reel it in.
Cooking

With newly added crops also comes a plethora of new cooking recipes to try out. You can craft yourself some meals to bring along with you to replenish your stamina. You can also share your culinary creations with other characters that may like it to build friendship or affection.
Archeology Dig

Players looking to change up their pace from working on the farm can lend a hand to the town’s resident archeologist Carter in working on the excavation site near his tent. You can discover valuable relics and treasures in this site, all of which could be exchanged for a good chunk of money.
Seasonal Events

It’s easy to be consumed in working on your farm but Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life does emphasize the importance of socializing with your neighbors in town. There are a lot of seasonal events that bring the townspeople together which makes for the perfect time to forge friendships and bonds with them. Some of these events may be competitions that you can enter and win prizes from.
Family

One of the biggest draw of the original game is that your main character is able to build their family, have a child, and actually watch your child grow up into an adult while your own character grows visibly older. Even modern farming simulator games that allow you to have a kid like Stardew Valley do not have this feature. Rest assured that the remake remained faithful to this unique mechanic.
Something Old, Something New

With this being a remake, a lot of changes have been implemented into the game to breathe new life into this title. Some of these features and improvements were already present in previous titles like Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life Special Edition and Harvest Moon: Another Wonderful Life while other changes are completely new and exclusive to this remake, which would put it on par with other modern farming/social RPG simulators of its kind.
First and foremost, one of the biggest changes that Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life implemented from the original is player customization. In the original game, players could only play as a male character with a fixed look and design. The remake amends this in several ways.
Not only does it let you play as a female character, a feature that was added in Another Wonderful Life, but players will be pleasantly surprised to see that you are given the choice to play a non-binary character as well.

You can also completely customize your farmer’s look. From their facial features, skin tone, and eye color, there are a lot of customization options to choose from. Interacting with the dresser at your house allows you to change your clothes, as well as the style and color of your hair at any time so that you can create the perfect seasonal look!
It’s not just your character that gets a revamp in their designs. All of the characters in the town of Forgotten Valley get their modern designs that suit the Story of Seasons art style and their animations are updated as well. Some characters were renamed but remained the same lovable personalities to befriend or engage in a romance with.

Speaking of romances, the remake expands the shallow pool of marriage candidates from three bachelorettes (four in the special edition of the old game) to a total of eight, with the addition of four bachelors. The main character can also marry any of the eight marriage candidates, regardless of their chosen gender. There’s also the newly added marriage ceremonies which will make the start of your married life something to remember.
The game also boasts more than 70 new events that will make sure to make your wonderful life a memorable experience. And if you’re a believer that even the smallest of things in the day-to-day of running the farm is worth remembering, then the new Camera tool will let you capture those moments in every chapter of your character’s life in vivid detail.
Should You Play Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life?

Whether you are new to the Story of Seasons series or a seasoned veteran, there are a lot of things to enjoy in the series’ latest installment. The remake succeeds in living up to the spirit of the original, which is sure to make older fans happy, all the while bringing some much-needed updates to the game that will make it appealing to a new generation of gamers to pick up. So if you’re looking for a brand new farm life to start over with, there’s a place waiting for you in the town of Forgotten Valley. Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life released on June 27, 2023 and is available to play on Steam, PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch.