January2023
Feature What Is The Difference Between Story Of Seasons And Harvest Moon? A Handy Explainer
I was elected to weed, not to read
We've finally done it. After starting every article that concerns either Story of Seasons or Harvest Moon with a potted explainer of the schism between Natsume and Marvelous XSEED, we've finally sat down and put (electronic) pen to (electronic) paper and written out a long-form explanation of what "Harvest Moon"...
Guide Story Of Seasons: A Wonderful Life - Everything We Know So Far
Release date, characters, and more!
Beloved GameCube farming sim Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life is coming back to our consoles this year, and we can't wait. Even though it's now a Story of Seasons game instead of a Harvest Moon one... even though the characters are all redesigned... and even if doesn't die in the remake (although we would be a...
Feature How Stardew Valley Grew The Farm Sim While Harvest Moon Went To Seed
The Concerned Ape and the Golden Egg
In August of 1996, the same year that Spice Girls released their debut single and The English Patient swept awards season, a little game called Bokujō Monogatari came out in Japan on the Super Famicom. All signs pointed to it being a flop: its development had been plagued by bankruptcy and downsizing; it came...
December2022
News Rune Factory 3 Special Has Been Rated For The Nintendo Switch
Western release targeting "Spring 2023"
During a Nintendo Direct in September, XSEED and Marvelous lifted the lid on Rune Factory 3 Special for the Switch. Apart from the usual RPG, farming and monster battle elements, this updated version will also include a brand new mode - allowing players to enjoy more quality time with their in-game spouse...
News Story Of Seasons: A Wonderful Life Will Have Physical Edition, Goat Plushie Premium Edition
Goat-y
Pre-orders will soon be open for Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life, a remake of the Harvest Moon GameCube game that's due out in summer 2023. The game will also be available on Nintendo Switch, PS5, and Xbox Series S|X as both a physical and digital edition, and a Premium Edition will also be available that includes a retail copy of the...
News New Story Of Seasons: A Wonderful Life Screenshots Show Off Town And Cows
We're moovin' to Cow Town
Are you excited for the Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life remake? Of course you are! You clicked on this article! Feast your eyes on these lovely new screenshots, which give us some insight into how the world will look all shiny and new: The town The wildlife The landscape How do you think it's looking so far?...
October2022
News Loop8: Summer Of Gods Confirms Japan Release Date In New Trailer
Targeting a "Spring 2023" launch in the west
XSEED Games upcoming release AI RPG Loop8: Summer of Gods was previously confirmed for a Spring 2023 release here in the west on the Nintendo Switch. It's now been confirmed the game will be arriving in Japan on 16th March next year on all consoles including the Switch. Marvelous has confirmed the game...
Memory Pak Story Of Seasons: Trio Of Towns' Ludus Was The Last Good Thing About The Series
omne trium perfectum
Welcome to the latest instalment in our nostalgia-inducing column, Memory Pak, where we're going to be doing a deep-dive into some of the most memorable moments in gaming – good and bad. Today is the five-year anniversary of the release of Story of Seasons: Trio of Towns in Europe, and Kate has some fond memories of a certain...
September2022
News Loop8: Summer Of Gods Is A Time-Travel RPG From The Producer Of Lunar And Grandia
Hazy summer days with demons
XSEED Games recently announced that it would be bringing SIEG Games' time-travel, emotion-driven AI RPG Loop8: Summer of Gods to Switch in 2023! This beautiful-looking game might be another coming-of-age story set in a Japanese school, but it has an all-star development team and a heavy focus on building relationships...
May2022
News Rune Factory 5 Passes 500,000 Global Sales On Switch
A decent yield
The March arrival of Rune Factory 5 on Switch in North America and Europe was very welcome, following its initial release in Japan back in May 2021. The excellent Rune Factory 4 Special also graced the Switch in early 2020, so the RPG / farm-sin series has been quite well served on Nintendo's hybrid. The IP's fans seems to have shown...
April2022
News Daemon X Machina Creators Announce Survival Game 'Deadcraft', Coming To Switch In May
There's a free demo, too
Marvelous and XSEED Games sure have given us a bit of a shock today! First Studios, the developers of the action-packed mech combat game Daemon X Machina is following its debut title up with a survival action game called Deadcraft. And it's coming to all platforms pretty soon, on 19th May. That's a heck of a switch-up from...
March2022
Round Up The Rune Factory 5 Reviews Are In
Here's what the critics think
Kirby is not the only one with a major release this week, Switch fans in the west can finally get their hands on Rune Factory 5. Now that the game's been out here for a few days, we've gathered up a handful of reviews. If you haven't already checked out our Nintendo Life review of Rune Factory 5, be sure to take a...
News Rune Factory 5 Lets You Cook, Fish, Smith, And Ride Cows With The Love Of Your Life
The perfect dating activities
Rune Factory 5 is a little over two weeks away, and new details about the game are trickling out. In a new video (above), Marvelous showcases the player character embarking on various activities with their potential soulmate. Aww. Your forever partner, whether the same or the opposite sex to your character, can join...
February2022
PSA Get All The Harvest Moon Games Before The 3DS And Wii U eShops Close
They've bought the farm
If you're embedded within the farming game community, you'll know all about the Harvest Moon / Story of Seasons schism, in which (Western localisation team and publisher) Natsume and (developer) Marvelous went their separate ways. Natsume kept the Harvest Moon name in the West, and cranked out a bunch of wildly disappointing...
Hands On Rune Factory 5 Feels Comfortable And Familiar, But Is That Enough?
A decade on, a new day has dawned
It’s rather hard to believe, but this July will mark the 10-year anniversary of the initial launch of Rune Factory 4 for the 3DS. Since then, the farm sim genre arguably hasn’t seen much innovation or notable movement, other than the release of a certain indie gem that hardly needs any introduction. Still,...
December2021
News Sakuna: Of Rice And Ruin Gets New Content In Latest Update - Here Are The Patch Notes
New dishes and Spirit Boughs
Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin has a brand new patch, titled "Ver. Nov 8th 2021" despite the fact that it came out on December 1st. It adds some new content, but largely contains bug fixes and adjustments to make the game work better. Check out the notes below: Ver. Nov 8 2021 Patch Notes Added Content Implemented a...
November2021
News Story Of Seasons: Pioneers Of Olive Town To Get Free Content Update
New outfits, hairstyles, and more
Following on from Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town getting a bunch of patches to make it a better experience, plus the free trial for Nintendo Switch Online subscribers, XSEED has announced today that a new, free content update is coming for the game. The
October2021
News XSEED Is Bringing An Updated Version Of Corpse Party To Switch Later This Month
Just in time for Halloween
XSEED Games has announced an updated version of the 1996 cult horror classic Corpse Party will be released on the Nintendo Switch here in the west on 20th October for $19.99 USD. There'll be a 10% discount at launch. The Switch version was originally released in Japan earlier this year on 28th February. The original game...
News Rune Factory 5 Physical And Limited Editions Now Up For Pre-Order
SHEEP PLUSH!
Rune Factory 5 has a release date of March 25th, 2022, which means that it missed out on the tussle between Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town and Harvest Moon: One World earlier this year, but nevertheless, RF5 is trying to get in on the competition for Cutest Pre-Order Plush. Anyone who pre-orders the
September2021
News Rune Factory 5 Will Feature Same-Sex Marriage In The West
Players can marry all 12 candidates
Rune Factory 5 was one of the many games shown off in the September 2021 Nintendo Direct, and it was revealed that for the first time in the series, we're going to get the ability to marry people of the same gender — despite rumours to the contrary. T
News Rune Factory 5 Release Date Finally Confirmed For Next Year
Only 6 months to go!
Last night's Nintendo Direct was full of news, surprises, and long-awaited release date announcements, among which was the March 22nd launch date for Rune Factory 5. The farming, fighting, and friendship game is extremely popular among fans of the life-sim genre, and has become even more so after Harvest Moon's poorly-rated...
Feature Should I Play Story Of Seasons: Pioneers Of Olive Town Now?
All the DLC and major patches are now out
Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town was a bit of a mess at launch. Unlike its predecessor, the remake of Friends of Mineral Town for Switch, PoOT was just a bit lacklustre, with an empty world, zombie-like NPCs, and a crafting system so slow that you'd save time pressing coal into diamonds yourself with...
News Story Of Seasons: Pioneers Of Olive Town Is The Next Free Trial For Nintendo Switch Online
Free PoOT!
Following on from DAEMON X MACHINA's free trial for Nintendo Switch Online members (which ended yesterday), Nintendo has announced that the next free trial will be Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town. From the 22nd September, subscribers to Nintendo's online service will have access to Story of Seasons: PoOT for free, and can then...
August2021
News Sakuna: Of Rice And Ruin Free Costume DLC Announced For Story Of Seasons
Dress up as Princess Sakuna
Marvelous has announced a special collaboration between Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town and Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin. Next month, on 15th September - SoS players will be able to receive a "free" downloadable costume based on "Princess Sakuna's Heavenly Garb" until 30th March 2022. Surprisingly, this isn't the...
News Marvelous Celebrates 15 Years Of The Rune Factory Series With A Special Anniversary Video
Rune Factory 5 launches in the west next year
Update: As part of this anniversary, official Rune Factory Twitter accounts have been opened in North America and Europe as a way to connect with "Runeys" all over the world. It will share exciting news, giveaways, announcements and more. Welcome to the official #RuneFactory Twitter where we hope to...
