I love a good farming sim. Even more so when they include family mechanics because what’s a cozy little rustic life without a whirlwind romance to sweep me off my feet?

Not every farming sim can live up to the long-standing hype of Harvest Moon and Stardew Valley, but Story of Seasons is rebuilding itself as that ever-present staple in the industry–unsurprisingly by remaking their most memorable Harvest Moon titles under developer Marvelous’ new brand.

The Farming Sim Genre’s First True Divorce

Before you can appreciate Story of Seasons fully, it’s important to note some history between Natsume and Marvelous. The two companies came together to create the iconic Harvest Moon series, with Natsume providing the name and Marvelous delivering… everything else, from the iconic bubble cows to the lovable storylines.

Of course, that version of the history is a bit of an exaggeration. We’re not sure of all the details, other than the two companies split in 2014. This left Natsume with arguably the most recognizable cozy game title at the time, but none of the writers, while Marvelous had all the talent and no brand. Thus, Story of Seasons was born.

The last installment in the Harvest Moon series where both companies worked together amicably was Harvest Moon: A New Beginning. A coincidence? I think not.

I remember checking all the forums and eagerly awaiting news to see what the next title would be. Harvest Moon: The Lost Valley popped up and I smashed my mouse to see all the details, only to find that the gorgeous, detailed character designs and sprawling fields of wheat and crops were replaced with… not that.

The Split Changed The Face Of Harvest Moon

My heart sank. I struggled to understand what happened to the series I loved, until a friend tipped me off about Story of Seasons and everything clicked. For a while, the Story of Seasons games continued to expand upon the previous installments and include characters from the Harvest Moon series under new names, sometimes as older versions of themselves.

Yet they felt hollow as well, as if missing an integral part of what made them so special despite looking all-too familiar in style. The depth disappeared while they recreated their brand, which was inevitable, but heartbreaking. I gave up almost entirely, opting to watch the series from afar instead of actively participating after Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town burned me.

Seriously, what was up with machines making only one item at a time? And the town was so small and repetitive, devoid of the life the series once had.

Then came the beacon of hope: the first remake. Selecting one of their most iconic titles, one that resonates in the heart of aspiring farmers everywhere, XSeed Games (Marvelous Inc.’s North American Publisher) released Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life.

This title had two releases on the GameCube: one with a male farmer and one with a female farmer. The Story of Seasons release brought everything together and made it whole, refreshed with new mechanics, graphics, and optimizations to make the whole thing seamless. They did the same with Story of Seasons: Friends Of Mineral Town, another popular title from their Harvest Moon days. The series officially caught my attention once again.

It’s like how Taylor Swift has her original albums under her previous label, and the rerecorded Taylor’s Version under her new one.

I was especially excited about the addition of same-sex marriages because come on, it’s not the early 2000’s anymore. Either give every character their own sexuality and requirements, or make everyone available regardless of gender. It had been a long-standing issue that was finally addressed, giving me hope for a future where Harvest Moon could stand at the top again instead of falling on the wayside in a sea of indie farming games, like Fields of Mistria and Stardew Valley.

The Future Of Story Of Seasons Is In The Past

With Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar announced at the recent Nintendo Direct, I dream of returning to the familiar settings within the worlds I once called home. Filled with strawberry bubble cows, traditional farmer getup, and a community of attractive singletons with whom I can settle down.

The Harvest Moon title most deserving of the Story of Seasons treatment is Harvest Moon: Animal Parade. Unlike any other installment in the series, Animal Parade features a lengthy main campaign, community objectives, family aspects, and most importantly, romantic rivals.

you may even play the matchmaker and get the singles you aren’t interested in to marry each other. Their kids will then go to school with yours and become friends, creating a whole new experience as you rebuild the glory of Harmonica Town.

And you’re able to romance god. Did I mention that? It’s the only title where you can.

Farming Sims Are About More Than Just Farming

It’s a lot of work, I’m sure, but it would be well worth the investment in time and money to remake the one Harvest Moon title that other farming sims like Fields of Mistria and Coral Island aspire to be under the Story of Seasons name. When you ask what gamers want in a cozy farming sim in regards to relationships, it usually breaks down to thoughtful community events, children who age as time goes on, and marriage events that continue the romance after settling down.

The thought of the cast of unwed NPC bachelors and bachelorettes getting married and having their own families is almost unthinkable because of how much work goes into it. But Harvest Moon did it once, so why can’t Story of Seasons do it again?

Imagine the complexity and depth involved in breaking up others' marriages in-game because you changed your mind about your spouse, like turning your kids into doves in Stardew Valley! The possibility for one of the most in-depth farming sims this decade gives me so much excitement, and yet I’m not sure if or when we’ll see it.

It seems gaming is tied up with remakes for the foreseeable future, so why not use that to remake games that are almost lost to time, outdated by several consoles, and desperately in need of a modern refresh for the controls? I’m not the only onepleading with Nintendo to bring back classic titlesthat captivated my younger years.

If the day does come where Story of Seasons: Animal Parade is announced, you can bet your butter I’ll be the first in line to get a copy for my Switch (or Switch 2,if I can even get one of those).