Games like Harvest Moon we think you should play

Stardew Valley — (Image credit: ConcernedApe)

The best games like Harvest Moon can capture some of the delightful farming features or life sim elements at the heart of the beloved series. Harvest Moon saw several entries over the years, and the series still lives on through Story of Seasons. In fact, Harvest Moon A Wonderful which first released on the GameCube make a big comeback in Story of Seasons: A Wonderful in 2023, bringing in new characters, inclusive romance options, and more customization.

If you find yourself on the look out for more games like Harvest Moon, there's happily lots of great alternatives out there that might speak to you. From the best farming games to the best simulation games, we've brought together a varied selection across all platforms for you to try.

10. Graveyard Keeper

Graveyard Keeper screenshot of the graveyard keeper in a cemetry — (Image credit: tinyBuild)

Developer: Lazy Bear Games
Platform(s): PS4, Xbox One, PC, Switch, iOS, Android

If you like your management sims with a side of morbidity, you can go ahead and stop scrolling now and pick up Graveyard Keeper. You can immediately see the Harvest Moon inspirations in the 16-bit visuals (just ignore the witches and headstones), but Graveyard Keeper is unique for its clever take on the simulator genre, tasking players with maintaining a dilapidated medieval burial ground. Instead of keeping up a farm and getting married, you dig up graves and participate in witch burnings. Had enough with the cutesy stuff? Graveyard Keeper's your game.

9. Coral Island

Developer: Stairway Games
Platform(s): PC

If you're looking for a laidback alternative that taps into the same farming goodness as Harvest Moon, look no further than Coral Island. Stairway Games' charming adventure is all about taking things at your own pace as you set out to create your dream farm. Playing as a custom character, you can spend your time shaping your home, tending to crops, taking care of animals, and helping to bring back the nearby town to its former glory. With a diverse cast of locals to get to know and bond with, there's so much here for Harvest Moon fans to enjoy, and Coral Island's inviting world is one you'll want to get lost in.

8. Valheim

Valheim screenshot showing How to plant seeds in Valheim — (Image credit: Coffee Stain Publishing)

Developer: Iron Gate AB
Platform(s): PC, Xbox Series X/S

OK, here us out here. You might not expect to see a survival game on a list of games like Harvest Moon, but Valheim is an excellent game with enough similar qualities to justify a recommendation. Farming is crucial to surviving long-term in Valheim, as you need food to avoid starving. The farming is a little more complex than it is in Harvest Moon, too, as it involves crafting a tool and cultivating land, actually building your farm to plant the seeds, and protecting your crops from animals. But if the farming is what you enjoy about Harvest Moon, then there's a good chance you'll find a lot to love in Valheim. There's also the aspect of taming and looking after animals, which could appeal to Harvest Moon fans who enjoy tending to livestock.

7. Fae Farm

Fae Farm screenshot — (Image credit: Phoenix Labs)

Developer: Phoenix Labs
Platform(s): PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, Switch

Fae Farm is a farming RPG that you can also play with up to three friends. Taking on the role of a custom character you can create, you're free to make your very own home in the world of Azoria. With a farm to tend to, there's crops to grow and land to develop just like Harvest Moon, lots of cute animals can be raised and taken care of as you progress through the adventure. With cooking and crafting in the mix, there's also a splash of magic with potion brewing to get stuck into. And if you're a fan of exploration, there's plenty to unlock and discover as the seasons pass. It's a delightful take on the farming formula that brings in its own Fae twist.

6. The Sims 4

The Sims 4 Cottage Living — (Image credit: EA)

Developer: Maxis
Platform(s): PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5

The Sims 4 tells you that you can do anything, and in this world you actually can. You can take to space as an astronaut, climb the ranks in a criminal enterprise, or take matters of the planet into your own hands as a conservationist. In the meantime, you'll build the house of your dreams, find your soulmate, and build a family. It's virtually impossible to cover everything The Sims 4 has to offer here, but if you're looking to capture the farming goodness of Harvest Moon, there's even an expansion - Cottage Living - that will let you do that, too.

5. Wylde Flowers

Farming sim Wylde Flowers on Apple Arcade — (Image credit: Studio Dryrock)

Developer: Studio Drydock
Platform(s): PC, Switch

Wylde Flowers is an enchanting farming adventure from Studio Drydock that sprinkles some magic into its farming sim ingredients. Taking on the role of Tara, you inherit your grandmother's farm and as time goes on, you'll learn about your witchy heritage and the magic innate within you. As you uncover more about the mysteries of the delightful rural town of Fairhaven, you'll learn magic spells and enchantments that you can use to help you tend to your farm. With a host of residents to meet who all have their own stories to tell, there's so much to discover, do, and work towards, with plenty of features that will speak to Harvest Moon fans. From looking after animals to growing crops and building up your farm, you can also find a potential person to marry if you so choose.

4. Fields of Mistria

Fields of Mistria screenshot shows a farm with some cows and crops and a homestead — (Image credit: NPC Studio)

Developer: NPC Studio
Platform(s): PC

There's a lot to love about Fields of Mistria if you're looking for something similar to Harvest Moon. Released in Early Access, the farming sim RPG from developer NPC Studio sees you take over a homestead in a picturesque village. Yours to shape and customize, you can set about growing your own farm and tending to animals just like Harvest Moon, and there are plenty of residents you can get to know, befriend, and potentially even romance if you wish. While the game is still in the process of being added to, it's already well worth checking out, with its own delightful take on the genre that draws inspiration from the farming games of the late '90s onward. Complete with fishing, crafting, and some mysteries to uncover, you can also delve into ruins and take on quests. If you're also a fan of games like Stardew Valley, this one is definitely worth your time.

3. My Time at Portia

My Time at Portia screenshot of the player character riding a horse — (Image credit: Pathea)

Developer: Pathea Games
Platform(s): PC, Xbox One, PS4, Switch

Fancy your farming sims with a mix of RPG and crafting mechanics? My Time at Portia must not be overlooked by fans of the genre, as easily the most eclectic entry on this list. You do everything you do in any other life-sim/farming game as well as fight monsters, explore, build stuff, mine for resources, attend festivals, and learn to cook. And going well beyond the usual romance system, Portia lets you actually have kids. My Time at Portia takes elements from genre staples like Animal Crossing and Harvest Moon, and injects its formula with workable mechanics borrowed from other popular genres such as exploration, dungeon-crawling, crafting, and management simulation. Plus, there's also a sequel - My Time at Sandrock - that you can try out if you enjoy the first. For more, read our My Time At Portia review.

2. Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Finding ornaments in Animal Crossing: New Horizons — (Image credit: Nintendo)

Developer: Nintendo
Platform(s): Nintendo Switch

If you're looking for a game like Harvest Moon and haven't played Animal Crossing, this is your sign to check out the the most recent entry, Animal Crossing: New Horizons. With its playful, expressive palette of life-sim qualities and customization options, New Horizons is by far the most expansive of the series. The core concept remains the same as it was two decades ago: you'll spend your time fishing for rare and valuable catches, upgrading and decorating your cozy home island, and celebrating holidays in an enchanting little world full of lovable and often downright hilarious characters. Animal Crossing is the ultimate vacation, and a welcoming companion to the farming-focused Harvest Moon - plus with its creative tools, you can always make your very own farm if you want to.

1. Stardew Valley

Developer: ConcernedApe
Platform(s): PC, Xbox One, PS4, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android

Stardew Valley just might be today's foremost farming sim phenomenon, perfectly capturing the visual and spiritual essence of 16-bit era Harvest Moon. The adventure from developer ConcernedApe starts you out in a small, overgrown plot of land inherited from your late grandfather that you'll slowly transform into a lush, bountiful farm brimming with colorful crops and happy animals. Stardew Valley also features a romance system, with lots of characters in Pelican Town to get to know and potentially even marry. If Harvest Moon is near-and-dear to your heart and you're looking for a similar vibe in a premium package, Stardew Valley is your answer.