Stardew Valleyis undoubtedly one of the most successful indie games ever released and by far the most influential farming sim in recent years.Stardew Valleywas initially inspired byHarvest Moon, butStardew Valley’s popularity has far surpassed that of its predecessors and continues to evolve and adapt with new modes and updates even five years after it was first launched.
For a handful of reasons, whether it is the pride deriving from growing and selling crops or the simple satisfaction stemming from completing a task, the farming simulator genre remains popular for gamers of every background.Stardew Valleyis essentially now the blueprintfor all new indie farming games. It is no surprise that many titles on a variety of different platforms have tried to imitate its success and capture the same spirit that made it so popular, andHarvest Daysis the latest upcoming game modeled afterStardew Valley.
RELATED:Why No Farming Simulator Has Topped Stardew Valley
Similarities betweenHarvest DaysandStardew Valley
The player character inHarvest Daysfirst moves to the dying rural village of Duda where they spent some time as a child with their grandparents. Duda has recently experienced a drop in population and productivity. As withStardew Valley, the main character longs for a simpler and more laid-back lifestyle compared to the demands of their urban life and finds this by relocating to Duda.
Harvest Daystasks players with not only running a farm but also with restoring the remote village to its former glory. Players will therefore manage and harvest crops and raise animals such aschickens, pigs, rabbits, horses, but will also be tasked with building houses and investing in businesses in the town in order to attract new residents and create new jobs in order to revive the economy. LikeStardew Valley, players will build relationships with the villagers by taking part in different events such as street markets and festivals. Therelationships that players can form with other villagers inStardew Valleyis certainly one of its strongest highlights, and it can be expected thatHarvest Dayswill also offer a similar take on befriending and perhaps even dating other characters.
Outside of farming and rebuilding the village, players can also do day-to-day tasks that include gathering resources, crafting items, and fishing. These alternativetasks and quests are highly popular amongStardew Valleyplayers. Interestingly,Harvest Daysalso places an emphasis on being environmentally friendly, offering players the option to take part in forest clean-ups and recycling to make renewable energy such as wind or solar energy. They will also be able to make smaller choices such as choosing to travel by horse instead of using a vehicle.
RELATED:Stardew Valley’s Dev is Working on a New Game, and That’s Exciting
An Open-World Farming RPG
WhileStardew Valley-style farming RPGs have generally stuck to more limited and restricted settings, withmods allowing for more expansion and exploration,Harvest Daysis somewhat unique in that it is centered upon more of an open-world concept. The open world inHarvest Daysallows players to explore locations such as a forest, a swamp, temple ruins, and dungeons—the last of which is reminiscent ofStardew Valley. There is more of a life sim aspect to this game, too, as players will have three basic needs that need to be maintained: hunger, thirst, and going to the toilet. This will certainly add an interesting component to the game, and perhaps make the gameplay feel more realistic, too.
While no release date has yet been provided, Family Devs, a father and son indie developer team, are set to launchHarvest Days' Kickstarter campaign at the end of Q3 2021.
