Overview
From action games to farming life. Natsume developed diverse titles before Harvest Moon changed everything—a farming simulation where players grew crops, raised animals, and built relationships. The gentle gameplay loop influenced countless successors including Stardew Valley, establishing an entire genre from what seemed an unlikely concept.
Fast facts
- Founded: 1987.
- Location: Japan (dev), US (publishing).
- Key franchise: Harvest Moon.
- Genre created: Farming simulation.
Harvest Moon origins
| Title |
Year |
Platform |
| Harvest Moon |
1996 |
SNES |
| Harvest Moon GB |
1997 |
Game Boy |
| Harvest Moon 64 |
1999 |
N64 |
| Back to Nature |
1999 |
PlayStation |
Harvest Moon gameplay
| Element |
Innovation |
| Farming |
Crop cultivation |
| Animal husbandry |
Livestock care |
| Relationships |
Marriage candidates |
| Seasons |
Time progression |
| No combat |
Peaceful gameplay |
Other Natsume games
| Title |
Year |
Genre |
| Shadow of the Ninja |
1990 |
Action |
| Shatterhand |
1991 |
Action |
| S.C.A.T. |
1991 |
Shooter |
| Wild Guns |
1994 |
Shooter |
| Pocky & Rocky |
1992 |
Shooter |
Action game quality
| Title |
Note |
| Shadow of the Ninja |
Excellent ninja action |
| Wild Guns |
Wild West shooting gallery |
| Pocky & Rocky |
Co-op top-down |
Publishing vs development
| Role |
Territory |
| Developer |
Original games |
| Publisher |
Localisation (US) |
| Marvelous games |
Harvest Moon publishing |
Franchise complications
| Issue |
Result |
| IP split |
Marvelous owns Story of Seasons |
| Natsume name |
Kept Harvest Moon name |
| Separate series |
Two farming franchises |
Genre influence
| Successor |
Connection |
| Stardew Valley |
Direct inspiration |
| Rune Factory |
Spin-off series |
| Farm sims |
Genre template |
See also