Harvest Island

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Harvest Island is a story-rich adventure game with horror elements, featuring farming, collecting animal produce, and exploring hidden locations. As you progress, the mystery of the island deepens with supernatural occurrences and divine interactions. The game offers a unique blend of peacefulness and eeriness, with the protagonist seeking a way back home.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

82%

Audience ScoreBased on 229 reviews

story66 positive mentions

grinding146 negative mentions

The game features a captivating story with well-developed characters, creating an immersive experience.
The blend of farming simulation and horror elements is unique and engaging, providing a fresh take on both genres.
The developer is highly responsive to community feedback, frequently releasing patches and updates to improve the game.

The user interface and controls can be clunky and unintuitive, making navigation and inventory management frustrating.
There are numerous bugs and performance issues, including crashes and soft locks that can hinder gameplay.
The pacing can be slow, with some players feeling that the horror elements take too long to develop and the farming mechanics are underwhelming.

story
323 mentions
20 % positive mentions
78 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The story of the game is highly praised for its immersive and gripping narrative, with strong character development and a unique blend of horror and exploration elements. While some players found certain parts tedious or reminiscent of popular anime, the overall storytelling, atmosphere, and emotional depth kept many engaged and eager for more. However, issues like soft-locking bugs and a lack of direction in quests detracted from the experience for some, leading to mixed feelings about the pacing and completion of the story.
- “The story is gripping and tense, and even as a veteran of horror, I felt uneasy at times.”
- “The developer used so many different elements of the game to tell the story: the music, the farming aspects, the weather changes, subtle dialogue... this story is masterfully told.”
- “The story is amazing and well worth the buy; it's a slow build-up but it's so in-depth!”
- “The ending is very abrupt and obvious sequel bait, although the dev has since announced that any updates and continuations for this story are on indefinite hold due to budget issues.”
- “The game feels excessively grindy and the story seems gate-kept by those grindy mechanics because it knows it's the only thing keeping you playing.”
- “Once I got to the climax and uncovered the plot is basically a rewrite of a certain anime, I couldn't help but feel like I was cheated.”
grinding
146 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with many players noting that it can feel excessively tedious and serves primarily as a means to progress the story rather than enhancing gameplay. While some appreciate the repetitive farming tasks for building tension in the horror narrative, others criticize the simplistic mechanics and lack of depth compared to traditional farming sims. Players recommend opting for story mode to minimize grinding and focus on the narrative, as the farming elements are often seen as superficial and not integral to the overall experience.
- “The game feels excessively grindy and the story seems gate-kept by those grindy mechanics because it knows it's the only thing keeping you playing.”
- “Starts off strong, but gets far too grindy to be fun.”
- “There's already a lot of grinding involved to be able to progress in this game; standard mode must be for those among us that like punishment (and that's from someone who spent hundreds of hours on Stardew Valley, Graveyard Keeper, and other grindy games).”
gameplay
52 mentions
27 % positive mentions
58 % neutral mentions
15 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a mixed bag, with simplistic farming mechanics and a clunky UI that detracts from the overall experience, especially when compared to more robust titles like Stardew Valley. While the game offers an engaging story and interesting characters, many players find the grindy nature of resource gathering and farming to be excessive and frustrating, often feeling like a barrier to the narrative. However, some appreciate the blend of horror elements and the option to focus on story mode, suggesting that the game is best approached as a narrative-driven experience rather than a traditional farming simulator.
- “A charming experience with a good story, good gameplay, and good exploration.”
- “The characters are super interesting, the gameplay is really fun, and the story left me hanging on the edge of my seat.”
- “It has the right amount of creepiness to really highlight the gameplay, but calming enough to relax and enjoy yourself.”
- “After Stardew Valley and Harvest Moon, having only a few spots to plant something and no extended farm mechanics like machinery or increased plant levels meant there just wasn't enough farm to the farm sim.”
- “This game has bare bones farming mechanics, terrible UI for those mechanics, and an empty island.”
- “The game feels excessively grindy and the story seems gate-kept by those grindy mechanics because it knows it's the only thing keeping you playing.”
music
39 mentions
41 % positive mentions
51 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its expressiveness and ability to enhance the atmosphere, effectively conveying both relaxation and tension. Players appreciate the subtle shifts in the soundtrack that align with the game's narrative, creating a masterful storytelling experience. While some find the music repetitive, it is intentionally designed to evoke specific emotions and reactions, fitting the game's themes well.
- “The developer used so many different elements of the game to tell the story: the music, the farming aspects, the weather changes, subtle dialog... this story is masterfully told.”
- “More than anything else, it's the music and the sound effects that create a killer atmosphere that fit the story to a tee.”
- “I usually don't care one way or the other for music in a game, opting to listen to a streaming app in the background, but I didn't want to with this game because the music is so expressive.”
- “The soundtrack is seriously lacking.”
- “It's intentionally made that way as there are music cues within the music itself to make the game more unsettling depending on what's happening.”
- “Music is basic, but fits the theme very well.”
graphics
29 mentions
41 % positive mentions
45 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are described as charming and nostalgic, with a classic pixel art style that resonates well with many players. However, some critiques highlight inconsistencies in art quality, particularly towards the endings, and a few instances of graphic content that may be deemed excessive. Overall, while the visuals have room for improvement, they are generally appreciated for their aesthetic appeal and the developer's passion for the project.
- “The graphics and sounds are amazing!”
- “Graphics are adorable, story is great, controls are simple, and the dev is super on top of fixing things.”
- “The art - the pixel graphics are always a classic and I have no issue with them.”
- “The UI can be clunky, the farming mechanics are pretty simplistic, and the visuals definitely look lackluster if you were going in expecting Stardew Valley (but again, you shouldn't).”
- “Now it's just graphic for graphics' sake.”
- “For the most part, it stays consistent (though the depictions of fresh blood are really bad) up until the endings, where the sprite work just completely shifts in art style.”
emotional
10 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by the well-crafted and endearing interactions between the characters Sam and Will, which evoke strong feelings and moments of genuine connection. Players report being deeply invested in the characters' journeys, with many experiencing tear-jerking moments throughout the narrative. The slow buildup of tension and emotional stakes enhances the overall impact, making the eventual emotional climaxes feel earned after extensive gameplay.
- “I think the interactions between Sam and Will are well-written, endearing, and wholesome, which makes the slow buildup of discoveries as they explore the island all the more terrifying.”
- “There are multiple moments where I teared up with how touching the dialogue between just these two is!”
- “The game genuinely drew me in and made me feel invested in the characters and their fate.”
stability
8 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game exhibits some minor visual glitches and text bugs, which are generally not game-breaking, but players are advised to save frequently due to the lack of an autosave feature. The developers are actively addressing these issues with regular updates. Overall, while the game is somewhat buggy, it remains playable.
- “The game is quite buggy.”
- “The game is kinda buggy and it has no autosave, so save often.”
- “There are some minor visual glitches and text bugs, but nothing that ruins your experience, and the dev is actively releasing fixes.”
atmosphere
8 mentions
50 % positive mentions
38 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its immersive qualities, driven primarily by exceptional music and sound effects that enhance the storytelling. Reviewers note that the tense atmosphere significantly elevates the overall experience, making it a standout in the farm/craft genre. Players are encouraged to approach the game with an open mind to fully appreciate its atmospheric depth.
- “More than anything else, it's the music and the sound effects that create a killer atmosphere that fit the story to a tee.”
- “It's got really, really good and tense atmosphere as well as great sound design.”
- “Incredible how atmosphere and storytelling can elevate the basic farm/craft genre.”
- “More than anything else, it's the music and the sound effects that create a killer atmosphere that fits the story to a tee.”
character development
6 mentions
67 % positive mentions
-17 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is praised for being immersive and well-integrated into the story, with a notable balance between exploration and farming elements. However, some players have pointed out a significant leap in character development that may affect the narrative's flow, as highlighted by an in-game character. Overall, the character designs and art contribute positively to the experience.
- “Very immersive, a good story, good character development, good balance between exploration and farming simulation.”
- “I do feel like there is a severe jump in character development, and the older brother does actually point this out, so you can take it whichever way you want in the storyline.”
- “Character designs and art are beautiful.”
- “I feel like there is a severe jump in character development, and the older brother points this out, allowing you to interpret it in various ways within the storyline.”
- “The character development feels rushed and inconsistent, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
- “There is a lack of depth in character arcs, leaving many characters feeling one-dimensional and unrelatable.”
humor
4 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by a mix of lighthearted moments, such as children playfully interacting with animals, and unexpected comedic elements, like the absurdity of crafting a keyblade and collecting dragon balls. While some intended scary moments fall flat, resulting in jumpscares, the quirky references to other games and the amusing reactions of animals add a layer of charm and unpredictability to the experience.
- “Children laughing and dancing and teasing each other while tending to animals, with moments that are probably supposed to be intense and scary (they're mostly just jumpscares). You can also make a keyblade, collect the dragon balls, and give nicknames to every random animal you meet, all of which are references to other, better video games.”
- “An animal ran away while crying at one point, and my cat was also startled by the cry, which was kind of funny, but that could not have been predicted by the developers.”