Harvest Moon: Light of Hope

77%
Game Brain Score Based on 719 reviews
  • story
  • grinding
  • graphics
Harvest Moon: Light of Hope Game Cover
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In Harvest Moon: Light of Hope, players rebuild a washed-out town and farm while managing resources, crops, and relationships with townsfolk. They can also explore the surrounding seas and dungeons for valuable items and resources. The game features day-and-night cycles and seasonal changes, adding layers of complexity and realism to the farming simulation.

  • iPad
  • iPhone
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Phone
  • Play​station 4
  • Windows
  • Android
  • Mobile Platform
  • Play​Station
  • Tablet
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

77%
Audience ScoreBased on 719 reviews
story58 positive mentions
grinding144 negative mentions
  • The game captures the nostalgic feel of classic Harvest Moon titles, making it enjoyable for long-time fans.
  • The farming mechanics are streamlined, allowing for easier crop management and tool usage.
  • The character interactions and story, while simple, provide a charming experience that keeps players engaged.
  • The graphics are subpar and feel more like a mobile game than a PC title, leading to a lack of visual appeal.
  • The storyline is short and lacks depth, making the game feel less rewarding once completed.
  • There are numerous bugs and gameplay issues, such as unskippable cutscenes and awkward controls, which detract from the overall experience.
  • story315 mentions

    The story in this game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it short, simplistic, and lacking depth compared to previous titles in the Harvest Moon series. While some appreciate the cute characters and engaging elements, others criticize the bland narrative and tedious quest mechanics that hinder gameplay. Overall, the consensus suggests that fans of the franchise may be disappointed, especially when compared to the more robust storytelling found in the Story of Seasons series.

    • “The story is fine; I like the variety of crops and animals, but I cannot get past the mechanics and slow loading times.”
    • “The story is intriguing; the characters are amusing, and there is a very good variety to choose from to pick your partner.”
    • “Harvest Moon: Light of Hope overall has an authentic feel to the series as well as having a compelling story, which is a rare mixture for today's RPG games.”
    • “Honestly, as a huge Harvest Moon fan, I'm disappointed. I couldn't play more than an hour of the game... it's poorly designed and the story is wack. I'm sorry, I usually never say bad reviews, but it's not worth even playing unless it's free.”
    • “The story is so poor and the gameplay is even worse.”
    • “The main storyline is lazy, a sloppily edited copy-paste of themes we've all seen a million times before.”
  • grinding146 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it tedious and unfulfilling, particularly in comparison to more rewarding activities like mining and fishing. While some appreciate the simplicity and charm of the farming mechanics, others criticize the lack of depth and the repetitive nature of tasks, leading to a sense of pointlessness in farming. Overall, players suggest that there are better farming simulators available that offer a more engaging experience.

    • “Mining is where all the money comes from, not farming, which seems counter-intuitive for a farming game.”
    • “The animations are bad, there is no depth in characters, too much grinding without any real progression.”
    • “Farming is completely useless because you make far more money mining.”
    • “It is an incredibly grindy game and I wish I had stuck with Stardew Valley.”
  • graphics138 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many players describing them as poor, lazy, and unappealing, often comparing them unfavorably to previous entries in the series and other farming games like Stardew Valley. While some appreciate the nostalgic art style, the general consensus is that the graphics lack polish and fail to meet modern standards, making the game feel incomplete and visually disjointed. A few players noted that despite the graphics, they still found enjoyment in the gameplay, but many agree that significant improvements are needed.

    • “I absolutely adore this game, the graphics are awesome and the whole game is addictive.”
    • “The graphics are cute, it's easy to understand and I appreciate that each character is different.”
    • “I've played most of the games throughout the entire series and its art style hearkens back to the old-school games, while maintaining a modern feel through 3D sprites.”
    • “The graphics look so bad it made my head hurt immediately, making it unplayable for me.”
    • “The art style of the game feels cheap and lazy.”
    • “The graphics are a mess.”
  • gameplay85 mentions

    The gameplay of this farming sim is characterized by its simplicity, making it accessible for beginners, but it often lacks depth and innovation compared to other titles like Stardew Valley and Story of Seasons. While some players appreciate the streamlined mechanics and charming elements, many criticize the repetitive nature, clunky controls, and underdeveloped story, leading to mixed feelings about its overall enjoyment and replayability. Despite its shortcomings, fans of the genre may still find value in its familiar farming mechanics and side quests.

    • “This game is a beginner-friendly farm sim with simple mechanics, a cute storyline, and new characters.”
    • “Overall, I'd say this is an absolutely excellent game with some unique gameplay mechanisms that really add value.”
    • “The gameplay is solid.”
    • “The story is lacking; the actual gameplay should be a clicker on an app. I really don't recommend this, and I have been playing the Harvest Moon / Story of Seasons games since Harvest Moon on the N64.”
    • “The gameplay is extremely clunky, the art is horrendous, and none of the characters are well fleshed out.”
    • “The main issue I have is that this game overall took major stepdowns compared to the previous Harvest Moon games I am familiar with; more things are absent/not presented. It's hard to suggest people play this while there are better Harvest Moon games out there on portable consoles that offer more variety, extensive gameplay, and customizations.”
  • music22 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its soothing quality and overall fit with the game's atmosphere, while others criticize it for being repetitive and poorly composed. Many feel that the soundtrack lacks the charm of earlier titles in the series, and while it serves its purpose, it does not elevate the gaming experience significantly. Overall, the music is seen as average, with room for improvement alongside the game's graphics and character design.

    • “Plus the music is very soothing to the ear, different from the older versions of Harvest Moon.”
    • “It has nice and fun dialogue in every event, but the best thing in this game is the soundtrack!!!”
    • “As for the soundtrack, I believe that it is fairly similar to the other versions and generally suits the overall feel of the game.”
    • “The music is so repetitive and poorly composed that it's not really worth listening to, especially in the mines where it becomes maddening quickly.”
    • “Cons: the character graphics and music are sorely lacking - it's hard to look at a character's face and decide you want to marry it unless you splurge for the DLC bachelor/bachelorette.”
    • “Graphics are average, soundtrack is average, story is meh...”
  • humor8 mentions

    The game is praised for its whimsical and cute humor, featuring funny character expressions and amusing dialogue that enhance the overall enjoyment. While some players find the repetitive nature of certain gameplay elements and limitations frustrating, the lighthearted tone and quirky interactions keep the experience entertaining. Overall, the humor is a standout aspect that contributes significantly to the game's charm.

    • “The game has cute scenes and good humor.”
    • “I like this game because it is whimsical and funny, and an enjoyment to play; the characters are cute and their expressions are funny and unique.”
    • “The game has a goofy sense of humor which has kept me laughing with funny dialogue and characters.”
  • character development3 mentions

    Character development in the game is noted for its simplistic and somewhat uninspired design, with many users expressing disappointment in the graphics and loading times. However, there is potential for growth, as some players appreciate the music and see opportunities for improvement in character design. Overall, the character development aspect is seen as lacking but with room for enhancement.

    • “There's a storyline for you to complete, with very Mii-like character designs and simple controls.”
    • “I like its music and character design; it also has a lot of room for improvement.”
    • “The character development feels shallow and uninspired, making it hard to connect with anyone in the game.”
    • “I was expecting a rich narrative, but the characters lack depth and their growth is almost non-existent.”
    • “The choices you make don't seem to impact the characters in any meaningful way, leaving their development feeling flat.”
  • optimization3 mentions

    The game suffers from significant optimization issues, particularly on PC, where users report poor controls and a lack of essential features like an item bar. Many players feel it resembles a poorly optimized mobile port, with Xbox control prompts present despite no Xbox release information.

    • “The controls are awful, with no PC optimization. You don't even have an item bar to easily swap between things.”
    • “That's right, a game released first on PC isn't even optimized for PC. It has Xbox control prompts (which you can see from the screenshot), but I can't find any release info for Xbox. What?”
    • “It looks like it's a poorly optimized mobile port. 'Tap screen', really?”
  • atmosphere2 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is characterized as wholesome and laid-back, providing a relaxing experience even amidst the demands of farm work. Players appreciate the calming environment that enhances their enjoyment of the gameplay.

    • “I love the overall wholesome atmosphere; it's so relaxing, even though it's working on a farm.”
    • “The laid-back atmosphere is truly enjoyable.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    Players appreciate the wholesome atmosphere of the game, finding it relaxing despite the farming tasks. The emotional animations of the NPCs enhance immersion, contributing to a charming and engaging experience.

    • “I love the overall wholesome atmosphere; it's just so relaxing, even while working on a farm.”
    • “The NPCs all have very cute emotional animations that make playing more immersive.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    The monetization of the game is widely criticized as a cash grab, with reviewers feeling that it lacks genuine effort and innovation, capitalizing on the popularity of titles like Stardew Valley and the original Harvest Moon.

    • “Definitely feels like a cash grab that they put zero effort into, just because of how big Stardew Valley has gotten and the popularity of the original Harvest Moon.”
    • “Harvest Moon is a corporate cash grab.”
  • replayability2 mentions

    Many users feel that the game lacks significant replayability, with some comparing it unfavorably to titles like Stardew Valley, which offer more engaging reasons to replay. Overall, the consensus suggests that players may not find enough incentive to revisit the game after completing it.

    • “It felt lacking; I'm not really sure how else to put it. There's no replay value in it for me either.”
    • “But I don't think the replayability is there like it is in Stardew Valley.”
  • stability1 mentions

    The PC version of the game is reported to be stable, with users noting a smooth experience and the absence of significant glitches.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Buy Harvest Moon: Light of Hope

Play time

15hMedian play time
18hAverage play time
19hMain story
91hCompletionist
6-30hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 6 analyzed playthroughs

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