Harvester

About

The game's play is done through a point and click interface. Players must visit various locations within the game's fictional town of Harvest, which can be done via an overhead map. By speaking to various townspeople and clicking on special "hotspots", players can learn information and collect items that progress the game's story and play. Harvester also features a fighting system where players ca…

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

+12

91%

Audience ScoreBased on 644 reviews

story45 positive mentions

gameplay8 negative mentions

The game offers a bizarre and surreal experience, filled with dark humor and eccentric characters.
The FMV cutscenes, while dated, add a unique charm and contribute to the game's unsettling atmosphere.
The story is engaging and keeps players intrigued, with multiple endings and a satirical take on violence in video games.

The combat mechanics are clunky and frustrating, especially in the later parts of the game.
Some puzzles are overly obscure, making it easy to get stuck without a guide.
The game can be disturbing and offensive, with themes that may not sit well with all players.

story
146 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
60%
9%
The story of "Harvester" is a bizarre and convoluted narrative that blends dark humor, gore, and surreal elements, often leaving players both entertained and perplexed. While some praise its unique characters and immersive world-building, others criticize its lack of coherence and clarity, particularly in the latter parts of the game. Overall, the narrative is seen as the standout feature, despite its flaws, making it a cult classic for those who appreciate its eccentric storytelling.
- “The world building is interesting and made me want to continue to find out more about the setting and the story; the game really shines in its writing and characters.”
- “The story is just too good, the characters are too engaging.”
- “Very intricate, immersive, gruesome, and definitely twisted story.”
- “The story is pretty lackluster with characters being introduced and then being completely useless.”
- “The entire story is red herring after red herring riding on random equals unsettling with a 'twist ending' that immediately put me to sleep.”
- “The story is non-sensical, it keeps adding stuff as it goes on to pretend being 'mysterious' when it's actually the laziest writing you can come across.”
humor
84 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
1%
The humor in "Harvester" is characterized by its dark, absurd, and often morbidly hilarious tone, blending satire with over-the-top violence and bizarre characters. While many players appreciate the quirky dialogue and surreal scenarios, some find the humor can wear thin due to technical flaws and repetitive gameplay. Overall, it appeals to fans of dark comedy and cult classics, offering a unique experience that balances humor with unsettling themes.
- “Harvester has a great twisted dark sense of humor and the story is pretty great, almost like a parody of Twin Peaks.”
- “Funny and intriguing spoken dialogue, a wacky mixture of live-action footage and (deliciously dated) 3D graphics, and engaging puzzles made this a very enjoyable experience for me.”
- “It's surreal; it's graphic; it's hilarious; it's one of a kind.”
- “Harvester is a point-and-click horror/comedy game set in a suburban nightmarish neighborhood utopia where everyone is a little 'too' friendly when there's a serial killer on the loose. Everything feels topsy-turvy, like you're living in a very unfunny comedy sitcom from the 1950s.”
graphics
65 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
62%
11%
The graphics of the game are a polarizing aspect, with many reviewers appreciating the retro aesthetic and unique charm of its '90s visuals, including full-motion video and pixel art. While some criticize the dated quality and graininess that can hinder gameplay, others find that the bizarre and grotesque art style enhances the surreal horror experience. Overall, the visuals evoke a nostalgic feel that resonates with fans of retro gaming, despite their lack of modern polish.
- “Delicious graphics, immersive story, and excellent combat.”
- “I loved the graphics - all the places in town are so weird and 'off' in an interesting way, and the gory sequences are bombastic and fun/gross.”
- “Its vintage graphics have a lovable charm, the FMVs were outrageously fun, the dialogue was humorous (and sometimes surprisingly deep), and overall I enjoyed playing.”
- “The graphics have not aged well, and the FMV sections have some of the worst acting of any media.”
- “The first part of the game is pretty fun, but when you reach a point you'll get boring and bugged fights and impossible enigmas because you can't see anything with the graphics.”
- “Yes, the graphics are poor in comparison with beautiful games like The Last of Us or Grand Theft Auto, but it still hits its mark.”
gameplay
64 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
77%
13%
The gameplay of "Harvester" is primarily a point-and-click adventure with a unique but clunky combat mechanic that becomes more prominent in the later stages. While the game features engaging puzzles and a bizarre narrative, many players find the mechanics outdated and frustrating, particularly the combat, which detracts from the overall experience. Despite its flaws, the game offers a distinctive atmosphere that may appeal to fans of unconventional storytelling and retro gaming.
- “The gameplay is pretty engaging, making you solve puzzles and interact with the environment.”
- “Its combat mechanic makes the game unique and while somewhat boring and clunky, adds to the story as you progress in a twisted, scary world.”
- “Gameplay-wise, you will need to depend on a guide online.”
- “But that said, the gameplay is not why anyone plays Harvester.”
- “Even if you're willing to overlook the heinously outdated comedy - not to mention social commentary so outdated it belongs in a pine box - the gameplay itself is about as obtuse as possible.”
- “Unfortunately, the playthrough does get a little marred by its dated, simplistic mechanics, particularly in the last third which is oddly combat heavy.”
atmosphere
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
43%
10%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its bizarre, unsettling, and immersive qualities, effectively blending elements of horror and dark humor. Reviewers highlight the unique tone, peculiar characters, and eerie soundtrack that create a memorable and surreal experience, despite the game's technical flaws and simplistic gameplay. Overall, the game's atmosphere stands out as a defining feature, drawing players into its strange universe.
- “You’ll quickly find yourself immersed in the game’s strange universe, with its very peculiar storyline, characters, and soundtrack, which creates a pleasantly unsettling atmosphere.”
- “The cut-scenes and atmosphere are bizarre and off-putting in the most enjoyable ways.”
- “It's rare to find a game that's able to establish such a creepy and enigmatic atmosphere.”
- “I might even go as far to say that the outdated cookie-cutter style of photorealistic graphics further adds to this strange and uncanny atmosphere you find yourself in.”
music
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
47%
16%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising its ability to create a creepy and immersive atmosphere, while others find it distracting or irritating. The soundtrack is noted for its variety and unique 90s vibe, contributing to the game's unsettling tone, though it sometimes drowns out the voice acting. Overall, the music is seen as a key element that enhances the game's peculiar storyline and ambiance.
- “10/10 excellent story, soundtrack, and voice acting.”
- “You’ll quickly find yourself immersed in the game’s strange universe, with its very peculiar storyline, characters, and soundtrack, which creates a pleasantly unsettling atmosphere.”
- “Fantastic atmosphere and music... it just brings off this mysterious vibe.”
- “The music sometimes is distracting.”
- “- Background ambiance and music is played on a loop that in most cases doesn't last longer than 30 seconds.”
- “The game's music is very creepy and even when the game shifts to night, it seems really weird.”
stability
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
86%
The game's stability is heavily criticized, with users reporting frequent bugs, performance issues, and crashes, particularly when run under a DOS simulator on Windows 10. Many players find the experience frustrating due to choppy animations and a faulty game engine, leading to an overall unsatisfactory gameplay experience. Despite some praise for its availability on modern platforms, the emulated port retains many of the original's glitches.
- “Respect to the developers and those who brought it to Steam; it runs great on Windows 10.”
- “By the way, the game is run under a DOS simulator in Windows 10, causing some performance issues... the game freezes for seconds before playing any video, and sometimes gets very slow.”
- “Harvester is a short, unsatisfying, and buggy experience throughout.”
- “This is just a straight-up emulated port of the MS-DOS version, complete with all the glitches and crashes I experienced fifteen years ago.”
optimization
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
43%
14%
The game's optimization is hindered by its reliance on a DOS simulator in Windows 10, leading to performance issues such as freezing and slowdowns, particularly during video playback. While the overall experience is enhanced by its dark humor and engaging characters, the technical execution detracts from the enjoyment.
- “By the way, the game is run under a DOS simulator in Windows 10, causing some performance issues... the game freezes for seconds before playing any video, and sometimes gets very slow.”
- “Interesting setting, great performances, memorable characters, well-paced, and most of the puzzles were pretty fair with a few exceptions.”
- “Like with most FMV games, the performances given by the actors range from patchy to perfect.”
- “By the way, the game runs under a DOS simulator in Windows 10, causing some performance issues. The game freezes for seconds before playing any video, and sometimes it gets very slow.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players report a strong emotional connection to the game, with its homely atmosphere evoking personal memories and feelings of comfort, despite some uncomfortable scenes. The blend of humor and poignant themes resonates deeply, leading to a mix of laughter and discomfort that enhances the overall experience.
- “As someone who isn't a fan of point-and-click games, the homely atmosphere of the game made me feel extremely comfortable playing. It reminded me of my own family dynamics, where my mother would squish my brother's eyes back into place, and my father was always locked in his room like the main character's father. My mom always tries to tell me that dad left, but he told me he was going into his room for a nap - which has been 18 years long now - but I still believe in him.”
- “This game made me feel uncomfortable in a way that resonated deeply with my own experiences.”
- “There were some scenes that made me feel very uncomfortable, but they also struck a chord with me emotionally.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious and frustrating, feeling that the excessive clicking and reliance on walkthroughs detracts from the overall experience, leading to disappointment in what they expected to be a farming simulator.
- “It's not that the game is too hard, but if I have to click on every possible thing that can be opened (or look at a walkthrough), it just becomes tedious.”
- “I thought this was a farming simulator... ( >﹏<。)”
- “Worst farming game ever.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
150%
Reviews on replayability are mixed; while some players find the game offers good replay value, others express frustration over its bugs, slow pace, and incoherent story, suggesting that these issues significantly diminish the incentive to replay.
- “Good replay value.”
- “I didn't play it back in the 90s, but if I had, I would have been frustrated paying probably $50 in 90s dollars (equivalent to $81 in 2019) for a buggy and slow adventure game with an incoherent story and zero replay value.”
- “The game lacks any meaningful choices or variations, making it feel like a one-and-done experience.”
- “Once you finish the game, there's little incentive to go back; the lack of different endings or side quests really diminishes its replayability.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
150%
Character development in the game is noted for its strong dialogue and realistic character designs, but some players feel that the story loses focus midway, leading to missed opportunities for deeper character exploration. The impressive voice acting enhances the overall experience, yet certain elements seem underutilized or avoidable.
- “This game has everything from the creative and realistic character designs to the impressive voice acting that would give Mark Hamill a run for his money.”
- “As I mentioned, the story loses itself somewhere in the middle. A lot of the well-written dialogue and character development can be completely avoided. Even parts of the game can be skipped, and sometimes I feel like they didn't even really program them into the game.”
- “The character development feels shallow and unengaging, making it hard to connect with the characters or care about their journeys.”
- “Despite the potential for rich character arcs, the development feels rushed and incomplete, leaving many characters feeling one-dimensional.”