STORY OF SEASONS: Friends of Mineral Town

87%
Game Brain Score Based on 5,786 reviews
  • story
  • grinding
  • graphics
STORY OF SEASONS: Friends of Mineral Town Game Cover
A relaxing game, a brilliant remake, and if you like farming games you’ll be happy as a pig in mud.
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In Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town, you revive your late grandfather's farm, grow crops, raise animals, and build relationships with villagers. This farming simulation and life simulation game also features a charming rural town, memorable characters, and seasonal festivals. Your decisions and interactions influence the growth of your farm and bonds within the community.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Cloud
  • NVIDIA GeForce NOW
  • Tablet
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

87%
Audience ScoreBased on 5,786 reviews
story91 positive mentions
grinding627 negative mentions
  • The game brings back sweet nostalgia for longtime fans of the Harvest Moon series.
  • Enhanced graphics and new features enrich the farming, socializing, and exploring experience.
  • The ability to marry any gender and the addition of new characters provide fresh content.
  • Some beloved features from the original game, such as rival marriages and animal sickness, have been removed.
  • The gameplay can feel repetitive and lacks depth compared to modern farming sims like Stardew Valley.
  • The controls can be clunky, especially when using a keyboard and mouse, making navigation frustrating.
  • story685 mentions

    The story in "Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town" is a nostalgic remake of the original Harvest Moon game, focusing on simple farming life and character interactions without a deep overarching plot. While players appreciate the charming characters and their individual backstories, many feel that the game lacks significant narrative depth and closure for character arcs, making it feel somewhat repetitive and simplistic compared to modern farming simulators like Stardew Valley. Overall, it serves as a heartwarming return to a beloved classic, though it may not satisfy those seeking a more complex storyline.

    • “Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town is a heartwarming and nostalgic farming simulator that is sure to please fans of the series.”
    • “Each of them has their own background story, and it's interesting to watch how their attitude towards you changes during the game.”
    • “The feel of nostalgia is very strong in this game, the story, the music, the characters, everything in this game really brings back old memories.”
    • “I literally had nothing to go by as to what I was supposed to do, just dropped in with zero story or way to advance the story.”
    • “Sadly, though this is a minor issue - the stories don't really solve themselves; aside from a few characters, their stories never get closure of any kind, so it was sad to see as I'd like to see the story develop over the years.”
    • “The festivals are as lifeless as the rest of the town, the cooking system is essentially the same as any other game in this genre, and I honestly can't remember much, if anything, of the story, so there isn't really anything remarkable in that department either.”
  • grinding627 mentions

    The grinding aspect of "Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town" has received mixed feedback from players. While some appreciate the nostalgic and addictive farming mechanics, many find the game excessively grindy, particularly in late-game stages where tasks like watering and harvesting can become tedious without automation. Overall, players suggest that while the game offers a charming experience, it may not hold up as well against more modern farming sims like Stardew Valley, which provide better quality of life features and less repetitive gameplay.

    • “There is a lot of grinding required.”
    • “It’d be quite grindy if you want a perfect game.”
    • “The activities left to do are tedious for me.”
  • graphics573 mentions

    The graphics of "Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town" have received mixed reviews, with many praising the vibrant, cute, and charming chibi art style that enhances the nostalgic feel of the original game. While some players appreciate the modernized visuals and character designs, others express disappointment over the departure from the original pixel art style, feeling that the new graphics may not meet contemporary standards. Overall, the game's graphics are seen as a significant improvement, contributing to an engaging and visually appealing farming experience.

    • “Picture this: vibrant, charming graphics that transport you to the idyllic town of Mineral Town, where every corner is brimming with character and charm.”
    • “The graphics are adorable, the characters are so vibrant, and their sprites and pictures are cuter.”
    • “The graphics have been changed from pixel art to a cute, crisp, chibi 3D style.”
    • “Instead is a dull-er version of the original, with generic, switch level, low poly graphics.”
    • “There's a huge disconnect between the 3D graphics and the 2D gameplay.”
    • “These graphics aren't 2020 worthy / acceptable, the graphics on their Wii games were better than this, with a 12-year age gap between them.”
  • gameplay453 mentions

    The gameplay of "Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town" is characterized by its nostalgic charm and engaging farming mechanics, offering a mix of familiar tasks such as raising animals, growing crops, and socializing with townsfolk. While many players appreciate the updated visuals and quality of life improvements, some feel that the gameplay can become repetitive and simplistic compared to modern farming sims like Stardew Valley. Overall, it provides a relaxing and enjoyable experience, particularly for fans of the original game, though it may not meet the expectations of those seeking more complex mechanics.

    • “The updated visuals and new features added a fresh and enjoyable twist to the familiar gameplay.”
    • “Its nostalgic charm, engaging gameplay, and lovable characters make it a must-play for fans of the series and newcomers alike.”
    • “Heartwarming character interactions, easy to grasp farming mechanics, and a nice variety of side activities prove to make this release a potent and worthwhile entry in this long-running series.”
    • “My only (small) complaint is that the mechanics feel dated when playing on PC, comparable to a Wii game.”
    • “The gameplay gets stale very quickly because there isn't much to do.”
    • “Unfortunately, after two hours of gameplay, I was bored as hell.”
  • music242 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its nostalgic and soothing qualities, with many players expressing joy at the remixed versions of classic tracks that evoke fond memories. The soundtrack is described as catchy and relaxing, enhancing the overall gameplay experience, although some users noted that it can become repetitive over time. Overall, the music successfully captures the charm of the original titles while introducing new elements that appeal to both returning fans and newcomers.

    • “The music is nostalgic and the overall feel to it is similar to 'Back to Nature'.”
    • “The soundtrack really brings back memories, with an upgrade in visuals and system it made the game better and relevant to today's players.”
    • “It's so relaxing to fall into a routine and enjoy the music, the scenery, and the overall peaceful aesthetic of the game.”
    • “Music: quite repetitive and it gets boring over time.”
    • “You can't turn off the music until you're several minutes into the game.”
    • “The music, for me, is kind of hit and miss.”
  • emotional57 mentions

    The emotional aspect of "Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town" is characterized by its nostalgic and heartwarming experiences, evoking strong feelings of sentimentality among players, especially those familiar with the original game. While many appreciate the quirky characters and wholesome interactions, some express disappointment over the lack of content compared to modern farming simulators, which can detract from the overall emotional impact. Overall, the game is celebrated for its ability to create a comforting and engaging atmosphere, making it a recommended choice for fans of wholesome gaming experiences.

    • “I almost shed a tear when I first played this game. The nostalgia sure hits in and the gameplay has been improved.”
    • “I played the original MFOMT/FOMT when I was a lot younger, and this is incredibly sentimental and heartwarming to me :)”
    • “Heartwarming character interactions, easy to grasp farming mechanics, and a nice variety of side activities prove to make this release a potent and worthwhile entry in this long-running series.”
  • character development44 mentions

    Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the improved graphics and character designs, while others express nostalgia for the original designs. Some players found the new names and designs initially off-putting but noted that they grew on them over time, highlighting a good sense of progression and cute character interactions. Overall, the game maintains its charm and character depth, despite the changes, and offers customization options that allow players to choose between original and new designs.

    • “It's super cute, has some nice character development to it and good sense of progression.”
    • “The updated character designs are great for most of the characters and the sprites look amazing.”
    • “With character customization improved, you can not only choose between the original playable character design but a new set of characters!”
    • “In spite of the new character designs, which are fine in a vacuum, but vastly inferior to the originals, the game is mostly unchanged.”
    • “The only con aside from the laughable character designs is that time flows way quicker than the sprite’s ability to water your crop.”
    • “I'm not really a fan of their new character design, but now they grew on me, except uh, duke... but overall I love all of them.”
  • optimization24 mentions

    The game is generally well-optimized, running smoothly at 60 fps with unique graphics that players grow to appreciate. While performance is solid on higher-end systems, some users report issues on low-end PCs, suggesting the need for adjustable settings to improve compatibility. Overall, it is considered the most optimized version of Harvest Moon to date, with efficient mechanics and minimal performance complaints.

    • “It's literally just the most optimized version of Harvest Moon to date.”
    • “[+] Game runs smoothly at 60 fps.”
    • “+ Mechanics are hugely optimized (large stacking backpack, shown stamina, flawless equipment switching and goods, starting cabinets, diary, etc.).”
    • “However, if you haven't been exposed to Rune Factory or Stardew Valley, then maybe you won't mind the lack of modern/optimized features or action RPG elements.”
    • “Only complaint so far is that I had to turn down the display settings because otherwise there was massive slowdown. I don't know how much of it was my computer or because of bad optimization though.”
    • “I just have one small issue with the game regarding performance on low-end PCs and laptops. Is it possible to adjust the game performance to allow low-end laptops and PCs to run it smoothly?”
  • humor21 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by its charming and lighthearted moments, such as the amusing cooking fails and quirky interactions with characters, like the inability to talk to a grown horse. Players appreciate the witty writing and localization, which adds warmth and liveliness, although some translation issues are noted. Overall, the game successfully blends humor with engaging gameplay, making it enjoyable for a wide audience.

    • “It's hilarious to see people say 'it's just like Stardew!' -- this game is what inspired Stardew and all other types of farm games.”
    • “This game has charm and the answers to the romantic interest's events made me laugh most of the time.”
    • “The localization and writing are warm and funny, though there are some things that may have benefited from another editorial pass. On the whole, it's lively and flows, which is what you want.”
  • atmosphere18 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its nostalgic and soothing qualities, reminiscent of classic titles like Harvest Moon, with adorable visuals and relaxing soundtracks that enhance the overall experience. Many players find it to be a charming and enjoyable environment, perfect for those seeking a feel-good, farming-themed game. However, some critiques mention that camera placement could better emphasize the atmosphere during events.

    • “This game is so adorable, I just love the atmosphere and feel of Harvest Moon games.”
    • “[*] Nostalgic and soothing soundtracks that add a delightful layer to the gaming atmosphere.”
    • “This game brings the old atmosphere of Mineral Town, background music, and even the devs made a few improvements without taking away the feelings of the old version.”
    • “Camera placement doesn't emphasize the event's atmosphere, even though it does improve the visual ergonomic aspects.”
    • “This game brings the old atmosphere of Mineral Town, with background music, and even though the developers made a few improvements, they didn't capture the feelings of the old version.”
  • stability14 mentions

    Overall, "Fomt" demonstrates solid stability, running well on both the Steam Deck and PC, with only occasional visual glitches reported in menus. While some minor bugs from the original game persist, many have been addressed, leading to a generally smooth gameplay experience. The community has also contributed to documenting glitches and game mechanics, enhancing the overall player experience.

    • “Not to mention, it runs great on PC, which is something I was pretty concerned about at launch.”
    • “Fomt runs well on the Steam Deck, but it occasionally has some visual glitches in its menus.”
    • “Very faithful to the original GBA release, less buggy but some of the money-making exploits still remain.”
    • “I gave up troubleshooting.”
  • replayability8 mentions

    The reviews on replayability are mixed; while some players appreciate the game's potential for replay after completing it, others criticize it for having minimal replay value, suggesting that it detracts from the overall experience. Overall, opinions vary significantly, with some finding great replayability and others feeling it is lacking.

    • “The game offers great replayability value.”
    • “It is replayable after finishing the main story.”
    • “The replayability after the ending adds significant depth to the experience.”
    • “It's not worth spending that amount on a game that has almost 0 replay value.”
    • “Some people may like this, but I think it cheapens the game and wrecks the replay value.”
    • “It's not worth spending that amount on a game that has almost 0 replay value.”
  • monetization6 mentions

    The monetization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players feeling it is a cash grab due to minimal differences from the original, while others appreciate the nostalgic value it brings. Many suggest that a more affordable HD port with minor improvements would have been a better approach. Overall, opinions vary on whether the pricing reflects the game's value.

    • “I genuinely feel that an HD port of the original with some small tweaks would be a lot more enjoyable (for maybe $15), but this version just feels like a quick cash grab from Marvelous.”
    • “There's not really much difference with the original game and I feel like it's a cash grab as it is.”
    • “I thought it was just another cash grab of our nostalgia, but it is not.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

79% average critic score

Buy STORY OF SEASONS: Friends of Mineral Town

Play time

20hMedian play time
23hAverage play time
9-40hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 28 analyzed playthroughs

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