why so popular?

[KyllyR]

How would you describe the core mechanics that make this game stand out? is this like those "farming simulator" games? Is this an economy management game?

tbh I become sexually confused when you can't kill something in a game.

[Vroomi]

There isn't really anything special about it.

It's popular because it's a good game.

[Pancakes]

What you do is you get sent into a town that has a farm, you can rise crops, harvest wild items, fish, cook, rise animals, fight monsters and talk with npcs and do quests for them.


People like it because all this is at lest ok gameplay. It art, music, npcs, world are nice. It not very hard or very easy. Also the dev is a very nice and hard working man.

It make it short, people play cus it looks, plays and feels nice.

[cupid ೀ]

It's like Animal Crossing but with farming, if that helps. it's fun and cute and addictive.

[Lord Doober De La Goober MXI]

Because its is a good game and if I also had to guess more than half of its playerbase has never even played harvest moon nor story of seasons /

[Gespenst Gaming]

but you can kill things in this game. its actually a large part of the game is dungeon diving,

[Shane]

There's always something to do. The music also adds a lot to the appeal for me.

[Dark]

It is a genre that was previously only on console.

It is mostly a resource managment game, with several overlaping systems (time, money, energy) and several overlaping progresion mills (equipment, combat, fishing, cooking, gathering, crafting, mining) that gives you clear in game goals and progresion mile stones to aim for (Community center collections, house improvments, character upgrades).

The presentation of the game also allows you to ignore the underlying mechanics if you want and instead set your own goals or play is as a casual sandbox.

Also you can marray a man or woman, if the lack of killing has you that confused. So just choose your favorit, and open a slime farm.

[eMYNOCK]

The game even allows gay marriage!
And you get a dog or cat early in the game!

And... it... is... really...fun... to... dive... into... the... game.

Additionally it makes fun to watch the NPCs on their boring, daily schedule... even if you just do nothing.

Has someone already mentioned Dinosaurs, giant Pumpkins, Melons and Cauliflowers?

[abenlen]

I think that at it's heart this is a time management game. There is always something that needs to be done, but the days are short and energy, at least at the start, is limited. The gameplay doesn't feel rushed, but full.

[Retrox]

Well, you don't actually get to kill stuff until the ravenous demons show up to attack the town, but that's near the end-game. You can fight the aliens when they come to steal your cows if you have the shotgun or rocket launcher, but you have to grow a lot of veggies to be able to afford those (and you must have completed the Arms Dealer's quest). Tip: The scarecrows shoot laser beams at level 3, so upgrade those ASAP.

[Firephoenixx456]

quite honesty I don't have a coherent argument as to why the game is such a joy to play. it might be subjectivly for me that it's good at eating up a lot of time objectibly I'm not sure

[Good Mental]

Well it has the feel of retro Harvest Moon games which I loved growing up. So, just imagine harvest moon but on pc... With more things

[Pixel Peeper]

For me the reasons are clear.

The game makes you feel like you're being super productive. Every little thing you do benefits you in one way or another.

You always have tons of different things to do and not enough time to do them, so you're always throwing yourself into everything with enthusiasm.

You're never wasting time, you're always doing something that feels important.

[De_faulty]

Because I can have a gf and a real relationship?
The music is good, characters seems alive, there are dungeon that you can explore and kill stuff,
You can give someone diamonds but they'll still hate you for some reason
It's fun

[jasonleetate]

This games brings back memories of playing Harvest Moon on the Game Boy and the SNES. It has resource management and crafting. There is someting about watering and watching your crops grow. The game is very well done and you can lose several hours to it.