'Harvestella' (Image: Square Enix)
Square Enix announced today that they’re working on a new life simulation RPG. Harvestella thrusts you into a vibrant world where you can farm crops, cook meals, collect materials, interact with villagers and more! The game seems like a mix of Stardew Valley meets Final Fantasy. Valley fans will enjoy the farming aspect as well as the ability to interact with different villagers, however, that’s where the similarities stop.
Live the season of death…
Explore a fantasy world, embark on adventures, and build a new life for yourself in #Harvestella, launching on Nintendo Switch and Steam on November 4, 2022: https://t.co/ZGOmU9ES3n pic.twitter.com/FKjhNrWHBi
— Square Enix (@SquareEnix) June 28, 2022
The game looks flat-out beautiful, and it’s not surprising considering this is the same studio that makes the Kingdom Hearts series. The game is fully 3D which is unlike any RPG, but then again, this isn’t just any RPG. Players will be able to take on different jobs such as mage, fighter and shadow walker. Magic is incorporated heavily into the game, again, this is Square Enix we’re talking about, and your farming is directly affected by this magic. The transition between seasons is seamless except for one little problem, Quietus.
Quietus spells are periods where crops die and people are unable to go outside because of toxic dust. These periods are also getting longer each time which affects the player’s decisions throughout the game. You, as the protagonist, Ein, need to find a way to stop it from wreaking havoc on the world.
The world is huge, and players are able to interact with different villagers in neighboring towns and make friends with certain characters like a girl named Aria, who has come from the future and is investigating Quietus. You can also fight enemies in various dungeons. The combat system in the game is similar to other RPGs but is mostly real-time combat.
It’s interesting to see Harvestella being marketed as a life simulation RPG when it is much more than that. The world is vast, the story is constantly evolving and players can play the game at their own pace. It remains to be seen whether or not there is a large, all-encompassing ending, but right now it seems that the world is worth exploring.
Harvestella is slated to release on November 4 on Nintendo Switch and PC.
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