Harvestella Reviews

Harvestella is ranked in the 60th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
78 / 100
Nov 7, 2022

Harvestella starts from a very interesting proposal, combining a story in the style of Final Fantasy with mechanics of games like Stardew Valley, but fails to give the chest by not delving into any of its elements. Add technical defects and we have the clear case of an AA game that with a little more time and budget could be AAA.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

77%
Nov 21, 2022

Harvestella offers a unique mix of farming sim and action RPG Lee. While there are some flaws in both aspects, and the presentation, Harvestella still offers an entertaining experience thanks to the gameplay mix and story.

Review in German | Read full review

76 / 100
Nov 20, 2022

Harvestella is an interesting concoction of a JRPG experience merged with farming, which results in pure escapist fun. The combat and farming aspects are by no means elaborate, but their simplistic approach creates a relaxing atmosphere that is great to play in short bursts.

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7.5 / 10.0
Nov 19, 2022

Solid and definitely have an audience. There could be some hard-to-ignore faults, but the experience is fun.

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7.5 / 10.0
Nov 9, 2022

If you can overlook these issues, and are a fan of stuff like Rune Factory, Stardew Valley or even the slept-on Level 5 title Fantasy Life – the latter a definite kindred spirit in terms of its JRPG tropes, action, farming and jobs – then you will get a lot out of Harvestella.

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8 / 10
Nov 11, 2022

Harvestella may have unsightly character models and rote combat, but it offers a satisfying blend of farming sim and action RPG that scratches the itches it's supposed to.

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8 / 10.0
Nov 20, 2022

Harvestella is a game with a very addictive loop. With each dungeon leading you to a new plot revelation, and each season giving you new crops to grow it's like the game is begging for "just one more day" and it can be hard to say no. While I wish that there was more depth to the characters, especially in the voice acting department, and the game doesn't make any major strides, it is still a decently fresh take on the genre. It is important to know that Harvestella really is a JRPG before it is a farming sim; even though farming is a lot of fun, it is not the main thing you will be doing. Even though both farming and combat are simple, the combination of both manages to make Harvestella feel deeper than it actually is. So if you are on the lookout for a new RPG farming adventure to play after finishing Rune Factory 5, this might be it!

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7.5 / 10.0
Dec 5, 2022

Harvestella isn't going to remove Rune Factory from existence, but it has a lot of potential as a strong competitor. This first (and hopefully not only) outing has an extremely strong basis and manages to hit a lot of the high marks of JRPG-style farming simulation, while having enough of its own personality to avoid feeling like a clone. Only the overly stiff combat and general simplicity of the game hold it back from being as good as its obvious inspirations. It's so close to being great that it's easy to imagine a sequel hitting all of the marks. There's a lot to like here if you can get past the slow start, and by the time I finished the game, I felt almost as satisfied as I was with Rune Factory 5. Harvestella is absolutely worth a look if you're a fan of the Rune Factory franchise and want to see a different developer's take on the concept.

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7.5 / 10.0
Dec 12, 2022

This is a game with a lot of heart that I kept wanting to explore even with its messier aspects. If you're looking for a farm sim mixed with a JRPG or a JRPG mixed with a farm sim, this is perfect for you. And if you go into it with the right mindset, you'll enjoy the relaxing stroll of this world and its gameplay.

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7.5 / 10.0
Nov 16, 2022

Harvestella is a Frankenstein creature of several genres with a golden heart. It's one of the year's most soothing games, with an addicting gameplay cycle and some intriguing quests.

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7 / 10.0
Nov 14, 2022

A good mix between life-sim and GdR, Harvestella seems to be a game addressed to the less experienced players, rather than the expert ones.

Review in Italian | Read full review

Nov 11, 2022

Harvestella stumbles before it finds a decent pace, with the biggest drawbacks being the slow start and temperamental graphics. If you can get past these shortcomings, there’s plenty to be enjoyed here and a hefty completion time to keep you busy. While it offers an enjoyable blend of RPG meets life sim, there isn’t enough substance on either side to take the game from good to great.

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7 / 10
Nov 7, 2022

Harvestella could be described as one of the best 'good' games you'll play this year. Its performance issues and rather simplistic mechanics hold it back from being great, but its quest design, dungeon exploration, and successful fusion of very distinct gameplay mechanics make it quite compelling all the same. That launch day $60 price tag feels a little high for what's on offer here, but this is absolutely a title that we'd recommend farm sim fans buy when the inevitable sales start to crop up. Harvestella may not be a challenger to Stardew Valley's crown, but it does enough to distinguish itself as a worthwhile experience anyway.

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Nov 10, 2022

Harvestella is a game full of immersive environments, beautiful music, and an engaging and meaningful narrative for both its world and main characters, which is enough to redeem the game's more mediocre elements. There are several areas of Harvestella, like it farming, animations, and social simulation elements that would have greatly benefited from more depth and care put into them, but despite these flaws the game manages to be incredibly addictive. It's easier to notice these issues when comparing Harvestella to games like Rune Factory, but standing on its own Harvestella is a fairly strong title that's worth players' time. It may not be perfect, but it's very easy for players to fall into a "just one more day" loop in Harvestella nonetheless as they uncover the mysteries of its universe.

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Gameblog
KiKiToes
Top Critic
7 / 10
Nov 17, 2022

If you're looking for an enjoyable title that won't require you to bend over backwards on its difficulty or mechanics, then Harvestella is the perfect candidate!

Review in French | Read full review

7 / 10.0
Dec 4, 2022

Our test of Harvestella took place on Nintendo Switch, but the JRPG is also available on PC. With a playful soul constantly poised between Action RPG and life-simulator, the JRPG alternates real-time clashes, cultivation of the fields and socialization activities with its traveling companions.

Review in Italian | Read full review

7 / 10.0
Nov 10, 2022

Harvestella is rough around the edges, and it's not particularly accomplished at anything it sets out to do, but it's a fun, engaging farming sim at its core, and certainly worth a look for fans of the genre.

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3.5 / 5.0
Nov 13, 2022

Harvestella attempts to create a unique gaming experience by combining farming and life sim elements with action RPG elements.

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Dec 12, 2022

Harvestella cultivates its characters and story, but other mechanics aren't quite as ripe.

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7 / 10.0
Nov 19, 2022

Harvestella tells an enthralling tale filled with gorgeous designs and interesting characters but it's simple gameplay mechanics hold it back from truly shining.

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