Highlights
Harvest Island is a horror farming simulator that stands out from other games in the genre with its spooky vibes, making it a perfect fit for October.
Players embark on an exciting journey to unravel the enigmatic secrets of an uncharted island, simultaneously tending to a flourishing farm. Along the way, they must appease the ancient gods of the island, making sacrifices to receive powerful boosts for their stats.
With a vast selection of more than 180 unique collectible items, the game also allows players to form meaningful connections with adorable animals. Ultimately, this game offers a captivating and immersive experience, providing a distinct and captivating twist to the beloved farming simulation genre.
Harvest Island, a chilling farming simulator, has been released just in time for the eeriest month of the year. While many games in the farming sim genre have been inspired by Stardew Valley in recent years, Harvest Island sets itself apart by embracing a horrifying twist. With Stardew Valley's immense success, selling over 20 million units, other developers have jumped on the bandwagon and released their own farming sim games. Nevertheless, it is uncommon to come across a game inspired by Stardew Valley that exudes spooky rather than cozy vibes, making Harvest Island an ideal choice for the month of October.
Harvest Island is presently accessible on Steam, Epic Games, and itch.io, offering players a single-player farming simulator intertwined with a captivating horror-focused narrative. Developed by the esteemed Yobob Games studio, this game introduces gamers to the mysterious island alongside siblings Will and Samantha, who simultaneously tend to their farm. While embracing the conventional mechanics of Stardew Valley, such as farming, fishing, and animal husbandry, players can also opt to appease the island's deities for stat enhancements and delve into the riveting storyline, gradually uncovering the hidden secrets of the setting.
According to the developers, Harvest Island offers a variety of mysteries, such as the reasons behind the siblings' presence on the island, the strange behavior and dishonesty of their father, and the enigmatic gods that appear to dwell there. Additionally, the game features over 180 collectible items scattered throughout the island, which can be utilized to upgrade tools and gather farming resources. As players embark on their adventure, they may also have the opportunity to befriend various animals, including moose, sea lions, raccoons, and more. Overall, Harvest Island provides a refreshing experience for genre enthusiasts seeking a slightly darker and less cozy atmosphere for their Halloween gaming endeavors.
Moreover, fans may be intrigued by the upcoming game Haunted Chocolatier, developed by ConcernedApe, the creator of Stardew Valley. This highly anticipated title veers away from the farming concept and instead allows players to manage a chocolate factory. Although Haunted Chocolatier maintains the cozy ambiance characteristic of Stardew Valley, it also incorporates the element of ghosts. While an official release date for Haunted Chocolatier has yet to be announced, games like Harvest Island serve as excellent choices to play in the meantime.
Harvest Island is available for PC.