While they no longer work on localising the Bokujō Monogatari franchise under their Harvest Moon branding, Natsume Inc has continued their franchise with a new line-up of farm/life simulator games. The next of these games is the mobile-device exclusive Harvest Moon: Home Sweet Home, scheduled for release on iOS and Android platforms starting 23 August 2024.
The game’s release date announcement coincides with the release of a new gameplay trailer, which seeks to introduce players to the town of Alba, where they will have the opportunity to build relationships with new neighbors, cultivate a variety of crops, care for animals, and participate in special events. Harvest Moon: Home Sweet Home allows players to reconnect with their roots by returning to their childhood village, helping to revitalize it and make it thrive once again.
In Harvest Moon: Home Sweet Home, players will engage in familiar series activities such as farming, fishing, and mining, while also working to attract new residents and tourists to Alba Village. The game boasts the largest world ever in a mobile Harvest Moon title, with opportunities for players to woo and marry one of four bachelors or bachelorettes, including childhood friends and other familiar characters.
Natsume’s President and CEO, Hiro Maekawa, shared his thoughts on the game:
In Harvest Moon: Home Sweet Home, players are tasked with making everyone happy in their hometown. By socializing, gift giving, selling crops, and completing requests, you’ll build bonds with your neighbors and increase the happiness of the town, all while hitting milestones of your own, like caring for your first cow, falling in love, and starting a family. As a standalone mobile app, players can progress their story at their own pace, wherever and whenever they want!
