Harvestella Review
Square Enix is releasing an absolute deluge of games this holiday season, so it's no surprise to see some games fall short of the spotlight, rightfully or wrongfully. Thus, while unsurprising, it is unfortunate that an absolute gem like Harvestella is missing its chance to gleam. Harvestella finds itself in a strange spot. Its place in the RPG and farming sim genres is hard to define and wasn't cleared up by marketing. It was released surrounded by other Square Enix games and more popular titles like God of War Ragnarok and Sonic Frontiers. Also, as of this review, it is only available on PC and console-exclusive to Nintendo Switch. However, despite some blemishes, Harvestella is the perfect game for the right sort, and hopefully, I can give you an idea of whether you are such a player.
First, I would like to clarify what Harvestella is and is not. Harvestella is primarily a JRPG. It has farming elements, but it is not truly a farming sim. It is a game about managing resources, including time. It is not an action game. Romance exists as a possibility within the post-game but is not a focus. There are many games I could compare it to, and Harvest Moon or Rune Factory are not even the first that come to mind. Instead, it is games like Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles, Final Fantasy XIV, Dark Cloud, and the Atelier series that I find myself placing Harvestella alongside.
Pros
Ambitious scope, a compelling narrative, powerful side stories, great characters you won't forget, enjoyable and nostalgic dungeon crawling, a neat combat system with cool jobs.
Cons
Not as much of a farming sim as some might like, the stakes of the story are not always felt in the moment-to-moment gameplay, the use of in-game time does not put enough pressure on the player.
Bottom Line
For the right players, Harvestella is a game of the year (or even generation) contender. Everyone else might be left wondering what they are missing.
Score: 85/100
