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Entertainment • Video Game

Story of Seasons

Story of Seasons is a Japanese farming and life simulation video game series known in Japan as Bokujō Monogatari.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Story of Seasons is a Japanese farming and life simulation video game series known in Japan as Bokujō Monogatari. The series was originally localized in English as Harvest Moon, but newer international releases have used the Story of Seasons title after licensing changes. Its games focus on farming, raising livestock, social relationships, and often marriage and family life.

History

The series was created by Yasuhiro Wada and developed by Victor Interactive Software, later part of Marvelous. It first appeared in Japan in 1996 and became known internationally as Harvest Moon before adopting the Story of Seasons title for newer releases.

Gameplay

Core gameplay centers on farming: clearing land, planting and harvesting crops, and raising animals. Many games also include town life systems, friendships, marriage, and family progression.

Naming and localization

The English-language naming changed because the Harvest Moon trademark was no longer used for Marvelous’s localizations. From 2014 onward, international releases from Marvelous and Xseed Games used Story of Seasons instead.

Key facts

  • The series began in 1996 with the Japanese release of Bokujō Monogatari on Super Nintendo Entertainment System.
  • For many years, English-language releases used the name Harvest Moon.
  • After licensing changes, new international releases began using the Story of Seasons title.
  • The gameplay typically involves rebuilding and managing a farm, growing crops, and caring for livestock.
  • Social simulation features such as befriending townspeople, marriage, and starting a family appear in many entries.
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Canadian context

The series has been released in Canada through the same English-language publishing and localization channels used for North American markets, making it familiar to Canadian players who followed the Harvest Moon and later Story of Seasons releases.[1][13]

Frequently asked questions

Is Story of Seasons the same as Harvest Moon?
Story of Seasons is the modern international title for the Japanese Bokujō Monogatari series, which was formerly localized in English as Harvest Moon.
Who created the series?
The series is credited to Japanese game designer Yasuhiro Wada.
What kind of game is Story of Seasons?
It is a farming and life simulation series, with role-playing elements in some entries.
When did the series begin?
The series began in 1996 with the first Bokujō Monogatari game for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System.
Why did the name change from Harvest Moon to Story of Seasons?
The name changed because Natsume retained the Harvest Moon trademark in North America, so Marvelous’s newer English releases needed a different title.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Story_of_Seasons
    Supports: Series overview, creator, gameplay, and naming history.
  2. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Story_of_Seasons_video_games
    Supports: Series debut, localization history, and franchise naming change.
  3. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Story_of_Seasons_(video_game)
    Supports: First game released under the Story of Seasons title and release context.
  4. Wikidata — https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1195594
    Supports: Series identity as a video game series and alternate names.