The Ushi No Tane websites specialize in information, FAQs, and guides about the Nintendo console versions of the Harvest Moon, Story of Seasons, and Legend of the River King video games. These game genres are created and published in Japan by Marvelous (JP). In other regions, you'll find Natsume, XSeed Games/Marvelous (USA), Marvelous (EU), and Rising Star involved in the series' release.

The latest version of the mainstream farming series that have been released in various regions of the world are:

• Japan: Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar (August 2025)
• North America: Harvest Moon: Home Sweet Home Special Edition (October 2025) and Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar (August 2025)
• Europe: Harvest Moon: Home Sweet Home Special Edition (October 2025) and Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar (August 2025)

The latest version of River King, in all regions of the world, is River King: Mystic Valley (JP 2007, NA 2008, EU 2009).

Since 2000, Ushi no Tane has been run by a grouchy old lady who happens to be fond of video game agriculture along with two feline helpers: Intern Captain Bootu and Intern Hondo Mewnaka. The website is not officially affiliated, sponsored, endorsed, or employed by the developers of Harvest Moon, Story of Seasons, or River King. This is simply a fan site.

Latest Farming Video Game News

Happy Farm'n Friday! I finally finished Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma last weekend. I didn't finish everything in the game, like catching all the fish or finding all the eggplant guy's targets, but that's okay. I was ready for it to be done. While the game had lovely music and graphics and was an interesting spin-off of a Rune Factory game, there were some quirks that I wasn't a fan of. Such as how hard-mode wasn't really hard; it just increased the level and hit points of the enemies. Was just as easy to stand back and spam talisman attacks regardless of difficulty.

I still like Azuma in general and would recommend it to anyone interested in trying out a RF game. It was more enjoyable than Rune Factory 5, in my opinion.

Harvest Moon 3DS Ports

Pre-orders for the cozy bundle from Natsume, containing Harvest Moon: The Lost Valley and Harvest Moon: Skytree Village on a single Nintendo Switch cartridge, have started shipping from the publisher's distribution center. Depending on how close video game farmers live to the Los Angeles area, we could receive copies of the game within a few days.

Officially, these two 3DS-to-Switch upgrades are scheduled to be released on July 31 (next Thursday). If you're wondering which to play first, Skytree Village is an improved version of Lost Valley, though the games have the same base mechanic when it comes to modifying the elevation of the land and triggering crop mutations. Both games feature the original Doc character. While Skytree has a magnificent golden Doc statue that can be used to visually enhance the player's farm, Lost Valley has a Harvest Sprite statue that isn't as grand as Doc's monument. Both of these statues were released as DLC in the original 3DS days. Since there is no 3DS eShop anymore (RIP), all DLC released for both games is included in the Switch version. This includes decorations, new clothing outfits, bug fixes and gameplay improvements (such as expanding the watering can's maximum volume from 50 units to 200 units in Lost Valley), and bonus marriage candidates.

For farmers who prefer digital, both games are expected to be released on the Nintendo Switch eShop (at least, as of May when it was announced that a digital release was planned). Farmers can purchase one or both games. I don't see them listed for sale yet on the eShop, so we'll have to wait a little bit more to learn about the games' file size and price.

These games are also being released in Europe (via Numskull Games) and Asia (via Soft Source Games), though I don't expect there will be a Japan region release.

SoS:GB Updates

In this week's Zephyr Town Walker, Marvelous showed the convenience of the double-jump technique. Farmers can double jump to spread seeds over a wide area in a field (1 seed per seed bag) or harvest large areas of crops. The downside is that the double jump consumes a bit of Guts/Stamina per action.

Also noted was the horse riding mechanic, where the protagonist dons a snazzy equestrian outfit and trots around the farm. Besides being a nice way to get from area to area, the horse has the very convenient ability of picking up foragable items, such as weeds, branches, herbs, and other goodies on the ground. This is a new function compared to the horse in Pioneers of Olive Town, which uses the same graphic design, is generally slow, and doesn't pick anything up off the ground.

Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar is scheduled to be released on August 28.

That date has been rolling around in my head as though it were supposed to be something important, but I couldn't remember why. I finally realized this week it is because August 28, 2025, is UNOT's 25th anniversary , essentially, the date for the first page built on the HM2 GBC guide. Of course, it is simply a coincidence that Grand Bazaar is being released on that same day. Tuesdays and Thursdays are common release days, and it just happens that the 25th anniversary is on a Thursday this year.

Can't believe I totally forgot, lol!

New Farm'n - Firefly Village

Firefly Village is a pixel-based indie farming game developed by Josh Koenig Games that will be published by itch.io for Steam on August 11. In this game, the player takes over an old farm to start a new, casual life for themselves. Plant crops, care for animals, catch fish and insects, and explore mines. Build relationships with the villagers and go on dates. For goal-oriented players, the tiny task board by the general store will offer a reward for completing its daily chore.

The primary difference with this farming game compared to others of the same genre is its short, 7-day seasons. Experience a whole year in just a few real-time hours, including the changing seasonal crops, festivals, and wild goodies. And if you find the default length of day to be too quick (about 13 seconds per hour), toggle the relaxed time mode in the game's settings to make each bite-sized day last longer.

Though the world is fairly small, and with no bad guys or deadlines, Firefly Village gives players a charming piece of farming in short spurts. A FREE demo is available on Steam, granting five days of gameplay.

• Firefly Village | Steam Store

Nintendo eShop Sale

Some nice discounts are being offered on digital games from the Nintendo eShop. Below are some of the deals on popular farming games:

Europe and Oceania

• Cattle Country: 15% off, ends August 14
• Doraemon SoS: Friends of the Great Kingdom: 70% off, ends August 3
• Echoes of the Plum Grove: 20% off, ends August 17
• My Time at Sandrock: 50% off, ends August 3
• Orange Season: 50% off, ends August 3
• Roots of Pacha: 40% off, ends August 1
• Rune Factory 4 Special: 85% off, ends July 27
• Rune Factory 5: 80% off, ends July 27
• Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life: 60% off, ends July 27
• Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town: 88% off, ends July 27
• Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town: 75% off, ends July 27
• Wylde Flowers: 25% off, ends August 3

North America

• Drago Noka: 30% off, ends August 3
• Echoes of the Plum Grove: 15% off, ends July 30
• Roots of Pacha: 40% off, ends August 1

Until next time!

- Cher
(Moving on to playing Donkey Kong Bananza!)

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