While farm and life sims of various kinds have been around for quite some time, it doesn’t feel like the genre truly exploded until this generation with the indie darling Stardew Valley and the popularity of Animal Crossing: New Horizons. While the two are very different games in concept and execution, they both managed to find a careful balance between essential repetitive tasks and then elements of fun that would keep people coming back for more. 

Since those releases quite a number of years ago now, there have been many indie games that have come and gone in the genre, with some managing to make a reasonably-good impression and others quickly being relegated to the rear-view mirror. Some have tried to expand the number of things you can do, others have tried to add complexity here or there to try to make the daily cycle more engaging, but then some others just seem to have gone through the motions of setting up the ability to complete these tasks, but provide very little incentive to keep going or caring. Unfortunately, overall, I’d say Harvest Days falls into this trap.

Between the lackluster visual style, generally barren landscapes all around you, the poorly-implemented (or at least explained) controls, and a general lack of direction or motivation to do anything specific it flounders quite quickly. I do understand that there are people who simply want to engage in some sandbox play, without the need to work on quests or constantly be reminded of what you should be doing. But there is a point where a lack of structure stops feeling like freedom and instead just like a lack of planning or attempts at designing engaging play.

I suppose if you’re looking to work on your farm to make it whatever you’d like, without anything really getting in your way, or telling you to do something different, there could be some appeal here. In that light, it could be seen as bare bones in a good way, leaving you to pretty much do whatever you’d like, however you’d like (within the limitations of the game engine at least). That said, even if you were expecting some basic guidance of what to do, how to do it, or just some real variety you’ll likely find this effort disappointing.