Harvest Moon: Light of Hope

Harvest Moon: Light of Hope is a farming and life simulation by TABOT and Natsume. After a shipwreck, the player character reaches a harbour town damaged by a storm. You run a farm, help the residents and collect materials to restore buildings and the lighthouse.

The story combines work in the fields with friendships, village festivals and building a family. The game belongs to Natsume's Harvest Moon series and first came out for PC in 2017.

The PC version was released on Nov 14, 2017. In Germany, the PS4 version followed on Jun 25, 2018 and the Nintendo Switch version on Jun 28, 2018. The iOS version launched on Sep 24, 2018, and Android followed in 2018. The Xbox One Complete edition was released on Sep 18, 2020.

The console versions are offered as the Special Edition. On Xbox One, the Complete edition also includes the four larger add-on packs.

Dedicated versions exist for PC, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, iOS and Android. The Switch and PS4 editions support local play for two players. The original PC version is marked on Steam as a single-player game.

On PlayStation 5, the PS4 version can be played via backward compatibility. This does not create a standalone PS5 version. Likewise, the Xbox One version must be distinguished from a native Xbox Series version.

You plant vegetables and other crops, look after animals, and gather wood, stone and other raw materials. The harvest and collected materials help you restore buildings and make new areas of the harbour town accessible.

Residents' quests give your work a direction. In addition, you can fish, collect items and develop relationships with the characters. The story around the lighthouse links these activities to the town's progress.

Four larger add-on packs expand Light of Hope: Decorations & Tool Upgrade Pack, New Marriageable Characters Pack, Doc’s & Melanie’s Special Episodes and Divine Marriageable Characters Pack. They add, among other things, decorations, improved tools, more relationship options and additional stories.

The Xbox One edition SE Complete already includes these extras. For PS4 and Switch, they are also offered as separate expansions.

According to Steam, the PC version requires at least an Intel Core i3 of the third generation with 2.9 GHz, 4 GB RAM, a DirectX 11-capable environment and 1 GB of free storage. The original specifications list Windows 7, 8 and 10. However, using the current Steam client requires Windows 10 or later.

On Steam, English is listed as the interface language. The European PS4 releases support on-screen text in German, English and French.

After the storm, large parts of the harbour town are abandoned or damaged. The young doctor Jeanne rescues the player character after the shipwreck. Step by step, you repair houses and paths, win back residents and work to make the lighthouse shine again.

Many repairs require specific materials. As a result, farm work, exploration and the villagers' tasks are closely connected.

Choosing crops and working the fields play a central role in farming. The game also offers altered plant forms that arise under certain growing conditions. Animals must be fed and looked after.

As you expand your farm, you also lay the groundwork for rebuilding the village. Harvests can be sold or used for quests and other purposes.

You can get to know the residents, deepen friendships and enter a romantic relationship. Marriage and starting a family are among the long-term options. Special festivals, including a dog race, interrupt everyday life between fieldwork and house repairs.

You can choose between a male and a female character.

The Special Edition for PS4 and Switch offers local co-op for two players. On consoles, a second player can help with farm work. The official store information does not promise online co-op.

On Steam, the game is listed as a single-player title. The PC version should therefore not be understood as a multiplayer game just because of the co-op feature of the console versions.

Behind Light of Hope are TABOT and Natsume. Natsume published the PC version itself, while the European console releases are linked to Rising Star Games and Thunderful, among others. The Xbox One Complete version lists Appci and Natsume as developers.