The highly anticipated Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar by Marvelous Inc. released today to Nintendo Systems and Steam. The game is a remake of Harvest Moon DS: Grand Bazaar released in 2010. Its gameplay is a mix of the innovative farm life that the series has become known for and selling goods to build up the bazaar that is the focus point of the town.

The game starts with the player entering the windy Zephyr Town as a new farmer and being greeted by Mayor Felix. He explains the lack of attention the bazaar has been getting and encourages the player to help, propelling them into the game with a day at their new stall. Players have access to a house, a farm, and a stall, allowing them to focus on the aspects of the game that most appeal to them individually. Whether this is the calming farming, building up the bazaar, or building a life in the town is up to the player. The site for the game also brings special attention to the glider that players can use to traverse the town as the winds shift. The winds also power windmills which provide another layer of the game for players to interact with.

The game manages to stay faithful while also offering numerous improvements, including full voice acting for the first time in the series. The ability to do all tasks by hand while still progressing tools and locations helps the game strike the balance between calm and progress. Fans of the original will be happy to know that this remake builds many layers upon the original, transforming it into an experience worthy to be the latest in the series.

The release of Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar has been met with considerable praise. According to  CGMagazine, the game is “must play” that is some of the best the genre has to offer. The game is available now on Switch, Switch 2, and PC.