Harvest Moon

The game play consists of daily tasks, and strategically using your time wisely for the best outcome in the end. Each year has four thirty-day seasons, and the player has limited time each day before it becomes dark. The clock stops at 6 p.m. Unlike in later Harvest Moon games, the player can effectively stay outside as long as he wants without penalty, as long as he does not run out of energy. Even then, energy can be restored at the hot spring for as long as the player wants, effectively allowing them to work non-stop all night. However, when married, the character loses a few affection points with his wife if he comes home after 6 p.m. For vegetables to develop, they must receive water each day; lack of water does not kill crops, but does keep them from growing. Animals must be fed once a day to keep producing. While the only care that chickens require is feeding, cows must be continually talked to, brushed, and milked to retain their health. A cow may become sick and even die if not fed for a day. The only way a chicken can die is to be left outside and allowed to be blown away in a storm or eaten by wild wolves. After dark, the only business in town that the player can access is the bar, where a number of non-player characters gather to drink and talk.


There are three different areas that the player can go to: his farm and its buildings; the local town and its houses and shops; and a local forest, where a carpenter and his colleagues live. North of the forest is a mountain.
The house can be upgraded twice. Additionally, wood can be used to construct fences around the crop areas. While rain releases the player from having to water crops by hand, it usually damages the fence. After winter, no matter how well the player takes care of the land, much of it and the fence is destroyed.