Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar

One of the most popular farming and life simulation games is back in a modernised form for Switch and PC in the form of Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar. This remake is based on the Nintendo DS game Harvest Moon: Grand Bazaar, which was released in Japan in 2008 and Europe in 2011.

Even though it is a remake of a classic, Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar brings a breath of fresh air to the farming/life simulation genre. Compared to the original handheld game, the world is larger and more vibrant, with better visuals. New characters and an expanded story have been added, along with quality-of-life improvements such as a toolbar and full voice acting in story events - a first for the series. However, the wind system and the bazaar remain unchanged.

Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar is set in the sleepy town of Zephyr, which was once famous for its bustling bazaar but has since fallen into obscurity. Players take on the role of a newly arrived farmer and take over a run-down farm. From there, the typical farming/life simulation begins. Classic farming activities include raising animals, cultivating over 100 different crops, cooking, fishing, mining, searching for rare bugs and crafting items in windmills to refine raw goods into more valuable products. Players can also build relationships with the residents, some of whom may become close friends or even marriage partners.

Rune Factory. Harvest Moon. Story of Seasons. How are these franchises connected? Rune Factory is a fantasy spin-off of the original farming simulation game, Bokujō Monogatari. It was first released in the West as Harvest Moon, then as Story of Seasons, beginning in 2014. Today's Harvest Moon games (developed by Natsume) are not from the original developers and differ from Story of Seasons and Rune Factory, which are from Marvelous. Story of Seasons is a classic farming and life simulation game, while Rune Factory expands the genre by incorporating role-playing and fantasy elements, making it much more action-packed.

The centrepiece of the gameplay is the weekly bazaar. Rather than putting produce directly into a shipping box and selling it daily, players prepare specifically for the market each week. At their stall, they present and sell harvested vegetables, animal products, or manufactured goods to visitors – a combination of goods and decorative elements brings bonuses. However, players must choose what to sell, as there is limited space on the counter. A bell can be rung with the press of a button to attract more customers. Buyers queue up for the goods they want and players can sell them with the touch of a button. Alternative customer requests are displayed as thought bubbles. As the bazaar grows, new goods and services will become available to help players improve their farm. The bazaar concept affects overall time management, since not every crop can be harvested within a week and perishable goods decrease in value over time.

Cooking and gathering also played important roles. Thanks to a glider and trampolines, freedom of movement in the game world is good, and new places can be explored and resources found, although the game world is not excessively big. Contacting so-called nature spirits, which are activated by completing certain tasks or giving gifts, provides long-term benefits such as higher-quality collected goods or access to special items. The game motivates players with clear goals, varied activities, and a pleasant learning curve where new tools, areas, and possibilities are gradually unlocked. However, compared to other games in the series, the farm's decoration and design falls short due (to the main use of predefined slots for upgrades), and the inventory management could have benefited from more quality of life features.

“Grand Bazaar is very dear to many of us on the development team, and we’re excited to introduce a new generation of gamers to Zephyr Town. To our longtime fans - we are very pleased to offer you a classic Story of Seasons experience with modern enhancements. As we continue moving the series forward we hope our longtime fans continue to enjoy their time living in the charming worlds we create!” - Story of Seasons Series Manager Hikaru Nakano

Developed by Marvelous and published by Marvelous Europe in Europe and Australia, Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar was released on 27 August 2025 for the Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2 and PC via Steam. Marvelous Inc. published the title in Asia, and Marvelous USA published it in the Americas.

Physical editions are available for the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 via the Marvelous Europe website and participating retailers. The standard physical edition is available for an RRP of €49.99/€59.99, while the Limited Edition, which includes a copy of the game, a Suffolk sheep plush toy, a poster, a 115-page physical art book and a two-disc CD soundtrack, is available for an RRP of €69.99/€79.99.

Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar is also available to download from the Nintendo eShop for Nintendo Switch and PC for €49.99 and from the Nintendo eShop for Nintendo Switch 2 for €59.99. The Digital Deluxe Edition is available on Nintendo Switch and PC for €59.98, and the Super Digital Deluxe Edition for €69.99. Players can also purchase the “Trunk of Transformation Bundle” cosmetic DLC separately for €9.99. Nintendo Switch 2 players can upgrade their standard edition with the “Trunk of Transformation Bundle” DLC for €9.99 or the “Super Digital Deluxe” DLC set for €19.99. The Nintendo Switch 2 Edition Upgrade Pack is available for €10 to anyone who owns the physical or digital Nintendo Switch version of Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar.

Marvelous has already released Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma in June, which reached a new concurrent user (CCU) peak for the company on Steam with 13,121 users. As of mid-August 2025, the game had sold over 500,000 copies worldwide across all platforms. Next up is Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion, scheduled for release on 5 September on Switch 2, PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC via Steam.

Marvelous Europe is a subsidiary of the Tokyo-based company Marvelous Inc., the developer of the popular Story of Seasons and Rune Factory series. Established in 2012, Marvelous Europe's portfolio includes third-party titles such as Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin, Leximan, Cuisineer, and Moonlight Peaks, as well as select Marvelous Inc. content.

Conclusion

Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar is a convincing remake of the DS title that also brings a breath of fresh air to the cozy genre thanks to its bazaar mechanics.