Grave Seasons is my most anticipated murder mystery-farming sim of the summer

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At first glance, Grave Seasons appears to be a typical colorful, pixelated farming game, similar to Harvest Moon and Stardew Valley. But as you uncover the story of the main character and the secrets of the town of Ashenridge, you’ll find it’s equally focused on solving a dark mystery and building relationships with the locals, as it is on farming and selling produce.

I really enjoyed the brief 15-minute demo I played at PAX East, and I was disappointed it wasn’t longer. I wanted more time to explore the town and experiment with the unique gameplay features, like breaking into buildings and investigating crime scenes, that make this farming RPG stand out.

Grave Seasons is a unique farming game that combines the relaxing elements of tending crops with the intrigue of a murder mystery – and anyone in town could be the culprit! Unlike most farming games where you play as someone escaping city life or inheriting a farm, you play as an ex-convict trying to build a peaceful life after escaping from prison. The game’s demo lets you experience a typical day in this new life.

The demo began on my farm, which already had fully grown crops ready to be harvested. I was able to cook meals, like falafel, in my kitchen, and even craft tools, such as a crowbar, using a crafting station. My neighbors were a diverse group, ranging from the quiet grocery clerk, Yuto, to the friendly tailor, Pilar. Initially, none of them seemed out of the ordinary. (To be honest, I was mostly confused during the demo because there wasn’t a map, though the developers said one would be available in the final game.)

My experience with the game’s farming aspects ended there. An exhibitor suggested I try breaking into buildings using the main character’s crowbar, so I gave it a shot. Not every building could be broken into, though – I found that out when I tried to rob the grocery store. When you can use the crowbar on a door or hatch, a lock icon appears, triggering a quick-time event to unlock it. The developers at the demo said villagers will react if they catch you breaking into their homes, but I didn’t personally witness any consequences during my hands-on time.

The demo ended with a shocking scene: a villager I’d just spoken with was brutally attacked and killed by a monster. While I hadn’t known the character well enough to feel a strong emotional connection, I can see how that moment could be much more impactful if it involved someone you’d grown to care about. I also want to highlight the game’s soundtrack, which perfectly built tension, especially at night and while I was examining the clues at the crime scene.

Grave Seasons offers different endings depending on your choices – you can even save lives or pursue a relationship with the murderer! This encourages multiple playthroughs, as you’ll uncover new details each time. As one character wisely says, your actions have consequences – you’ll ‘reap what you sow.’

Right now, my biggest problem isn’t with how the game plays, but with the demo itself. If I could interact more with the town, experiment with cooking, go fishing, and do more activities, I’d be completely hooked. It’s hard to say if the story or gameplay are perfect yet, but the game definitely has a strong initial appeal and a satisfying cycle of tasks that I’m looking forward to exploring when it’s released.

Grave Seasons will be available on August 14th for PC (through Steam), PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox Cloud.

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2026-04-05 19:56