New Farming Simulator on Steam Feels Like Stardew Valley by Day and Dying Light After Dark

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Games similar to Stardew Valley are very popular on Steam, as many developers have been inspired by ConcernedApe’s hit indie game. While no game is quite like Stardew Valley, titles like the early access game Fields of Mistria offer a similar experience. These games are perfect for players who’ve mastered Stardew Valley and are looking for something new, but even those who just enjoy farming simulators in general can find a lot to love in the creative games that blend Stardew Valley‘s elements with unique ideas.

The upcoming Steam game Harvest Scream aims to blend the relaxing elements of cozy games with the terrifying creatures you might find in Dead Space. The game cleverly uses day and night cycles to create two distinct gameplay experiences, and if both are fun, it has the potential to be very popular. If you’re looking for a horror twist on the Stardew Valley formula, here’s a look at what to expect from this ambitious indie title developed by Green Vector Games.

Per the Steam Page for Harvest Scream, the game is set to release in Q1 2026.

Harvest Scream Features at a Glance

Image via Green Vector Games
  • ENJOY the game in either singleplayer or co-op.
  • FARM during the day and SURVIVE during the night.
  • ENGAGE in activities like fishing, beekeeping, gardening, and animal care.
  • ROMANCE a mysterious character that may be “more than they seem.”
  • AVOID disturbing monsters that roam the nearby forests.
  • EXPERIENCE an “emotional” story and dynamic weather.

Survive the harvest in this co-op horror game! During the day, you and your friends work the farm. But at night, you’ll face strange anomalies and try to discover the dark secret behind a broken simulation.

Harvest Scream Should Have Plenty of Appeal for Stardew Valley Fans

Though Harvest Scream has a darker, more realistic style and a scary premise – being trapped in a terrifying simulation – fans of cozy games like Stardew Valley will still find a lot to enjoy. The game features familiar daytime activities such as farming, fishing, and collecting resources, allowing players to relax and prepare for the challenges of night. While nighttime gameplay is much more intense than fighting in Stardew Valley’s mines, the peaceful daytime tasks, like beekeeping, should offer a similar comforting experience to tending a farm in Stardew Valley.

Although farming is central to the gameplay of Harvest Scream rather than focused on making money, players can earn some income by completing tasks. This money will be used to purchase upgrades and items through a computer interface, similar to selling goods in a shop. The game will also feature at least one character players can romance. While the romance will fit the game’s spooky atmosphere, the developers emphasize that love is a key theme. Given how popular the romances were in Stardew Valley, this should appeal to fans of that game. With farming, romance options, and co-op gameplay, Harvest Scream aims to attract players who enjoy games like Stardew Valley.

Not much is known about the romantic interest in Harvest Scream, but the mystery surrounding them suggests the way you pursue a relationship will be a key part of the game. It’s also uncertain how many other characters will be involved in the story.

Harvest Scream’s Spooky Nightfall Sounds Very Dying Light-Inspired

How long players enjoy the new content in Stardew Valley will likely depend on how well they handle scary situations. After dark, players must venture from their farms into a dark forest to find and fix strange occurrences. They need to do this stealthily, avoiding terrifying monsters that roam the woods. It appears players can use stuffed animals to repair these issues and keep the monsters away, but fighting them doesn’t seem to be an option. This setup is similar to Dying Light, but it might actually be more effective in Stardew Valley.

I loved the idea of nighttime in Dying Light – it was super cool at first! But honestly, it didn’t stay scary for very long. Once you got better gear, those Volatiles weren’t so tough, and nighttime just became another time to run around. That’s why I’m excited about Harvest Scream. It’s different because you’re avoiding monsters instead of fighting them, and that feels much more tense. I’ve always thought the best horror games make you feel powerless, like in the Outlast series, and Harvest Scream seems to be doing that. Hopefully, that means it will stay scary for much longer and I’ll want to play it again and again.

Although Harvest Scream would be improved with a more streamlined interface, and it’s still uncertain whether the enemy AI will provide a challenging nighttime experience without being frustrating, the game’s mix of genres promises something different. Luckily, players won’t have to wait long to find out if it delivers on that promise, as it’s scheduled to release by the end of March 2026.

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2026-02-01 15:05