There are a million and one farming simulators to choose from in 2022. Square Enix is competing with Stardew diehards while long-lasting farm management titles like Story of Seasons continue to put out new and inventive projects. The latest from the Harvest Moon successor mixes in something that other farming simulators don’t have: Doraemon and the beloved characters from this Japanese manga and media giant. In Doraemon Story of Seasons: Friends of the Great Kingdom, you won’t find a jaw-dropping game, but one that is worth your time among the many farming sims on the market.

Doraemon: Story of Seasons began as a franchise in 2019 and was a fun mix of a major Japanese anime character and great farming gameplay. The sequel continues to lean into the thing that this series has that other farming sims don’t. It has an adorable cast of characters well-known to millions around the world. Doraemon is a children’s series at heart, so it’s definitely going to resonate with younger gamers, but this isn’t a game designed for children. This is a Story of Seasons game in the best ways possible.

Noby and Doraemon begin a summer vacation and end up in a rocket landing on a mysterious planet. Here, a boy teaches you how to farm and you’re invited to spend the summer toiling away in the fields. Unfortunately, the Queen who runs the planet doesn’t love that you’re visiting, so she takes all of your gadgets from home and you’re forced to gain her trust back by proving you’re here to work hard, not ruin the world. From here, you head into traditional farm management gameplay that is wildly beginner-friendly if you’re not well-versed in the genre.

Master the farm life, complete tasks the townspeople ask you to do and expand your operation with the help of some friends. It’s a simple recipe that works quite well. There are a lot of Story of Seasons games at this point, so the real perk here is the Doraemon characters you get to play with. Unfortunately, the story isn’t anything to write home about, but it is a pleasant journey. There’s quite a bit to do, so you can also enlist the help of a friend in 2-player co-op to help you out.

Overall, this game isn’t as immersive as the likes of Disney Dreamlight Valley or expansive in its offerings as Animal Crossing. That said, it’s a serviceable farming simulator that will definitely be worth your time if you enjoyed the 2019 entry. If you’re brand new to Doraemon and the gang, it might be worth spending time with those other games instead, but there’s plenty to like here if you’re favoring a stricter farming sim over the likes of a more life simulator with farming aspects.

A Nintendo Switch review copy of Doraemon Story of Seasons: Friends of the Great Kingdom was provided by Bandai Namco Entertainment for this review.

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Doraemon Story of Seasons: Friends of the Great Kingdom

59.99

6

Score

6.0/10

Pros

• A fun follow-up to the first title
• Doraemon is adorable as ever
• Easy-to-learn farming mechanics

Cons

• Lackluster story
• Doesn't bring many new features