Doraemon Story of Seasons: Friends of the Great Kingdom

The success of this simulation game lies in its storytelling. Though many of the farming, mining, and animal husbandry mechanics match past Story of Seasons games completely, Doraemon Story of Seasons: Friends of the Great Kingdom feels completely new. The basic goal is the same -- build up the town and relationships with townsfolk -- but the addition of detailed side storylines with all of the townsfolk really helps players feel more deeply invested in the stakes. Every storyline is realistic and fleshed out in a way that instantly makes tasks feel less like mindless chores and more like meaningful goals. Disagreements and ongoing problems persist throughout the entire game instead of being solved in one or two cutscenes. Disconnects can get worse before they get better, even if it takes characters a long time to get there. As a result, the resolution of issues feels earned instead of rushed.

Aside from the storytelling, there's a greater emphasis on teamwork than in past Story of Seasons games. One popular gripe with the franchise is that chores can take up the majority of the in-game days. In Friends of the Great Kingdom, players have the choice of asking their friends to help water crops, mine, fish, or tend to the animals. While getting the other character to follow Noby as intended has some hiccups, this is a major quality-of-life update that really helps players conserve stamina and increase the payoff of their work. Players can also invite others to help on the farm via Nintendo Online, which has the same effect and allows family members to play together. Overall, Friends of the Great Kingdom harnesses all the strengths of the Story of Seasons franchise while improving upon the storytelling and relationship mechanics. The result is that it's one of the best, if not the best, addition to the Story of Seasons franchise that the series has seen in quite a while.