We Harvest Shadows: Everything We Know

We Harvest Shadows is one of the games revealed by Gamescon so far. David Wehle, the developer of The First Tree, created this horror farming simulator game. It combines practical farm-management gameplay with mysterious events, as well as a protagonist with a sad story. The title stands out from other games in its genre for its unique setting. If you enjoyed games like Stardew Valley, Firewatch, The Forest, House Flipper, and Silent Hill 2, then you will most probably like We Harvest Shadows. The game is a little horrifying to play, especially with the unsettling entities lurking beneath the cozy sim. Here is everything we know about We Harvest Shadows so far. 

What is We Harvest Shadows?

We Harvest Shadows is a first-person farming narrative game with additional horrifying aspects. Gamers take control of the main protagonist, Garrett. Garret, who is from the city, has exiled himself to an abandoned farm for the rest of his life. The game uses well-displayed horror themes, drawing inspiration from slow P.T.-style psychological horror games and Edith Finch-style personal first-person titles. Gradually, the game showcases a terrifying vision that Garrett must save himself from. The general atmosphere and story will bring you unease. Even though the title typically falls under the horror genre, there will be no jump scares throughout the game, according to the developer.

Story

The story revolves around the character Garret, who has experienced traumatic events in his life. However, these events remain unrevealed to the players. In his quest to escape the world, he drives for many miles until he comes across a billboard advertising the sale of a nearby farm. Garret, who thinks the world is better off without him, buys the land, and that is where your farming story begins. The house he lives in is in terrible condition. You wake up in a dirty bedroom with rubbish everywhere and only a few pieces of furniture. The downstairs part of it is just as unsettling.

You, however, find yourself deeply immersed in the task of cleaning up the property and striving to make a living in this challenging environment. The primary source of income comes from harvesting tomatoes, which you carefully pick and stack in a nearby trailer. Once loaded, the tomatoes are automatically sold, providing you with a steady stream of income.With the money you earn from these efforts, you can purchase essential tools, seeds, and other resources needed to maintain and improve your property.

The house is set in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by fields and trees, bringing a pastoral sense of calm. But as the sun sets come evening and the gentle piano accompaniment sours, uncertainty creeps in. You begin to wonder if Garret is still alive or if someone or something is watching him from the shadows. It gets so cold at night that Garret has to wake up and walk around to warm himself up. Sometimes, he is on the brink of death and encounters cloaked figures who smile at him, asking him to come closer to them. He considers it but never lets himself go. 

Gameplay

The player’s main goal is to build the farm. Use what you’ve earned to improve your home tools and vehicles. As you unlock more tools, you uncover new paths. Each day brings a new list of tasks that, upon completion, earn you money and new items and reveal more of the story. The player’s focus is entirely on building, exploring, and protecting themselves from any threats. You basically work through the day, crossing off chores from your to-do list. But when night comes, lock the door and wait until you can sleep it off again.

However, now and then, you get glimpses of who Garret is and what happened to him in the past. It is not clear whether Garret’s house is haunted or whether he simply imagines things. Once the story is complete, the We Harvest Shadows promises an endless mode that is enough to sustain players as a farming sim.

Development

We Harvest Shadows is designed as a first-person farming, narrative action-adventure game developed and published by David Wehle. The title follows an emotional narrative that combines farming activities with horror elements. It features a cinematic soundtrack, beautiful visuals, and an intense storyline. It starts like any relaxing, cozy farming simulator with a farm to work on and multiple tasks to complete. All the while, a subtle soundtrack plays in the background. The breaks in music and clever use of sound effects make the gameplay moments pretty fulfilling. It is a relaxing yet terrifying game. You get the type of experience that sits with you for years after its inevitable end.

Trailer

The game’s reveal included its official trailer, which runs for about two minutes, showcasing all its potential. Its first preview portrays a man struggling with depression. He avoids social interactions at all costs. This leads him to seek an isolated residence on a farm where he works to obtain food and other necessities. He experiences terrifying visions as he carries out his daily tasks but enjoys the freedom to manage the farm as he wishes. Develop the farm gradually after investing money in it. You have both day and night cycles, and the night may bring out strange creatures. Fortunately, you have weapons to defend yourself, so there’s nothing to worry about.

Release Date and Platforms

The development team has yet to issue an official release date for We Harvest Shadows. The game is set to launch on Steam for PC, which is also the only platform on which the game is confirmed to be released for now. However, We Harvest Shadows may still be available on more platforms at the time of its release. For now, fans can wishlist it on Steam to receive further updates on the game’s development and release dates. 

So, what’s your take on the upcoming video game We Harvest Shadows? Will you be wishlisting it on Steam?  Let us know your thoughts here on our socials or down in the comments section.