Harvest Moon: Winds of Anthos will be getting an update this month across all platforms, as announced by the official Natsume Inc. X (formerly Twitter) account. The developer stated that they will add a “Relaxed Mode” to the game. This means that stamina will be used up more slowly when walking around the map, plus days will automatically be longer so that you can get more done. This is perfect for players who want a more casual experience, plus there is some potential for expanded accessibility due to the game being “easier” to play for many.
Harvest Moon has a long and storied history as one of the original “cozy game” franchises, long before the niche had a name. When games were becoming bigger, badder, faster, more realistic (comparatively), Harvest Moon stayed the course creating small, quaint experiences that felt more zen than zealous. The “zen” of cozy games has ensured the genre is welcoming to “casual gamers,” female gamers, and—to a certain degree—the slower pace and flexible gameplay makes them more accessible to disabled players, too.
Disabilities can significantly impact an individual’s ability to play video games, as gaming interfaces are often designed with assumptions about users’ physical and cognitive abilities. Motor impairments may limit precise control and reaction times, making traditional controllers challenging to navigate. Visual impairments can hinder a player’s ability to perceive on-screen information, while auditory impairments may affect their awareness of in-game sounds. Cognitive disabilities may pose challenges in understanding complex game mechanics or following rapid on-screen events.
As a result, the gaming experience for individuals with disabilities is often dependent on the accessibility features integrated into game design, such as customizable controls, subtitles, and adaptive difficulty settings, which can enhance inclusivity and ensure a more enjoyable experience for a diverse range of players.
A “Relaxed Mode” that decreases some of the in-game challenges is a welcome addition for folks that might struggle to keep up otherwise. It takes nothing away from players who want the original experience but opens the game up to audiences that might not have felt included before. I have friends with anxiety and ADHD that tell me a Relaxed Mode would be a welcome addition to every game for them. Being able to take things at your own pace can be the difference between a new player being able to enter the franchise or not.
All games need accessibility settings. That’s just a matter of fairness and inclusivity. Telling someone they can’t join in on one of the most popular forms of entertainment in the world is cruel when there are obvious fixes that increase accessibility for all. A Relaxed Mode is a wonderful way to slow things down for people. I would also suggest larger fonts, invincibility mode, and flexible control mapping be added to games as a bare minimum.
I’m glad to see Harvest Moon and Natsume keeping accessibility in mind as they continue to update Winds of Anthos. As they add more “open world” features to their games, it’s important to keep in mind that cozy games like farming and life sims were meant to be inclusive. That was always the appeal. It would be such a welcomed change if all cozy game developers took a similar approach. And if the game development industry as a whole took note!
There is a world where players can choose the settings that make it so that they can join in on the fun in every single game. We just need developers with a heart to make it so.