Summer Game Fest 2025 was packed with major announcements, but one of the most intriguing indie reveals came from Perfect Garbage, the developer behind the newly unveiled Grave Seasons. At first glance, it looks like a cozy pixel-art farming sim inspired by Stardew Valley. But dig a little deeper, and things get delightfully disturbing.
Set in the sleepy town of Ashenridge, Grave Seasons starts with an unusual premise: you’ve just escaped from prison and are trying to rebuild your life. You inherit a plot of land, plant crops, meet the locals… and then start to realize something isn’t right. One of the villagers? They’re a serial killer. And it’s up to you to figure out who.
Farming Meets True Crime
Grave Seasons blends the beloved mechanics of farming sims—tending crops, building relationships, customizing your farm—with narrative-driven mystery and psychological tension. Not only must you balance your daily farm life, but you also have to uncover clues and survive long enough to unmask the killer living among the town’s seemingly sweet residents.
Each playthrough is different, and the identity of the killer changes, meaning players can’t rely on a guide or repeat strategy. Add to that your status as a former inmate—raising suspicion and making some characters harder to trust—and the game introduces a compelling layer of social tension.
Stardew Valley, But Sinister
Fans of Stardew Valley, Harvest Moon, and narrative mystery games like Night in the Woods will feel right at home in Ashenridge—until things turn chilling. The game oozes atmosphere, blending cozy aesthetics with eerie sound design and subtle horror storytelling. According to Perfect Garbage, the game is designed to explore “community, secrets, and survival,” wrapped in a beautiful pixel-art package.
During the PC Gaming Show segment of Summer Game Fest, Perfect Garbage showed off new gameplay and character introductions, teasing everything from cryptic notes to blood-splattered clues. While it’s not a traditional horror game with jump scares, the psychological dread builds as you grow closer to your neighbors—some of whom may be hiding deadly secrets.
Why Everyone’s Talking About It
The farming sim genre has exploded in recent years, but Grave Seasons sets itself apart by adding real stakes to the formula. With its mix of romance, suspicion, and danger, it’s like Stardew Valley collided with Clue and Twin Peaks. Players aren’t just farming for fun—they’re investigating a murder mystery, and any relationship could lead to a twisted end.
Plus, the fact that you play as a former convict adds moral complexity to every decision you make. Will the townsfolk accept you? Can you earn their trust before it’s too late?
Grave Seasons is shaping up to be one of the most inventive indie games in recent memory, combining cozy farming mechanics with a gripping, rotating murder mystery. Whether you’re here for the crops or the corpses, this is one town you won’t forget.
Perfect Garbage hasn’t announced a release date yet, but with buzz building fast after the Summer Game Fest reveal, Grave Seasons is one dark harvest to watch.