Fall is here! Though, living in the South, it doesn’t always feel that way. It’s still hot and humid out most of the time and the leaves are trying their best to change, but it isn’t really happening. When your Pumpkin Spice Latte makes you feel sweaty and weird, it can be hard to get into the Autumn spirit. That’s why it can be a great reason to turn to video games to get that crunchy leaves, orange everything feeling you need. With that in mind, here are some free and paid games to help get you in the mood.

Paid Games

 

The best things in life aren’t always free. Sometimes, you can support developers and studios that made some really great games with Fall experiences. Here are some of my favorites:

1. All the Farming/Resource Management Games

I love playing farming/foraging/resource management games because they all have beautiful fall seasons. Since there are so many similar ones, for the same reasons, I’ve lumped them all together here:

• Stardew Valley– By far, I think Fall is the most beautiful season in Stardew Valley. The color palette, the foraging, all of the fall festivals— it’s a beautiful way to wander around and just relax. You’ll just need to make sure to have a save file in the Fall season.
• Animal Crossing: New Leaf– Because it takes place in real time, if you open up your Animal Crossing game right now, it’s gonna be fall. The trees are cute, you can talk to your friends about sweaters, and even run errands for the Pumpkin-headed Jack. It’s sweet and relaxing and just cute.
• Harvest Moon: More Friends in Mineral Town– This is a nostalgic one because it is one of my first favorite games but Harvest Moon in the fall is delightful. Of course, ideally you would still have a GBA, but it can be played on emulators or Play Retro Games online (if you want- it’s a little less than ethical but I’ll keep your secret if you’ll keep mine). Because of the emulation thing, it’s kind of free but kind of not, so I’m gonna keep it in this category.

2. Graveyard Keeper 

This one is a little bit in the Farming/Resource Management column but also, it’s so much a different experience than the above games. The seasons never change, you’re stuck in some sort of purgatory, and you’re managing the most unrealistic/unethical graveyard business ever. For that reason, it just feels kind of Halloween-y. There is so much to do in this game, it’s the perfect way to feel a little spooky and really grind to craft as many things as possible. There’s also the fun of selling burgers made of human flesh at Witch burnings. The season never changes, but it’s definitely a seasonal mood.

3. Night in the Woods

It’s hard to not keep coming back to this game. The whole game takes place in fall and it really captures the “I’m completely lost, don’t know what to do, and back in my hometown in Fall” feeling. There are leaves everywhere, the sky is always beautiful, and even in creepy moments it’s great to run around and f*ck sh*t up as Mae.

Free Games

Sometimes the best way to have a fall escape is to play a small, sweet game about fall. Some of these great games on Itchio and Mobile devices are perfect for doing just that.

1. Cauli’s Night

This is a great pick from the Harvest Jam, which has a ton of fall-themed games. It’s just a perfect way to spend a cool fall night, as a dog talking to worms and running around.

NOTE: Make sure to head to the Harvest Jam page for more great picks! One of the reasons I had a harder time with this section is because there were so many great fall games in the Harvest Jam that I didn’t wanna overwhelm this section with!

2. Ghosts in the Garden

For a spookier pick, play as a cat witch trying to catch all of the ghosts in a garden. It’s definitely a quick and easy way to have some Halloween fun.

3. The Arcana

Definitely more of a Halloween Vibe, but The Arcana is an interesting visual novel mobile game, where you as a Fortune Teller to get to know people and make choices in a magical world. It has a beautiful design and definitely a great way to kill some time and learn more about Tarot.

4. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery 

I don’t know about you, but I do get some serious fall vibes from Harry Potter. I always imagine Hogwarts as a sweater-y place, where the leaves are always orange, though I know that wasn’t the case. It’s a great way to escape and live out your Hogwarts fantasy.

5. Pocket Camp 

Animal Crossing has already been mentioned once before, but there’s nothing like Autumn in that world. With Pocket Camp, it’s available whenever you want. I fell out of the game, but I have been into it once again, with the Fall season update. It’s a great time and a fun way to experience fall.

 

Those are just a couple fall gaming choices! Of course, the possibilities are endless. Let us know what your favorite games are in fall!