Upcoming 2026 cozy horror RPG is Stardew Valley with a serial killer

If you’re looking for a cozy farming game with a dark twist, this upcoming RPG could be the perfect choice.

Grave Seasons blends the relaxing farming, fishing, and relationship-building of Stardew Valley with a sinister murder mystery, giving the cozy life sim genre a surprisingly deadly edge.

Stardew Valley has become one of the most beloved indie games of all time since its release in 2016, attracting millions of players with its charming pixel-art world, relaxing farming, and engaging characters.

However, as much as fans love Stardew Valley, some may be ready for something new. If you're one of them, Grave Seasons could be worth keeping an eye on. This upcoming RPG combines the cozy farming and life-sim elements of Stardew Valley with a killer on the loose, potentially whetting the appetite of Among Us fans.

Grave Seasons: release date, gameplay and everything you need to know

“Grave Seasons is a narrative-driven supernatural horror wrapped lovingly in a farming/life sim. You will have one year to protect victims from a supernatural serial killer that lurks in town,” reads the synopsis of the game on Steam.

“Using farming, foraging, crafting and investigation, you are tasked with discovering methods that ward off monsters. Unravel the truth behind the supernatural murders, discover the secrets the residents of Ashenridge keep hidden away, and save those that you can…Or let chaos reign. The choice is yours.”

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Grave Seasons is developed by Perfect Garbage and co-published by Blumhouse Games and Solo Games. It was announced in 2023, and while it doesn't have a confirmed release date at the time of writing, it is scheduled to arrive sometime in 2026.

As already mentioned, it combines the farming sim life of Stardew Valley but with a dark murder mystery twist. Furthermore, judging by its gameplay trailer, it also has Deadly Premonition vibes.

Much like Stardew Valley, you can harvest and grow crops, fish, mine, explore the town, and interact with its NPCs to build relationships, perhaps even begin a new romance. The choices you make will also have an impact on the game.

Though, as a reminder, don’t forget that a killer lurks among them, and it will be up to you to uncover their identity. However, there is another twist to be mindful of: with each new playthrough, a new killer will be selected at random from the pool of NPCs.

Does Grave Seasons have a playable demo?

At the time of writing, no. But that doesn't mean that it won't get one at a later date. It might be worth wishlisting the game on Steam, and following its social media channels should that information drop.

Is Grave Seasons coming to consoles?

Yes, it will be coming to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch, as well as on PC via Steam. But there is no console release date either, other than a tentative 2026 launch window. It will, however, be a day-one launch on Xbox Game Pass.

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