Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life takes players through a long life journey, starting with moving to Forgotten Valley. The different stages of life are represented through chapters, with each chapter having slight differences after a several-year time skip.
While many things gameplay-wise stay the same, such as farm tasks and holidays, there are updates to the storyline with each passing chapter. Maintaining the farm is only a small part of A Wonderful Life, with things like marriage and children also playing an important role. As the years go by and life changes, players may feel overwhelmed with what is to come. However, they can use this chapter guide to know what to expect as time passes.
This guide contains major storyline spoilers .
Chapter One: Beginnings
Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life starts with players moving to Forgotten Valley. The story is narrated from the perspective of Takakura, their late father's oldest friend. Takakura will welcome players to the small valley.
After customizing their character, players will be introduced to their home and everyone living in Forgotten Valley. Takakura will provide them with essential farm tools, a cow, and a dog as a pet on day one. The farm starts small with a single-room home, a small coop, a barn, and two crop fields.
Key Events:
- Takakura will gift players a horse towards the middle of the Year
- Players can purchase a Brush and Fishing Rod from Van
- Players must choose a marriage candidate by the end of the Year or the game ends.
Chapter Two: Branching
At the end of Year One, players get married and choose the gender of their child. By now, the valley residents should be familiar, and the young children will have noticeably aged. Unfortunately, a resident named Nina has passed away, leaving behind her husband, Gary. As a result, Gary will have a negative attitude for most of this chapter. A new family also moves into town, including a man named Garret, whom players can eventually get the Alarm Clock.
Since players got married and have a kid, the farmhouse will be expanded to include a kitchen and bathroom space. The bathroom can be used to restore some stamina every day. Their child will look like their partner and take on some of their likes and interests. Players can buy them toys, pick them up, and spend time with them outside the farm.
Key Events:
- Van now sells Goats in Spring
- Players can unlock a third crop field
- Takakura will come home with Vinnie, a talking plant that can make Hybrid Crops
- The Dig Site will be expanded if players find the stone tablet from the previous Year.
Chapter Three: Blessings
Chapter Three includes another several-year time skip. The player's child is now an adolescent with more independence and interests. Players can keep track of their abilities and interests from the bag menu. The farmhouse will expand again to include a separate room for the player and their spouse.
The other children have now grown into teenagers. Gary is also much happier now that more time has passed since Nina died. Depending on player's relationship levels with particular residents, they could unlock multiple mini-games.
Key Events:
- Van updates his inventory to include more decorations, including a teddy bear for 1,000,000G
- The Dig Site will expand if players find the stone tablet the previous Year.
Chapter Four: Blooming
The most significant difference in Chapter Four is that players will start to notice signs of aging in themselves and the older residents. Their child is now a teenager who often mopes around with nothing positive to say. The other children have grown into young adults.
At this point, players will want to ensure they're increasing their skills and expanding the farm to unlock better tools and farm equipment.
Key Events:
- The Dig Site will expand if players find the stone tablet the previous Year.
Chapter Five: Traversal
In Chapter Five, players and other adult residents will look the same. However, their child will now be a full-grown adult with big dreams and aspirations, although they have yet to figure out exactly what path they want to take.
There will be multiple cut scenes with the player and their partner reflecting on their child's path.
Key Events:
- The Dig Site will expand if players find the stone tablet the previous Year.
Chapter Six: Twilight
The final chapter in Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life is bittersweet. At this point, many residents, including the player, have gray hair and many wrinkles. Players will also receive a major decrease in their stamina due to their old age. It is important to have upgraded tools and farm equipment to account for this energy loss.
Several cut scenes will feature the player's spouse and adult child reminiscing on their time together. Much of the conversations hint at what's to come at the end of the Year.
Key Events:
- The Dig Site will expand if players find the final stone tablet from the previous Year
- Players die at the end of the chapter.
Chapter Seven: Beyond
Chapter Seven is the remake's version of Heaven Mode. Players will revert to a young version of themselves and can continue to work on the farm. Things will continue as if players hadn't died, so the farm crops and animals will be at the same stages as before.
All the residents, excluding the children, will be younger again as well. Nina will not come back to life at this point in the story. Players can use Beyond to finish any achievements they want but need more time during the main story.
Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life is now available for PC, PS5, Switch, and Xbox Series X/S.