Natsume Inc.
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Video games |
| Founded | 1988 |
| Headquarters | Burlingame, California , United States |
Area served | North America, Europe, Japan |
| Products | Video games (Harvest Moon series, Reel Fishing series) |
| Parent | Independent since 1995 (formerly branch of Natsume Co., Ltd.) |
Natsume Inc. is a U.S.-based video game publisher established in 1988 as the American branch of Natsume Co., Ltd., later gaining independence in 1995. Operating from its headquarters in Burlingame, California, the company concentrates on family-friendly niche titles such as Harvest Moon and Reel Fishing. In 2013, Natsume Inc. inaugurated a Japanese subsidiary named Natsume Inc. Japan, which operates independently from its original parent firm.
History
Founded initially in San Francisco in 1988, Natsume Inc. made its mark by publishing the Story of Seasons franchise under the Harvest Moon label for the North American market until 2014. The final game it released in this series was Harvest Moon: A New Beginning on the Nintendo 3DS. In 2015, publishing responsibilities for the franchise transitioned to developer Marvelous AQL’s U.S. division, Xseed Games, concluding Natsume’s involvement with these titles. Following this shift, Natsume continued producing original games branded as Harvest Moon, including Harvest Moon: The Lost Valley, Seeds of Memories, and Skytree Village. The company further diversified by establishing its own development studio in Japan in 2013.
Additionally, Natsume has capitalized on its back catalog by operating an eBay store that sells sealed retro games such as Pocky & Rocky, which have fetched prices exceeding $1,600, exemplifying a strategic approach to monetizing legacy inventory.
Works
This section enumerates titles published by Natsume Inc. and/or developed by its Japanese branch after separating from Natsume Co., Ltd. The majority of these games were released by Natsume within North America, while some were distributed across Europe through partnerships or self-published digitally.
... (Entries from 2000 to 2024 condensed for brevity, highlighting principal releases and platforms)| Year | Title | Developer | Platform(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals | Neverland | Super NES | |
| 1996 | Casper | Bonsai Entertainment | Game Boy | |
| Casper | Imagineering | Super NES | ||
| Harvest Moon | Amccus | Super NES | ||
| Highway 2000 | Genki | Sega Saturn | ||
| Virtual Casino | Digital Factory | Sega Saturn | ||
| Reel Fishing | Victor Interactive Software | PlayStation | ||
| 1997 | Harvest Moon GB | Victor Interactive Software | Game Boy | |
| Legend of the River King | Victor Interactive Software | Game Boy | ||
| 1998 | Lode Runner | Presage Software | PlayStation | |
| Puzzle Bobble 4 | Taito | PlayStation | ||
| 1999 | Harvest Moon 64 | Victor Interactive Software | Nintendo 64 | |
| Harvest Moon 2 GBC | Victor Interactive Software | Game Boy Color | ||
| Harvest Moon: Back to Nature | Victor Interactive Software | PlayStation | ||
| Hole in One Golf | Natsume Co., Ltd. | Game Boy Color | ||
| Legend of the River King | Victor Interactive Software | Game Boy Color | ||
| '2017' | '\'\'Harvest Moon: Light of Hope\'\ | 'Tabot, Inc.' | 'Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows, Android, iOS, Xbox One' | |
| '2019' | '\'\'Reel Fishing: Road Trip Adventure\'\ | 'Natsume Inc., Tachyon' | 'Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows' | |
| '2023' | '\'\'Harvest Moon: The Winds of Anthos\'\ | 'Appci, Natsume Inc.' | 'Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S' | |
| '2024' | '\'\'Harvest Moon: Home Sweet Home\'\ | 'Natsume Inc.' | 'Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox Series X/S' | |
| '2024' | '\'\'Reel Fishing: Days of Summer\'\ | 'Natsume Inc.' | 'Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox Series X/S' |
This collection underscores Natsume’s dedication to specialized genres like farming simulation and fishing games across diverse platforms. Collaborations with developers such as Marvelous Entertainment and Neverland have strengthened its market foothold. Recent launches prioritize availability on multiple systems to broaden global reach and optimize revenue generation.