Harvestella from Square Enix combines some of the best elements of the farming simulator genre with the fantasy role-playing games. Like many other daily life simulator games, it features socialization with various NPCs with whom you can create bonds. Improving your relationships with them can result in some great benefits to the player, including marriage.
As your relationships progress even further, players may find romance with some key NPCs. This has been a hallmark of the life sim genre for decades, and Harvestella keeps the trend going with plenty of choices for romantic partners within the title's proceedings. Here's how the romance system works and how it can be used to woo different NPCs and potentially find the perfect Harvestalla marriage partner.
Exploring Harvestella Romance and Partnership
Interacting with the various romanceable NPCs increases the player's intimacy bond with them, and as the relationship progresses, certain jobs can be unlocked for the player to use in combat. After they complete the main story, the player can complete character stories which will help them raise the intimacy level with each NPC until it is maxed out. At this point, the player can form a "Partnership," Harvestella's marriage equivalent, and the player and the NPC of their choice can begin to live together. Like some other farming sims, Harvestella allows the player to choose between being male, female, and non-binary during character creation and none of the potential romance options are limited in terms of what gender the player chooses.
Aria Is an Attractive Amnesiac
Aria is a scientist from the future who is researching Quietus, the season of death in Harvestella. She is staying in Lethe Village trying to recover the memories that she lost after an accident. Since she has some memory loss, Cres asks the player to keep an eye on her. She can sometimes be rather blunt and abrasive, but that's all part of her charm. She's an attractive character with long pinkish-red hair, red eyes to match, and a few nice accessories like a fancy hairpiece that ties her design together. Raising the player's intimacy level with Aria unlocks the Assault Savant job.
Asyl Is a Warrior with a Kind Heart
The protector of Nemea, a town near the Spring Seaslight, Asyl is a member of the Argus Brigade and a descendent of the Wind Readers. He has a bit of a rough past as an orphan, but the player won't be able to tell by his personality. He is honest, kind, and handsome, with blonde hair and blue eyes, so he makes a great choice for a partner. He's always eager to help, and in the game, he decides to help out Aria until her memories return. Raising Asyl's intimacy level will unlock the Sky Lancer job.
Brakka Is a Hardened Mercenary with a Soft Side
With a serious and fierce personality, Brakka is a mercenary from the Holy Capital of Argene. He seems to be rather cold at times, but like the best of characters, the player eventually comes to see Brakka's secret soft side beneath the prickly exterior. He has greyish-brown hair and purple eyes and is always seen in a dark hooded cloak, so he's perfect for players who love characters like Final Fantasy's Squall Leonhart. Raising Brakka's intimacy level unlocks the Avenger job.
Cres Is the Only Romance Option Without an Unlockable Job
Players get to know Cres almost immediately as she is the doctor who encounters the player at the very beginning of the game after they collapse during Quietus. Like Asyl, she has a bit of a sad past following the deaths of her parents. She is intelligent, family-oriented, and dutiful but also very headstrong. She has short, dark brown hair and amber eyes. While raising your intimacy level with Cres doesn't seem to unlock any special jobs, she's a unique character who sticks with the player from the very beginning, making her a good choice for anyone who values those early bonds in the game.
Emo May Be the Only Non-Human Harvestella Marriage Partner
Emo is sure to be a popular character to romance in Harvestella with a design and personality that is reminiscent of Final Fantasy's Aerith in some ways. She has long blonde hair, purple eyes, and elf-like ears which must be one of the reasons that people around town whisper about her being non-human. She works as a singer at the tavern in Shatolla, has a mysterious past, and is rumored to already be in a serious relationship, but that shouldn't stop the player from taking a chance on her. Increasing the player's relationship with Emo unlocks the Woglinde job.
Heine Is a Brilliant and Flirtatious Mechanic
A character that surely takes some inspiration from the titular character of Howl's Moving Castle, Heine is a handsome young man with green eyes and shoulder-length blonde hair, dressed in an ostentatious, vivid red and purple shirt. Known to be rather flirtatious, Heine is an inventor and mechanic who is something of a genius as he will eventually construct the Fiasola submarine for the player. Like Emo, Heine resides in Shatolla and is sure to be a popular choice for a partner for many players. When the player raises their intimacy level with Heine, they can unlock the Mechanic job.
Istina Is a Beloved Caretaker with a Huge Heart
Istina helps run the Nemea Orphanage, where Asyl was raised and spends her days reading to and teaching the children living at the orphanage. She has long silver hair that makes her magenta eyes stand out and is dressed in elegant dark clothing. Her captivating design and quiet, stoic personality hide her mysterious past. She is beloved by the people of Nemea, has an intellectual curiosity, and cares deeply about those around her. Raising Istina's intimacy level will unlock the Shadow Walker job.
Shrika Is a Person of Faith and Honor
Shrika is a volunteer in Seaslight Order but despite her work as a missionary with them, she questions their beliefs and is searching for a new faith of her own. She has short blonde hair and blue eyes and could easily pass as Asyl's twin. She has a calm personality compared to a few of the other characters but retains a strong sense of duty and responsibility. As fitting with her role as a missionary, she is passionate about helping others and makes a great choice for a partner. After increasing their relationship with Shrika, the player will unlock the Pilgrim job.
These are all the characters that the player can romance and form Partnerships with in Harvestella. There aren't really any perks to choosing one person over another as all the jobs will eventually be unlocked just by playing through the game. Intimacy levels with each character can be maxed out regardless of if the player wants to move forward romantically or not. As expected of a Square Enix game, each of these romanceable characters has distinct personalities and eye-catching designs, so any choice is a great one.