Almost all crops require active farming and maintenance, although every day, the player can harvest two Mushrooms from their underground cellar to sell.

The player receives a horse early in the game, which when grown can be used for farm work, riding, and shipping items.

Both livestock can reproduce: cows by giving them Miracle Potion (equivalent to artificial insemination), and chickens by hatching their eggs.

At the beginning of the game, the tools available are the axe, hoe, hammer, watering can (obtained after buying the first crop seeds), and sickle.

[8] GameSpot gave it a 7.4/10, saying "Harvest Moon [GB] is a relaxing and rewarding simulation of the simple life on the farm ... [but] you're better off waiting for the Game Boy Color version.