Cattle, Crops, Murder (and not the crow kind) Grave Seasons Is the Farming Sim That has it all – PAX East 2026 Interview
You have your cozy games, and your thrill games, a spot of tea or a spot of blood, there are farming games, and there are horror games. Surprisingly, or maybe not so much to some of you , there seems to be a pretty substantial overlap in the ven diagram that has people into both. It makes perfect sense then that it was a matter of time before someone decided to combine the two in an un-holy union. Somehow, developer Perfect Garbage and publisher Blumhouse Games, yes that Blumhouse, decided there was no good reason not for them, not to venture into a game like this. The result is Grave Seasons by developer "Perfect Garbage" , a murder mystery farming simulator that is, both deeply cozy and equally unsettling. During my visit to PAX East 2026 I was able to meetup with the team at the Blumhouse booth to get some hands on and ask about the game. My guide for the day was Emmet Nahil, the narrative director and co-founder of Perfect Garbage. And needles to say things got a little... weird. I found a spine in a tree y'all. Let's talk about it.
Grave Seasons is set in the town of Ashenridge a typical run of the mill, idyllic small town that on the surface seems quiet and serene but with some seriously unsettling vibes, just under is shiny surface. You arrive to the town as an escaped convict, who is just looking to lay
low and start a new farming life on an abandoned plot previously owned by your
cellmate, who recently disappeared under mysterious circumstances. The setup alone tells
you a something about the tone of the narrative. Quiet charm, and second chances with something deeply wrong underneath.
If you have ever played games such as Stardew Valley or Harvest Moon, etc. Then the farming and roaming loop will feel immediately familiar to you . There is a tool wheel (spade, hoe, fishing rod, watering can and a crowbar for breaking and entering, as one does on an average farming day). Inventory management, crafting and of course farming. In the game time progresses as you sow seeds, forage, and explore town and you can take as long as you need. But come 3 am, the witching hour, everything changes and that eerie feeling, now becomes a screaming demon in the back your skull. Pay attention because some serious stuff will go down in those hours.
"Once you hit 3am, the game transports you to a horrifying
event that you can observe, investigate and explore."
The entirety of the game is set across four
seasons, hence the name, and each season a supernatural serial killer
targets at least one victim in the town. Whether you prevent it, investigate
it, or simply observe it, is entirely up to you. But remember actions and inactions have consequences.
"We don't want to say you've failed the game if people die.
We want to give you just a different experience. Characters will be different
based on who's alive and who's dead."
An important note is that the murders are not procedurally generated but instead it is all scripted, with a pool of fully realized killer campaigns, each its own complete narrative experience. This keeps the storytelling tight and intentional. But because the killer is chosen randomly each playthrough, replayability is baked into the core design. You might even "romance the killer" without knowing it.
I asked Emmet about the way the game handles the balance between
its two distinct narrative tones. From the cozy farming energy, to the resource management, and relationship building in the game, as these are genuinely cozy. But how do you stop coziness to turn on you and becoming stressful?
"The farming is more of a resource. As long as you don't
feel you're making the wrong choice, you can't really lose."
There are a few ways that the game keeps some pressure on and balance game mechanics with the narrative. Energy depletes as you farm and
forage, and when it's gone, you have to rest. But the game never forces you to
sleep, meaning investigation can go as long as you want without additional pressure of time, though there is that 3am witching hour part.. Overall the balance seemed thoughtful, farming funds your energy and your supplies, the mystery gives you
a reason to get out of bed in the first place.
Visually, Grave Seasons consists of highly detailed pixel art and character portraits in fine 2D High definition, In the game every light source, every shadow, every shader is hand-painted and meticulously crafter with detail that becomes remarkably apparent as
the in-game clock ticks from the golden warmth of afternoon into the deep blue, black of night. Seasons fully transform the world: autumn changes the trees, winter
brings snow, spring turns the landscape verdant, and summer heat waves can kill
your crops.
The Blumhouse connection isn't
just a label, it is a source of inspiration which comes clear when the narrative director
cites Ginger Snaps, The Wicker Man, and folklore-inflected horror as some core
inspirations. This is a game that still takes its horror seriously, even when it's pixelated blood and asking you to water your turnips on time.
Grave Seasons is expected to launch on August
14, 2026 on Steam, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch. So there will be plenty of choice to experience the game. Additionally it will be
available day one on Xbox Game Pass. If you cannot wait then you can Wishlist it now on Steam, and if
you were at PAX East 2026, you may have already gotten your hands on the first
public demo at the Blumhouse Games booth.
This game was one of the more original
concepts I encountered at the show, and the demo left me genuinely unsettled and wanting more in
the best way. If any of the premise sounds even remotely up your alley then don't sleep on Grave Seasons. Unless you have to..., for energy reasons.
Watch the full interview video
on YouTube for more from our PAX East 2026 chat with the Grave Seasons team.
DadGeek (Rob) is the co-founder of GeeksVsGeeks. He is a product of the eighties and never let go of his geek interest and hobbies no matter how often someone told him to stop. His love for gaming and all things geek has been part of his parenting style and permeates throughout the whole family. A family of Geeks vs Geeks.
