Winter is widely regarded as the slowest season in most farming sims.
Not only are you banned from planting and harvesting crops for the whole season, but everything in your daily routine is affected: from taking care of animals, fishing, and gathering resources to your fellow villagers’ day-to-day activities.
Well not to worry!
In Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town, there are plenty of things you can do to pass the time during Winter.
1. Mining
The classic activity to turn to when the snow starts falling is to hit the mines, hard.
Since you can’t really do anything on your farm in terms of chores, the next best thing is to grind for minerals and resources for next year’s tool upgrades.
The Lake Mine is finally accessible by walking over the frozen lake in Winter, so it’s the perfect place to hunt for valuable stones and jewels.
2. Upgrade Tools
Since you won’t be using your tools anyway around the farm for 30 in-game days, the best thing you can do for them (and yourself) is to slowly chip away at the available upgrades.
You’ll thank yourself when Spring rolls around and you can successfully till a 9×9 field in one swing.
Bring a tool and the ore of your choice (Copper, Silver, Gold, or Mithril) to Saibara at the Blacksmith’s Forge to upgrade them one at a time.
3. Fishing
Fishing is an often overlooked activity because it’s something that you’re able to do for the rest of the year anyway.
However, you’ll definitely find yourself with a lot of downtime during the cold Winter days.
Use this extra time to hit up the old fishing rod and earn a decent chunk of cash while you’re at it!
The best areas to fish in Winter are the rivers, ocean, and lakes that can be found around Mother’s Hill and the Secret Forest.
4. Make Friends
If you haven’t spent a lot of quality time with your neighbors in Mineral Town yet (especially in your first year), then Winter is a great opportunity to make up for it.
Villagers will usually follow their regular schedules even in Winter. So try strolling around town with a stack of universal gifts (like Honey).
You can even wrap the item at Jeff’s counter for only 100 G. A gift-wrapped item will give a 25% boost in Friendship Points earned.
5. Forage for White Grass
White Grass is a very valuable forage item that can only be found during Winter.
You can pick it up on the ground of the Church Forest (behind Carter’s mysterious door) or in the Secret Forest.
You can sell it for 150 G or use it to make Caffeine, which reduces fatigue by 20 points.
6. Get a Christmas Stocking
Christmas isn’t normally celebrated in Mineral Town.
But there’s an unorthodox Santa that wants to spread a little cheer on the 25th day of the season anyway.
If you give a ball of Yarn to Ellen during Winter, she’ll knit you a Christmas Stocking that you can hang on the wall of your house.
When Winter 25th rolls around, you’ll catch Mayor Thomas sneaking in and leaving a randomized gift inside the Stocking. This is known as the Thomas Claus event.
7. Attend All Festivals
As the most festive season, there’s a lot to celebrate with the villagers of Mineral Town as each year comes to an end and everyone prepares for Spring.
Feel free to attend these non-competitive Winter festivals for free prizes and a good time:
Festival | Date | Location | Requirements | Prizes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Valentine’s Day | Winter 14th | Farmhouse | 10,000 LP with any bachelorette | Chocolate, Achievement Ring |
Starlight Night | Winter 24th | Varies | 30,000 LP with any marriage candidate | Friendship & Love Points, Achievement Ring |
New Year’s Soba | Winter 30th | Rose Plaza | None | Buckwheat Flour |
New Year’s Party | Summit | Friendship Points |
-
Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town
- 7 Things To Do in Winter in Story of Seasons: FoMT