Players begin the game with only a dog and a cat on their farm. Each crop must be planted during a certain season for example, turnips must be planted in the spring. Growing crops is slightly different from previous Harvest Moon games rather than being restricted to his own farm land, the player may grow crops on unowned fields of various sizes and fertility all over the valley. Players earn money primarily through their farm, by growing crops or raising livestock. The characters and locations in Harvest Moon DS are the same as those in Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life with a few minor exceptions.

Living in the valley are a number of villagers, nine bachelorettes, and five rival bachelors. The Witch Princess then tells the player to bring all of the Harvest Sprites back in order to rescue the Harvest Goddess. While trying to undo her spell, the Witch Princess inadvertently sends the Harvest Goddess to another world, so she sends all of the Harvest Sprites (small, elf-like creatures) to the same world to rescue her. The Witch Princess, on meeting the Harvest Goddess next, attempts to cast a spell to silence her, but instead petrifies her. The game begins with the Harvest Goddess, a deity of Harvest Moon, and the Witch Princess fighting.

The player is a young man who lives with his friend Takakura on a farm in Forget-Me-Not-Valley, at roughly the same time as Harvest Moon: Friends of Mineral Town.

Harvest moon a wonderful life crops