Summary
A goodfarm simulatoris the perfect way to wind down. They offer calming vibes and engaging but easy to master mechanics that help you relax without the actual manual labor that comes with farming. These games allow you to build your own little countryside paradise from the comfort of your couch.
Although there are plenty of farm sims to choose from, those that take their graphics and backdrops to the next level stand out more than others. A top-tier farm sim has to have three key aspects: typical farming tasks, strategic planning, and the simple joy of nurturing a virtual farm. But when you add beautiful graphics to the mix, the game goes from good to extraordinary.
Most of the time, farming sims follow a very conventional plot: grow crops, raise animals, and tend your farm. While this premise is a very wholesome storyline that appeals to the masses, some developers simply aren’t content with the simplicity.
Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin is an action farm-sim that combines the tranquility of farm life with hardcore action — two completely contradictory genres.You assume the role of a charming young goddess, Sakuna, who, along with taking care of her rice farm, has to fight vicious demon-like creatures off the island where the game is set.
Its cute graphics, in addition to some really advanced gaming mechanics like a dynamic day/night cycle, buffs and debuffs, and certain HP tactics, make up a very interesting concoction. Its overall charm and style makes it a must-try for farming sim enthusiasts.
Ooblets is a delightful life simulation game that invites you into the whimsical world of adorable creatures known as Ooblets. The game has a plethora of different visual cues — charming townsfolk, vibrant landscapes, andPokemon-like creatures— that simply fill in every check box for a good farming game.
The game is super customizable, letting you shape it however you want. There are tons of shops where you can buy all sorts of items for progression, from furniture and decor to seeds, all using the in-game currency. Plus, the game features dance battles as its main combat system — something that’s as quirky as it is adorable to watch.
Staxel, on the other hand, is a blocky sandbox sim dedicated solely to farming. The premise of the story is simple. You start with a rundown farm and work to restore it in any way you desire.
Staxel also offers a social component that allows you to invite other people to join your world. you’re able to explore its voxel-based environment to build highly unique and personalized structures and landscapes. Overall, the game is a visual delight with its bright, colorful, and nostalgic art style that creates a highly relaxing atmosphere. The dynamic weather, night/day cycle keeps, and interactive NPCs (that wave when the player characters pass them!) add to the game’s charming look and feel.
Story Of Seasons: A Wonderful Life is an enchanting farming simulation game that immerses you in the daily rhythms of rural life. A remake of the original Harvest Moon, this game delivers a much more inclusive and streamlined experience. The game’s plot is set in the picturesque town of Forgotten Valley, where you inherit a farm and must nurture it back to prosperity.
You’ll enjoy a carefree life on the farm by growing a variety of crops and improving your land to boost yields. It also features a unique aging mechanic, where both your character and the other characters age over time. The experience becomes even richer with itsadorable family life feature, which revolves around your character’s partner and child.
The remake’s graphics aren’t as bright and dazzling as the original, and that’s actually a good thing. Even with its casual premise and cartoonish characters, AWL brings a touch of realism with its practical backdrops and landscapes. This subtle change makes everything blend together nicely, giving the game a more serious vibe.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons is the fifth installment in the Animal Crossing series, released exclusively for Nintendo Switch in 2020. It’s a fun, casual life/farm sim that follows a very conventional ‘farm sim’ plot — bringing life to a barren patch of land. You initially start with just a tent and a few basic tools, and somehow move up from there through a non-linear progression.
You have the option to choose between a variety of crops for your farms, including wheat, carrots, pumpkins, and potatoes. The game emphasizes a realistic farming experience, requiring you to carefully tend to your crops and maintain them to achieve the best results.
The game is loved for its cozy aesthetics and bright, simple graphics that give off serious Ghibli movie vibes. The landscapes, farm areas, and furniture are all ridiculously cute with their chibi-esque styles. And since the game is called ‘Animal Crossing,’ it also features adorable anthropomorphic NPCs, who play a crucial role in the game’s progress.
Kynseed is a farm sim that, despite being inspired by Stardew Valley, offers a twist on the genre by making it a bit darker than your usual farm sim setting. The game offers an original sandbox RPG experience in which you get to do theusual farm sim stuffin addition to exchanging some much-needed blows with certain extremely off-beat monsters.
As mentioned before, the game’s darker elements, such as its Hob army lore, the odd-looking creatures that jump out at you, and the relatively moody pixel graphics, set it apart from other games in the farming genre. While you’re able to do the usual building, harvesting, and forging, you can also fight and be involved in a very meticulous combat system that includes artifacts and weapon crafting. The game also features a profession-selecting system that allows you to choose your long-term career path.
2Story Of Seasons: Pioneers Of Olive Town
Local Festivals and Unique Events
Story Of Seasons: Pioneers Of Olive Town is a very vast farm sim that has endless possibilities. As the original rebranding of the original Harvest Moon franchise, Story of Seasons (including this installment) offers a deeper, more engaging gameplay that requires verydemanding yet thoughtful decision-makingfrom its players. Pioneers of Olive Town, in terms of its graphics and landscape art, is also a massive step up from other games in this series. It’s got that signature ‘Harvest Moon’ charm with anime-styled characters and simple but distinct animations for everything including crops, pets, and backdrops.
Like most farm sims, Pioneers of Olive Town starts with players receiving a patch of rundown land that needs to be transformed into a thriving farm. Set in a town called Olive Town, the game lets you not only develop your farm but also revamp the entire town and rebuild its infrastructure. You can interact with the townsfolk and participate in over 200 unique local festivals and events.
Garden Paws is essentially a game that completely glosses over human characters and adds adorable anthropomorphic animals as both NPCs and protagonist. In this game, everyone is a cuddly, small, chibi animal existing on a cozy farm. Add in the relaxing music, and you’ve got a game that’s pure delight from start to finish. As the new farm owner, you’ll work with Frank, the resident koala contractor, and Wilson, the raccoon mayor, to restore the town to its former glory.
In addition to typical farming activities, this game includes dungeons that players can tackle, either solo or with up to nine friends online. Exploration is also a highlight, with hidden treasures waiting to be discovered around every corner.
