Summary
Farming sims have quickly become amuch-loved genre for gaming fans, particularly within the niche of cozy gaming. Allowing players the freedom of building their farms, many of these titles don’t just draw in new audiences for their farming mechanics, but also for the relaxation that comes with putting together an organized little hub of fields, paths, sheds, and decorative plants as players desire. The life-sim elements also often make these titles even more soothing, temporarily distancing players from their real lives with a virtual escape.
While sometimes the farming-sim genre can feel a little overwhelming, asking players to keep track of the most profitable plans, the ways to automate their systems, and some perhaps more intricate details, many games keep it simple. Through more laid-back gems, players can still embark on running their farms, but they can choose to play however they wish.
As an idle farming simulator,Rusty’s Retirementis the perfect farming game to relax with, even if players have other tasks on the go too. Sitting at the bottom of player’s screens and requiring minimal and infrequent interaction, this calming escape is ideal for multi-tasking with work too, only needing the player to check in every so often for necessary progression. Players will plant their crops, watching as Rusty will water, nurture, and harvest them over time, unlocking new crops as they progress.
Things can be further automated for players down the line with more efficient helper bots, all while expanding their farms and selling biofuel to other machine inhabitants. Great for those players who are eager to jump into a farming game but would prefer to avoid the complexities of taking care of the farm themselves.Rusty’s Retirementis guaranteed to deliver a relaxing time for all.
WhileStardew Valleycan often feel overwhelming with its mass of content, as well as itsmany guides to automating farming and growing the most profitable goodsand crops, its gameplay doesn’t actually require anything more from the player than simply doing as they please. Whether players want to make the most efficient farms or they’d prefer to grow the crops they please with minimal thought required,Stardew Valleyis a game that embraces all playstyles.
Despite placing farming at its core,Stardew Valleyis much more than that, giving players the freedom to explore and level up an array of other skills. If players are eager to do very little and relax, they can always spend some time fishing at any natural water source, or perhaps chat with the town’s many locals and level up their friendships. Players are also able to decorate their farms as they please, fixing up the overgrown state it begins in and building sheds, animal coops, and more with plenty that’s easy to unwind with.
Despite many farming games prioritizing efficiency and production,Littlewoodis perhaps one of the few that while offering many different crops and produce to grow, makes it very easy for players to obtain and harvest them as they please. With cute trees and ground plots, players can choose exactly what they want to make, often using them for recipes and selling them for profit with little thought or effort. An unlimited inventory space also prioritizes playing slowly and freely, collecting resources, and enjoying the day-to-day without any added stress to figure it all out.
While some farming games can feel time-pressured,Littlewoodonly progresses with time when players perform an action, making it easy to explore and chat with the locals and make the choices they want to each day. Through decorating the gorgeous town with paths, decor, and houses, or exploring faraway lands, there’s a lot to do and see without any urgency to do it quickly.
There’s something about the open-world nature ofMy Time At Sandrockthat leaves it feeling incredibly slow-paced and relaxing, offering players freedom without any expectations. While a farming simulator at its core and one that can have certain practices that are more profitable on the whole, it never requires a player to put much thought into it if they do not desire to. Instead, progression can be made in other ways.
Blending farming, crafting, and exploring, players can expect to feel just as encouraged to build and improve their workshops as they do to make money from their farming and harvesting. Gathering resources is also a necessary requirement, allowing players a sense of laid-back ease as they venture across the map. The various characters also feel like some of the most real and immersive of any life-sim, with their personalities, stories, andpersonal relationships that can be built.
Blending an assortment of different genres and gameplay elements,Wylde Flowersis a great gem of a farming sim with much more to unpack. With a gorgeous greenhouse to be filled with crops and plentiful space outside,Wylde Flowerswill get players to dig into their farming roots but with minimal pressure for that to be the focus. Instead, the story of protagonist Tara is often where players will be focused.
Discovering the townfolk’s secrets of their hidden witches, and Tara’s own magical powers stirring within,Wylde Flowersdelivers a gorgeous narrative that players can follow with minimal effort to focus on efficiency or production. The game’s colorful town and buildings are also wonderful for players to explore freely, meeting the charming locals and shopping at the differing locations too. With so much that can be done, and yet no pressure to follow any set route or expectations,Wylde Flowersis excellent for those looking for a farming sim to relax with.
