Growing crops, raising animals, and wooing villagers: these staples, alongside fishing and collecting, make farming sims comfort games for many. Paired with eye-soothing art styles, farming sims are excellent for getting into a relaxing flow. And because most games allow players to opt-in and out of systems, players can freely adjust their level of investment and focus.
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Even with a favorite, players still look for new sims to try unique mechanics or play in different environments.Steam’s Early Access Hubis full of farming sims that offer new gameplay and worlds while having the same cozy loop. Plus, early adopters can share their experience directly with developers and join their community in shaping these games.
10Everdream Valley
Everdream Valleybrings a unique twist to the farming sim formula. By day, players tend to their fields and animals and explore the everlasting summer in the valley. At night, they can use a magic hat toinhabit various animalsto defend their farm against threats, unlock challenges, or even chase other creatures around.
Aside from the night mechanic, players will appreciate its quality-of-life features. One such feature is the indicator system for farm animals. Every animal indicates whether it needs food or pets, or is ready to give resources. To grab these resources, players go through mini-games unique to each animal.
9Song Of The Prairie
Song of the Prairiefollows a hero starting a rural life after beating the big bad. Harvesting giant crops, capturing animals, and customizing both their farm and town await the hero post-adventuring. However, there are plenty of magical secrets left for the hero to unlock in this fantasy-themed game.
Traversing this fantasy world is made easier by fast travel and having no loading screens. The world itself is full of diverse NPCs made complex by the game’s unique Inner World system. Players can befriend and court NPCs, as well as hire them for farm work, or even invite them to live in their town.
8The Last Craftsman
While the act of farming itself is simplified in this game,The Last Craftsmanis still a farming sim at heart. The core mechanics of every farming sim are present here, as well as a cozy gameplay loop without time-limited events.
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As the name implies, thegame emphasizes crafting. Players gather, research, and craft items with unique properties to unlock more crafts and machines and fulfill villager requests. They’re encouraged to find efficient ways to craft items to avoid grinding and focus on the fun parts of this mechanic.
7Research Story
Research Storywelcomes players to the town of Shimmerbrook, where exotic plants and animals have appeared. Together with The Violet Archive, players research fauna, flora, and the surrounding nature to uncover their mysteries. Through research, players can obtain plant seeds and tame animals. But every species has unique needs, and it’s up to the player to help them thrive. It’s well worth it, as all flora and fauna give unique drops, and are a mix of real species to fantasy ones.
Raising creatures in particular is notable, as players can have up to 3 follow them at any time. Every creature confers a unique buff, which can be useful for farming, fishing, exploration, and more.
6Blue Oak Bridge
A castaway, the player washes up on the shores of Eloria. Players are either swept into a quest filled with ancient and forbidden magic, or a cozy life on a farm. Its magical premise aside,Blue Oak Bridgeis immediately made distinct by its top-down, isometric, fixed-camera POV. Thehand-drawn art stylelends itself well to the game’s steady and engaging loop of farm and town tasks. And while its story seems urgent, the game does not force players into a strict schedule.
What can compel players to take breaks from the farming loop is the game’s library system. New areas can be unlocked by filling the Blue Oak Library’s compendium, and there’s the promise of an expansion for this function.
5Coral Island
Coral Islandis for nature and ocean lovers, as well as fans of character customization. Players can literally shape how they appear in-game, fitting the diverse cast of villagers. They can also change how the island looks, through story and gameplay events that progress on the player’s whim.
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Perhaps what distinguishesCoral Islandthe most from other sims is its diving mechanic.Players can scuba diveinto the island’s surrounding waters and discover secret areas and even characters. Moreover, progress equates to physical changes in the world, which can make this mechanic more rewarding for some players.
4Ikonei Island: An Earthlock Adventure
What if players can play as a bipedal shark or cat? InIkonei Island, players can do just that and explore a magical island filled with equally fantastical creatures and villagers. This freedom extends to the player’s homestead. Players can put their homes anywhere on the island and build around it. Once settled, they can get around to farming, exploring, restoring ruins, or even fighting off pirates.
The game’s pet system is a big plus forplayers who love animals. Players can rescue magical and regular critters from pirates. Afterward, they can tame, care for, and summon the animals. By summoning them, players can possess the creature and accomplish their unique tasks to use and upgrade their abilities.
3Dinkum
Steering opposite tropical islands isDinkum, a game proudly inspired by the Australian outback. Deserts, billabongs, mangroves, and eucalyptus forests, among others, cover the playable island. Populating it are kangaroos, crocos, bush devils, and unique takes on outback animals that can give players unique drops.
Aside from the novel location and critters,Dinkumpromises a robust multiplayer system. Up to four players including the host can motorbike, hang glide, jetski, or even fly over the outback. Players can help each other find items and earn points they can carry to their single-player games, change the host’s landscape, and even trade items to fill their collections.
2My Time At Sandrock
From the makers ofMy Time At PortiacomesMy Time At Sandrock, a post-apocalyptic romp 300 years after a disaster that destroyed most human technologies.
Instead of a charming forest, players help the city-state of Sandrock rebuild their community in the desert. And far from a rehash,Sandrockimproves the series' core mechanics. It also features quality-of-life improvements, such as the ability to complete commissions with the requested item at a player’s base, that eases the grind commonly found in farming sims.
1Little Witch In The Woods
Charming sums upLittle Witch In The Woods, a sim that puts players in the shoes of apprentice witch Ellie. Its beautiful pixel world, magical and anthropomorphic cast of characters, and bewitching animations make it a treat to explore and learn more about its world.
In terms of gameplay, players live out the daily activities of a new witch. Every creature Ellie encounters will be logged in the witch’s book, while any materials they find can be used forpotions that helpin various storylines. Ellie’s actions can also improve the game’s main village, and endear her to its inhabitants.
