Farming simulators are a very popular cozy sub-genre of gaming, and despite the success of franchises likeHarvest Moon, we all know what game we have to thank for this phenomenon. Of course, we are referring toStardew Valley.
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The secret to games like Stardew Valley is that they have heart, and this list has plenty of it.
This breakout hit is why so manyfarming sim alternativesexist, and I would wager you will have heard of many of the finest Stardew clones on the market already, so I’m not going to waste your time mentioningCoral Island, Core Keeper, or anything like that.
Instead, we will be looking at some deep cuts and revealing the farming hidden gems that deserve your attention. So grab a few seeds and your trusty watering can, we have some work to do.
10Echoes of the Plum Grove
Winter’s Coming
Echoes of the Plum Grove
We begin proceedings with a farming game that doubles up as aharsh and bewildering survival game.Stardew fans will know that, unless you hoof it out to the Skull Cavern, surviving is pretty easy in games such as this. But inEchoes of the Plum Grove, winter is a cruel mistress.
You still have the cozy day-to-day loop of meeting the locals, tending to your crops, and exploring the grove to uncover neat little secrets. But you also have the caveat of the changing seasons warning you that you’ll need to stock up on provisions, or your family lineage may die with you.
You can play the honorable way, or become a mischievous entity in the Grove, killing off those who cross you, so your family can reign supreme.
Essentially, it’s a farming sim with a bit of edge, and if that tickles your fancy, then you need to give this one a try.
9Rusty’s Retirement
Crops That Grow Themselves
Rusty’s Retirement
Farming sims can be pretty involved from a gameplay perspective, to the point that the more dedicated capitalists out there might take it upon themselves to make spreadsheets to optimize crop yields. However, it doesn’t have to be that way, as Rusty’s Retirement proves.
Rusty’s Retirement isone of the finest idle gameson the market, allowing you to set up a little farmstead on your desktop background and tend the crops as you work on other things, serving as a fun distraction when your urge to procrastinate wins out.
It has that typical ‘numbers go brr’ feel that most idle games, too, but there is still a hint of quintessential farming sim strategy that goes into optimizing your farm. Then, when you feel like it, you can step away and let the robots do the grunt work.
It’s a more hands-off experience, but a brilliant one for multitasking when you’re meant to be hard at work.
8Cattails: Wildwood Story
Cat Colony Management
Cattails: Wildwood Story
It’s rare that a video game concept can’t be elevated with the inclusion of a few cute little kitties, and in the case of Farming Sims, this holds true as well.
Cattailsis a brilliant series that sees you take control of a stray cat that, instead of wallowing after being abandoned, decides to gather a colony of fellow cats and make a home for themselves in the Wildwoods.
To do this, you will need to roll your furry sleeves up and get to work by hunting prey, recruiting cats to your cause, and gardening to grow fresh herbs. But if you do, you’ll be well on your way to creating a cat utopia you may be proud of.
Plus, you’ll be able to romance other cats, effectively making this a cat waifu sim if that’s your thing. In short, there’s something for everyone here, making this an essential hidden gem to try.
7Everafter Falls
No Thrills, All Chill
Everafter Falls
Generally speaking, it usually takes a Farming Simulator to blow up in terms of popularityto warrant a co-op mode, meaning a lot of hidden gems aren’t multiplayer-friendly. So, to accommodate the co-op fiends out there, here is a lesser-known split-screen option.
Everafter Fallsis a vibrant and cute-as-a-button farming sim that has all the trappings of a classic virtual farming experience, with crops, resource management, fishing, dungeon crawling, and much more.
Not to mention, the game also offers plenty of interior design options, bug collecting, and a museum to showcase your rare finds, making this one that will appeal to Animal Crossing fans, too.
There’s no romance, and aside from those you chop, the game is pulling up any trees. But overall, it’s a cozy experience that is worth the price of admission.
6Voltaire: The Vegan Vampire
Meat is Murder, Literally
To double down with more co-op-friendly options, we have Voltaire: The Vegan Vampire,a spooky little roguelikethat offers harvesting serenity and high-octane action in equal measure.
Playing as Voltaire, son of Dracula, you’ll be tasked with growing crops by day and then defending these crops when night falls and the evil spirits come out to play.
This is an engaging gameplay loop with ample mini-games to break things up, and various upgrades to chase to optimize your experience.
Big daddy Dracula may not be pleased that you’ve embraced Veganism, but if you can keep your supply of veggies high, you’ll never have to return to your bloodthirsty older self. And if all else fails, you could always just have a Quorn burger or something.
5Sprout Valley
Island Living
My sales pitch forSprout Valleyis, if you liked fellow cozy gameForager, but wanted a more chilled out vibe with less stakes, then this is the game for you.
Sprout Valley is a mellow pixel title that sees you farm crops, expand your island and gather resources in a bid to explore beyond your humble little patch of land.
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It’s a slow burn as you gradually build up the tools needed to explore a little further, but with immaculate vibes like this and soothing gameplay to enjoy, we reckon you won’t be in any rush.
There are no deep systems to master, no combat to speak of, and no NPCs to romance. Just a farm to manage and a few islands to visit. So, for a game that succeeds on the back of its simplicity, try Sprout Valley.
4Kitaria Fables
An Agricultural RPG
Kitaria Fables
What if theCat Questseries had farming elements? Well, simply put, it would look rather likeKitaria Fables.
This is a simplistic co-op Action RPG that allows you to enjoy accessible classless combat, explore a vast world full of monsters and dungeons, and provides a bumper spellbook full of enchantments to use.
However, when you aren’t out there slaying baddies and looting chests, you’ll be back at the farmstead growing crops, harvesting goodies, and making a hefty profit if you do it right.
It’s a game that offers cozy vibes and fast-paced action in equal measure. So, if you want to play a game that shows you both sides of the coin, Kitaria Fables is it.
Gardening, Farming, Same Thing…
Look, before you shout at me, I know this is cheating as there isn’t strictly any farming in this title. But in my defense, gardening is just farming without the crops. So allow it.
Grunnis a rather new kid on the block that sees you work as a gardener as you work to make a rather overgrown garden into a pristine little backyard oasis. However, everything isn’t as it seems.
The game begins as a simple gardening simulator, but slowly builds tension over time as it morphs into an atmospheric, creepy horror game in the blink of an eye.
What starts as a simple weekend job turns into a fight for survival, and apparently, just heading home is out of the question. In short, if you want ahidden gem horror experiencewith light farming/gardening elements, this is just the ticket.
2Pesticide Not Included
Tell Those Bees To Buzz Off
If you’re a fan of Bullet Heaven gameslikeVampire Survivorsbut simply won’t compromise and miss out on farming mechanics, then we have a game that will fit perfectly in the middle of your niche little gaming Venn Diagram.
Pesticide Not Included is a Bullet Hell game where you’ll play as a little frog that needs to plant and harvest crops to upgrade their skills and push back the droves of enemies out to take their harvest.
Harvesting crops allows you to gain new powers and, by extension, lay waste to those who would happily chow down on your tasty veggies.
It’s a game perfect for short gaming sessions, brilliant for those who love to embrace the brain rot, and perfect for those who love to sit back and watch their optimized builds cut through enemies like a hot knife through butter.
So, if you’ve milkedVampire Survivorsfor all its worth, it may be time to swap to this new kid on the block.
1Garden Paws
My Kind of Town
Garden Paws
While there are some exceptions to the rule, generally speaking, the best farming simulator games tend to be cute 2D-pixel adventures. But Garden Paws is one of those aforementioned exceptions to the rule.
This one begins as you would expect. Grandpa leaves you a farm in disrepair and you have the arduous task of repairing and restoring it to its former glory.
You’ll do this, again, through means you would expect. You’ll tend crops, trade, do quests, fish, delve into the mines, and more. However, what makes this game special is the 3D format, making it feel like a Zelda-inspired adventure game.
It’s a farming simulator that’s criminally underrated as it has everything you could ever ask for, including up to 32-player co-op, hardcore mode, and a shopkeeping economy system, and that just scratches the surface.
So, if you want to play one of the finest farming simulators no one knows about, Garden Paws is the one for you.
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