Games give us the opportunity to explore massive, detailed worlds and overcome intense challenges. But sometimes, you want something a little bit more relaxed, and the chance to carve out a little spot for yourself that feels like a kind of home—if only until you tap the power button.
That's where the farming and life sim games come in. Pixels is the Web3 version of that on Ethereum gaming network Ronin, and we’ve covered it pretty extensively. We also have a tips guide to help beginners get up and running with ease.
But there's a wide world of farm sim games out there, many of which offer similar gameplay features and loops compared to a game like Pixels, but with unique features of their own. If you're loving Pixels and want to keep making adorable little farms and spaces in new worlds, or want to try a different vibe, this list will get you started.
None of these are blockchain games, mind you—but in some cases, they represent a big step up in terms of gameplay features or depth.
Stardew Valley
Platform: Mobile, Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Stardew Valley had to come first on this list. While it's not the original farm sim, these days it's the dominant one. Developed by Eric "ConcernedApe" Barone, this one-man developer released his game in 2016 and has received six major feature updates since then. Stardew Valley lets you grow crops, raise farm animals, explore your environment—including monster-filled caves—and develop relationships with well-realized NPCs.
Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life
Platform: Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S
Much the same way that no farming sim list is complete without Stardew Valley, you can't miss Story of Seasons. Stardew Valley and Pixels both take inspiration in various ways from the Harvest Moon series, since rebranded to Story of Seasons. While Harvest Moon/Story of Seasons games have been coming out for literally decades, the most recent entry is Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life. Don't worry; you don't have to play the other ones in the series for this one to make sense—just dive in and start farming and crafting.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Platform: Nintendo Switch
If you're looking for that pastoral life but aren't as keen on the farming part, Animal Crossing: New Horizons is worth checking out. Exclusive to Nintendo Switch, Animal Crossing has a similar pace but is more focused on expanding and designing your home, exploring your island, and befriending current and incoming residents. You can still farm, and selling turnips was once (and may still be) a great way to quickly make money in the game, but it's not the primary focus here.
Fields of Mistria
Platform: PC
Fields of Mistria is in early access, but don't let that stop you—the game already has 30+ hours of gameplay. Fields of Mistria is a farm sim to its core, but it takes heavy inspiration from '90s anime and Game Boy Advance games for its visuals. It features many quality-of-life features that ease the grind of other farm sim games, and features tons of well-written characters to interact with alongside the farming, crafting, and dungeon crawling.
Graveyard Keeper
Platforms: Mobile, Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Or maybe you want something darker. That's Graveyard Keeper. This is a graveyard management sim, in theory, but the similarities to other farm sim games are impossible to miss. You're still managing a plot of land, while also exploring dungeons, gathering materials, and crafting. If you've looked at other farm sim games and thought, "I'm interested, but this is way too cheery for me," then Graveyard Keeper is a great place to start.
Blue Oak Bridge
Platform: PC
Blue Oak Bridge takes you to the island of Eloria, where you can farm, forage, and gather in a magical world. Blue Oak Bridge features elements of magic, like a witch named Hazel who will teach you to brew potions. But you can also chill on your farm, run a cafe in town, romance a number of characters, and more. The game features a rich art style that takes inspiration from cel shading and features rich, colorful environments to explore.
Coral Island
Platform: PC
This island-themed farm sim features all the usual features, along with a whopping 25 dateable characters. One of the standout features, however, is the ability to dive into the depths of the surrounding ocean, restore the coral reef, mine gems, and explore an undersea kingdom complete with merfolk.
Edited by Andrew Hayward