Summary
- Stardew Valley remains a fan-favorite farming game, but adventurous gaming farmers are always on the hunt for something new.
- Games like Ooblets, Sun Haven, and Disney Dreamlight Valley offer unique farming experiences that combine different elements to provide a farm sim that can scratch that Stardew itch.
- If you're looking for a more realistic farming experience, games like Farming Simulator can offer a more nuanced spin on the genre.
Stardew Valley is a farming, life-sim hit, scoring 89 on Metacritic. Though many adventurous farmers around the world have a never-ending love for the well-crafted game, fans have beaten the game to a pulp and are always on the hunt for the next best thing.
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PostsNothing can beat an original classic, but some games can come in close second. Many different farming simulators have been released over the years. Whether you're looking for a realistic, relaxing time or an adorable adventure, there's a farming game on this list for you.
Updated March 7, 2024 by Sharnelle Earle: There is an endless supply of farming games to add to this list. This is a genre with lots of love. There is a new wave of cutesy games meant for cozy nights in. We have updated this article to keep things fresh and easily digestible, as well as adding more games that may interest you.
15 Ooblets
Ooblets Overview
Platforms
Epic Games, Steam, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One
Price
$38.99 CAD or $29.99 USD
Tags
Creature Collector, Open World, Deckbuilding, Exploration
Ooblets is like a mixture of Pokemon and Stardew Valley. In this game, you create your own little farmer and set sail to a new place where there are little critters and strange, goofy people. Ooblets are funny creatures you can capture and use to help enhance your farm. Ooblets are used to perform creature dance-battles, where you can earn new ooblets upon winning.
Dance battles with ooblets require using a deck of cards to make your ooblets dance better than the opponent. This is only a small portion of what the game has to offer. You can upgrade and customize your character, house, and farm. There are side quests from characters in town as well as from far away via traveling hot air balloon.
14 Sun Haven
Sun Haven Overview
Platforms
Steam
Price
$28.99 CAD or $24.99 USD
Tags
Multiplayer, Dating Sim, Fantasy
Sun Haven is one of the closest games to Stardew Valley on this list. There is a similar retro-style in graphics. You end up in a strange town with magical secrets. There are fantasy species such as elves or elemental creatures. You can choose different species/races in the character customization screen.
This game allows you to upgrade your house, expand your farm, make clearings for more structures, and visit the nearby elven village. As you progress through the main story you can unlock two new maps other than Sun Haven. These two areas have different aesthetics, so if you rather have a house in a Halloween town instead of a quiet farm life, you can. And of course, there are romance options in Sun Haven.
13 Disney Dreamlight Valley
Disney Dreamlight Valley Overview
Platforms
Steam, PS5, PS4, Xbox On, Xbox Series X & S, Nintendo Switch, iOS,
Price
$51.99 CAD or $39.99 USD
Tags
Adventure, Magic, Story, Customization
Disney Dreamlight Valley has been a banger for the gaming community because the game hits you right in the nostalgia feels. In this game, you can customize your own character and jump into a Disney village with all your favorite childhood characters. Mickey Mouse, Goofy, Elsa, Belle, Ariel, you name it.
There is a main story as well as side quests for each character. You can level up your friendship with each character and fill your valley with newcomers. Unlock new characters via quests or wait for new updates. Updates will sometimes bring more Disney characters to the scene.
12 Dinkum
Dinkum Overview
Platforms
Steam
Price
$22.79 CAD or $19.99 USD
Tags
Online Co-Op, Adventure, Sandbox, Survival Craft
Dinkum is an Australian-inspired open-world farming game. Think similarly to Minecraft, where you are thrown into a sandbox world and have to ward off creatures and create a base. You won't be alone, though. There are NPCs that visit the island periodically, who you can recruit to live there.
This is a cute, relaxing game. Though you can die due to exhaustion or a mean kangaroo, the game is not meant to be challenging. The main goal is to create a lavish town with electricity and fresh crops. You can also visit your friend's islands.
11 Coral Island
Coral Island Overview
Platforms
Steam, PS5, Xbox Series X & S
Price
$39.99 CAD or $29.99 USD
Tags
Open World, Dating Sim, Fishing, Relaxing
This is an open-world life farming simulator. Coral Island is exactly what you're looking for if you enjoy Stardew Valley. With your own custom character, make a new life on this island by being one with the residents and starting romantic relationships.
Farm, fish, tend to relationships, and shop in town. The townspeople have lots of character, and you can bet that there will be town events for you to attend seasonally and yearly. You can even have babies with your chosen bachelor/bachelorette.
10 Alchemy Story
Alchemy Story Overview
Platforms
Steam
Price
$21.99 CAD or $19.99 USD
Tags
Magic, Crafting, Dating Sim, Fishing
Between bright colors and kawaii character designs, what's not to love about this farming game? Alchemy Story stands out from other games because of these characteristics. For people who enjoy cutesy and cartoonish-looking games, this could be one for you.
This farming game includes a tiny bit of witchcraft along with farm work. You can brew potions and tend to adorable, blushing animals all at the same time. The game is still in early access, but many Steam reviews feel positive about the game's continual growth.
9 Forager
Forager Overview
Platforms
Steam, Nintendo Switch, PS4
Price
$22.79 CAD or $19.99 USD
Tags
Survival Craft, Pixel Graphics, Base Building, Multiplayer
Forager is a survival-farming game where you fight hordes of enemies and expand your base as you explore the world around you. Known for being an idle game, you can sit back and relax after a long day to enjoy some foraging and fighting.
The game is more fast-paced than other traditional farming games and almost feels like a farming roguelike, which may be what some people need in a sea of slow-paced games that focus on romancing NPCs.
8 Farming Simulator Franchise
Farming Simulator Overview
Platforms
Steam, PlayStation, Mobile, Xbox, Nintendo
Price
Older games from $14.49+ CAD ($12.99+ USD), Newer games from $22.99+ CAD ($17.99+ USD)
Tags
Multiplayer, Realistic Agriculture, Resource Management, Economy
A tad bit different from what you think when you hear Stardew Valley or the like, Farming Simulator is, nevertheless, a highly addicting farming game. With over four games in the franchise, renewing every few years, this game is far more realistic than the other farming games.
In Farming Simulator, you basically carry out modern farming duties with realistic graphics and modern-day tools at hand. No fishing with a wooden hand-made pole and no romancing the mayor's daughter. With up to 16-person multiplayer, you and your buds can just do some good, honest work.
7 Harvest Moon: Light Of Hope
Harvest Moon: Light Of Hope Overview
Platforms
Steam, Nintendo Switch, PS4, iOS, Android
Price
$22.79 CAD or $19.99 USD
Tags
Life Sim, Romance, Casual
Arguably one of the first farming franchises that included inheriting a farm, romance, and village life, Harvest Moon is a classic must-have. The first-ever game started out on the SNES as a pixelated RPG experience and has now been sprung into 3D magic for multiple devices.
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PostsSome enjoy the original versions over the newest, but either way, there is a Harvest Moon game out there for every type of person to enjoy. In Harvest Moon, you can enhance your farm, explore the town, and build relationships with the townspeople.
6 Voodoo Garden (PC)
Voodoo Garden Overview
Platforms
Steam
Price
$3.89 CAD or $2.99 USD
Tags
Clicker, Management, Relaxing
Instead of being sweet and adorable, this farming game is more on the spookier side of things. With a soft, pleasing graphics style, you tend to a dark magic swamp and harvest special plants.
Voodoo Garden takes on a more fantastical and idle look at farming games. You can purchase and care for animals, meet spirits who help you expand your experience, and ward off bats from ruining your crops. If you're looking for a casual, clicker game to farm in while listening to a podcast or taking a load off, consider checking this one out.
