Summary

  • Popular simulator titles lack stories, but farming simulators offer engaging narratives.
  • Sun Haven and Coral Island are top farming simulator titles with lore-rich, story-driven experiences.
  • Unique approaches like Slime Rancher and Sakuna offer compelling stories beyond traditional farming sims.

The majority of simulator titles usually contain no story for the player to explore, but instead encourage the player to create their own stories and experience these simulations for themselves. However, simulator titles like farming simulators over the years have encouraged players to work on their farm and help the townsfolk that surround them through the various interesting stories that create these gaming experiences.

From farming simulators that take part in fantasy worlds where the farmer is somehow the only hope left, to titles that have various neighbors for the player to get to know. These are by far the greatest farming simulator titles with the best stories, ranked.

8 Story Of Seasons: A Wonderful Life

Find Love And Settle Down While Building Up A Farm

Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life
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Life Simulation
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Developer(s)
Marvelous
Genre(s)
Life Simulation

Starting off strong, Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life is a great farming simulator title; though, unlike other titles, this heavily focuses on the player finding love and creating a family for themselves. A lot of the story revolves around this family life as players gradually expand their farm.

As life moves quickly in this Story of Seasons title, players will feel as if their character's life spans a generational tale that intertwines both themselves and the rest of the town as it rapidly grows over the years. There are plenty of heartfelt moments to be had, alongside a wonderful story.

7 Sun Haven

A World Of Humans, Elves, And Monsters

Sun Haven
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Life Simulation
RPG
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Released
March 11, 2023
Platform(s)
PC
Developer
Pixel Sprout Studios
Genre(s)
Life Simulation, RPG

Sun Haven is a farming simulation game that is set in a world filled with a variety of fantasy races that each mark an area of Sun Haven as their home. Through the story, the player's farmer will set up various farms in these different areas, such as the monster city of Withergate or the Elven forest, Nal'Vari.

In a lore-rich, story-driven world, there is plenty for players to get lost in while also enjoying an incredible farming simulator that doesn't burden players with a stamina bar. Players are also likely to make various choices in their adventure that will make the story of Sun Haven feel unique to them.

6 Harvestella

Discover The Truth Of The Quietus

Harvestella
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JRPG
Simulation
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Released
November 4, 2022
Developer(s)
Live Wire
Platform(s)
PC, Switch
Genre(s)
JRPG, Simulation

Players who are looking for more than a simple farming simulator should look no further than Harvestella. A game that combines the farming simulator genre with an action JRPG. This gives players not only intense combat against various foes but also an incredible story that revolves around a yearly occurrence called the Quietus.

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Most Comforting Farming Simulation Games

For anyone seeking a break from the action games of the world, these cozy and comforting farming simulators are perfect for a lazy Sunday afternoon.

The Quietus doesn't only kill crops but also forces the townsfolk to stay indoors. While originally only a small problem in Harvestella, the Quietus has been lasting longer in recent years, and it's up to the player to finally get to the bottom of what it is and hopefully stop it.

5 Slime Rancher

Learn More About The Rancher That Came Before

Slime Rancher
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Adventure
Simulation
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Released
August 1, 2017
Developer(s)
Monomi Park
Genre(s)
Adventure, Simulation

As a unique farming simulator that tasks the player with looking after slimes and combining them together to create interesting new slimes, a lot of the story of Slime Rancher is found through exploring the island. While many other farming titles have layers unlocking the story by advancing their farm, Slime Rancher isn't like this.

Instead, Slime Rancher has the player looking for various notes left by the person who previously owned the ranch that the player now uses. While the story may not be as hands-on as the others, learning about it through these notes and discovering all its secrets makes for a great experience.

4 Sakuna: Of Rice And Ruin

A Banished Goddess Making A Difference

Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin
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Platformer
Action
RPG
Simulation
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Released
November 10, 2020
Developer(s)
Edelweiss
Genre(s)
Platformer, Action, RPG, Simulation

As another farming simulator and action RPG hybrid, Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin is a great farming simulator title for those who wish to really form an attachment to the small group of characters the player is tasked with looking after. The player takes on the role of Princess Sakuna, an incredibly spoiled warrior and harvest goddess.

When humans make it into the realm of gods because of Sakuna, she, and these same humans, are banished to the Isle of Demons. Players are left to defeat demons, look after their people, and farm if they hope to one day make it back home and save these humans from their fate.

3 Littlewood

Helping To Rebuild After Defeating The Dark Wizard

Littlewood
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RPG
Adventure
Life Simulation
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Released
June 17, 2019
Platform(s)
PC, Switch
Genre(s)
RPG, Adventure, Life Simulation
Developer
Sean Young

Littlewood asks players a question that few have ever considered. What happens after an evil dark wizard has been defeated? Well, in Littlewood, players take on the role of the farmer in this bright and colorful world as they fix up the town and provide an assortment of crops for the folks that live within it.

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The following excellent farming simulation games let players share the fun with a friend or group.

Due to the player also having amnesia of the events before, the world was ruined. By meeting the various townsfolk and fulfilling their requests, the player will eventually uncover the true past for themselves and possibly find out that they were more important than they first realized.

2 Rune Factory 4 Special

Take Over The Role Of Royalty And Rescue Guardians While Farming

Rune Factory 4 Special
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Action RPG
JRPG
Simulation
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Released
February 25, 2020
Developer(s)
Marvelous
Genre(s)
Action RPG, JRPG, Simulation

The Rune Factory franchise has been deemed one of the best. Farming simulator franchises over the years, with Rune Factory 4 being favored by many players. As another title that encourages players not only to get involved in the farming aspects of the game but also the action RPG combat and story, there is plenty for players to discover as they take on the role of royalty and protect the town.

Since it's another game where the player coincidentally has amnesia, it is through developing the town, fighting monsters, and cultivating the soil, that the player will finally discover more about themselves than simply falling from the sky to land upon the back of a dragon.

1 Coral Island

Cleaning The Sea And Helping Merfolk

Coral Island
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Farming
Simulation
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Released
October 11, 2022
Developer(s)
Stairway Games
Genre(s)
Farming, Simulation

Out of the farming simulator titles that have been released in recent years, one of the best stories for players to experience alongside their cultivating activities is the one in Coral Island. The farming title first feels rather wholesome due to the story mainly focusing on making the town of Coral Island, Starlet Town, a better and cleaner place.

This includes improving the town's buildings, cleaning the ocean, and completing the various guardian altars. The story becomes mystical at times with the recent update that finalized the Merfolk questline.

A Stardew Valley Farm
Games That Helped Standardize The Farming Sim Genre

With the myriad farming games on the market to choose between, some rose above to set the standard for the genre at large.