Looking for a new farming sim to play in 2024? Farming simulators have been around since the 90s, but have enjoyed a renaissance over the last decade, thanks in large part to indie games such as Stardew Valley.
Farm sims often overlap with life sims, such as Animal Crossing and Disney Dreamlight Valley. We’re looking at games where growing and maintaining a self-sustaining farm is the primary focus, though most farm sims also include a nearby town and lots of NPCs to interact with (and possibly date!).
Here is our list of the coziest, family-friendly farming sims to play in 2024.
Stardew Valley
Platforms: PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation, Switch, Xbox, mobile (iOs, Android)
ESRB Rating: E10+
Why we love it: The infamously one-person indie game is still the best farm sim this side of Pelican Town. The gorgeous pixel art, the charming music, the wonderfully written NPCs, and the wealth of content surrounding the mines, town, fishing, and farmland make Stardew Valley the definitive farm sim experience. It’s also worth returning to if you haven’t played in years, with lots of meaningful updates, including multiple farmland options and multiplayer support.
Coral Island
Platforms: PC (Steam)
ESRB Rating: E for Everyone
Why we love it: It’s a farm sim with merfolk! Coral Island features 3D graphics in a lovely tropical setting. Players explore the island and the surrounding waters, meeting dozens of NPCs, finding hidden ruins, and expanding their farm. Coral Island is also for the lovers: the game features over two dozen romance-able NPCs from a richly diverse roster.
My Time at Sandrock
Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Switch, Xbox
ESRB Rating: E10+
Why we love it: The sequel to My Time at Portia, My Time at Sandrock is an evolution of the farm sim and life sim genres, with a fully 3D world and impressive production values. First and third-person combat, tons of minigames, quests, and NPCs, and a richly expandable farm (and house) that can take advantage of modern and future technology. My Time at Sandrock also supports up to four player co-op on PC.
Paleo Pines
Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Switch, Xbox
ESRB Rating: E for Everyone
Why we love it: A farm sim with dinosaurs, what’s not to love? The dinosaurs in kid-friendly farm sim Paleo Pines are all friendly and helpful, and once tamed, can be put to work helping out at the farm. Each dino has a special skill to help make farming easier and more productive, allowing more time to complete quests and hunt for rarer dinosaurs.
Ooblets
Platforms: PC, Switch, Xbox
ESRB Rating: E for Everyone
Why we love it: Palworld isn’t the only game to combine Pokémon creature collecting with farming. The much more kid-friendly Ooblets features cute little critters that can be caught and tamed to help at the farm. Ooblets can also battle each other via card-based dance battles — no violence whatsoever. The low poly art style and heart-warming designs reinforce the cute, easygoing aesthetic.
Sun Haven
Platforms: PC
ESRB Rating: N/A
Why we love it: Stardew Valley meets Dungeons & Dragons! Sun Haven looks and plays similarly to Stardew, but takes place in a fantasy world filled with spells, dragons, and cat-girls. The world is massive, with full dungeons and multiple towns. It’s also more of an RPG, with multiple skill trees for farming, fishing, mining, exploration, and combat.
