In recent years, there have been a slew of farming simulator games that have been released into competition. This means that gamers who want a little more variety in their farming simulators are in luck. Developers for titles like Graveyard Keeper to Gleaner Heights have made all kinds of contributions to the genre.
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Graveyard Keeper
Gamers who love farming simulators with a horror twist will absolutely die for Graveyard Keeper. Labeled a “graveyard-keeping simulation game,” Graveyard Keeper tasks players with building and managing a graveyard at the edge of a small, desolate town. Players must prepare bodies for burial, harvest organs, manage cult-like church services, dump bodies and cultivate other unsavory areas of business.
Instead of the usual skill trees that allow for players to progress, Graveyard Keeper requires players to acquire red, green, and blue techpoints, that each correspond to three different “technology” trees. Using this system, players can gain points in hand-crafting skills, knowledge of nature, and spiritual knowledge, each with their own benefits for growth and progression. The game offers macabre gameplay and a mystery-centric storyline centered around portals, witch-hunting, medieval fantasy, talking skulls, true love, and more.
Graveyard Keeper is available on Mobile, Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
My Time At Portia
Instead of merely farming crops and raising animals, in My Time At Portia, players are tasked with the job of building machines. After accepting the offer to be the town builder for Portia, players spend their days finding the materials for their building projects, then use those materials to construct elaborate constructs to expand the town.
Not only are the building mechanics an incredible addition to the game, there is an expansive cast of characters to meet, befriend, and romance. Each character has their own storyline, likes and dislikes, and ties to Portia, making it a joy to experience each character interaction. Players can even adopt a dog or a cat if they want to. My Time At Portia also features an atmospheric world, an army of challenging creatures to fight, and a compelling mystery-filled storyline that Stardew Valley lovers will enjoy.
My Time At Portia is available on Mobile, Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
Rune Factory 5
Rune Factory 5 is a great example of how the farming simulator genre can evolve while still honoring its roots. The game puts players in the shoes of a mysterious hero who is welcomed to join SEED, an elite group of rangers who protect the land and maintain peace. Day-to-day responsibilities include growing crops, doing tasks for townspeople, and fighting monsters. In fact, Rune Factory 5 is different from conventional farming sims in that it has a comprehensive combat system, allowing players to fight with a variety of different weapons and play styles.
Farming is the main means of income for players, but they can also venture out into one of the many dungeons available throughout the world, all connected to the main storyline. From giant flowers to nine-tailed foxes, players can fight and tame monsters, who can then help farm and fight on the player’s behalf. The game also has a romance system, allowing players to experience a number of romantic side-quests, dates, and holidays with their prospective partner. Players can even choose pet names for their character and their romantic interest.
Rune Factory 5 is available on Nintendo Switch and PC.
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Potion Permit
Potion Permit is an open-ended crafting simulation RPG where players step into the shoes of a newly minted chemist who is tasked with managing a hospital in the town of Moonbury. Day to day duties of a chemist include exploring the beautifully rendered world, foraging, and fighting creatures for materials that can be turned into potions through a series of fun mini-games. These potions can be used to cure townspeople, solve a variety of town issues, and even brew up some romance.
Potion Permit shines through its unique premise. After all, this is the first farming simulator that requires players to cure sickness and prove their worth to the town they move to. Players are sure to find themselves working hard to prove to the town of Moonbury that they can be trusted, and they’ll face the consequences of failed treatment if they don’t work fast enough.
Potion Permit is available on Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S.
Gleaner Heights
Gleaner Heights is the perfect game for fans of Twin Peaks and Stardew Valley. The game is centered around experiencing the bucolic life of a small-town farmer and uncovering the dark and seedy underbelly of the town’s social circle. Even as players relish in the old-school farming life, it’s immediately apparent that nothing is as it seems. From domestic abuse to drug dealing, the residents of the town hide secrets behind closed doors for players can find.
Storyline and player choice take front row seats in Gleaner Heights. The game uses a sin system to keep track of the player’s moral transgressions as they decide to help or destroy the townspeople while uncovering their double lives. Gleaner Heights is packed full of realistic issues, intrigue, and chaos underneath the farming sim skin, and is the perfect palette cleanser for anyone who finds the typical farming simulation formula too predictable. Gleaner Heights is available on Nintendo Switch, PC, and Xbox One.
Stardew Valley is available on Mobile, Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
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