Most Difficult Farming Sims

Key Takeaways

Serin Fate offers a difficult, cozy, and fantasy-oriented farming sim experience with high stakes.
Slime Rancher 2 expands on its predecessor, adding new dimensions and threats to the game.
Story of Seasons challenges players with complex economies and high standards for crafting goods.

As a gamer with over two decades of experience under my belt, I’ve seen the gaming world evolve from pixelated sprites to photorealistic graphics. And one genre that has always managed to hold its ground is the farming simulator. Now, don’t get me wrong; I love a good session of Fortnite or Call of Duty, but there’s something about tending to my virtual crops and livestock that just hits differently.

Over the past few years, farming simulation games have experienced a significant surge in popularity. These games have become a go-to choice for many when they want to relax after a challenging workday or dedicate extended periods to playing. Remarkably, even lesser-known titles within this genre swiftly accumulate a dedicated fan base. This type of game seems to resonate with individuals who enjoy the process of gradual exploration and progression over an extended time frame.

When considering this genre in its entirety, a characteristic that truly shines is its comforting nature. The content, the relaxing ambiance, the pace of taking things slowly, appreciating life’s simple pleasures like farming an item preferred by your chosen romantic character, these are common themes. However, despite this being a prevalent trait among farming sims, these challenging games demonstrate that there are indeed numerous exceptions to this rule.

1 Serin Fate

An Indie Love Letter To Farming Sims And RPGs

Platform(s): Windows, macOS, Switch
Released: March 10, 2020
Developer(s): Vethergen

As I stepped into the captivating world of Serin Fate on Steam, it didn’t take long to realize this game was deceptively challenging. The frequent demise that awaited me was a stark contrast to the enchanting, autumn-themed graphics and the cozy atmosphere they created. Yet, beneath the charming 90s high fantasy exterior, lay a world brimming with challenges.

Monsters are intimidating, and this game doesn’t offer much guidance to players, making it quite challenging yet incredibly rewarding. It’s an indie game that could benefit from a bit more attention. If you enjoy games with the same level of enthusiasm found in Stardew Valley but with a touch of fantasy, then you might appreciate Sun Haven.

2 Slime Rancher 2

Hostile Slimes Are A Large Threat

In essence, Slime Rancher 2 builds upon the exceptional farming simulation and creature collection gameplay of its precursor, Slime Rancher. It introduces a variety of fresh, exotic slimes to discover and investigate, while also expanding on its predecessor in numerous ways. This sequel retains the same soothing pleasure and fulfillment as the original, yet doesn’t hesitate to raise the bar and introduce intriguing new layers to the environment, resulting in an immersive exploration and storyline journey that is hard to put down.

In the game, the wild slimes and ominous Tarr have become increasingly hostile, featuring a unique setting that allows them to inflict even more harm upon the player, making them a seemingly charming yet dangerous hazard. Typically, this game centers around gooey delightfulness and cheerful, bouncy, endearing slimes, but these aggressive versions present an unexpected menace.

3 Story Of Seasons

A Deceptively Difficult Classic Title

Tale of Harvest represents an engaging concept within the farming simulation genre. In this game, players assume the role of a farmer with a mission to achieve greater diversity and financial success compared to other, leisurely paced farming simulations. The core objective is economic growth – the player’s farm serves as a magnet for merchants to establish their businesses in the nearby town. As the player produces higher-quality, exotic goods, more merchants are attracted, offering unique items in return for the player’s produce.

This game sets a challenging and demanding benchmark for creating top-notch items, making it tough for players to accumulate a substantial amount of in-game currency quickly, due to its economically oriented gameplay mechanics. However, if you’re seeking a game that offers a unique challenge without relying on combat, Story of Seasons is definitely worth checking out.

4 Harvestella

A Completely Unique RPG Farming Sim

In a different phrasing, Square Enix’s Harvestella is an underestimated farming simulator with a knack for nailing the essentials. It offers a wealth of additional content such as side missions and affection quests for NPCs, in addition to a comprehensive farming system that allows you to either ship your harvested goods or transform them into costlier artisan items or food for use in dungeons.

The main part of the game involves exploring numerous challenging dungeons. As you progress through these areas, enemies become increasingly tough to conquer. To defeat them effectively, players must strategize based on an enemy’s elemental resistances and weaknesses, similar to the classic game rock-paper-scissors. It may be difficult at times, but the sense of accomplishment makes it all worthwhile, and the demanding boss battles only intensify this satisfying feeling.

5 Harvest Moon DS: Sunshine Islands

A Notoriously Hard DS Farming Sim

Platform(s): Nintendo DS
Released: February 21, 2008
Developer(s): Marvelous Interactive

“Sunshine Islands” is a large game within the Harvest Moon series, and constructing an appealing assortment of islands, with their diverse landscapes, offers a highly rewarding experience for both seasoned players and newcomers to this specific genre.

Nevertheless, a delicate weather pattern can cause crops to wilt if they receive insufficient sunlight, too much sunlight, or inadequate water. Gathering the necessary 100 sun gems to rejuvenate all the islands is an incredibly tough task, especially when trying to make a profit amidst the ruthless cost of goods. This experience proves challenging even for experienced fans of Harvest Moon.

2024-10-23 10:33