Stardew Valley step aside, these upcoming farm sims offer some competition

It’s hard to believe that it has almost been 10 years since Stardew Valley first burst onto the scene.

The farm life simulation game by ConcernedApe tasked players with moving to the countryside to cultivate a new life whether that meant farming, mining, fighting or romancing the locals.

In its almost ten-year lifespan, Stardew Valley has gone on to lead the charge in the farming simulator genre with others failing to match its longevity and impact.

It is worth delving even further back in history to Harvest Moon which is widely considered as the birth of farming sims.

First released in 1997 by Nintendo, the farming RPG can be considered as the blueprint to titles such as Stardew but it begs the question as to why more recent titles in the genre are unable to match the latter’s critical success.

Victor Interactive Software

In recent years, titles such as Fae Farm, My Time at Portia and Wylde Flowers have showcased the farming simulator genre and have each received positive reviews.

However, when it is stripped down to the bare bones, each one follows the same blueprint as Stardew i.e, the main character heads to a brand new place where they expand and improve the village and get to know and romance its locals.

Sure, the settings are different. Fae Farm is set on an enchanted island where magic is abundant, My Time at Portia takes place in a post-apocalyptic land and Wylde Flowers has quite a similar setting to Stardew but with the inclusion of magic, witches and covens.

It is worth praising Wylde Flowers for focusing on diversity, with the title normalising pronouns, sexualities and gender identities but since its release in 2022, it has failed to achieve the longevity of Stardew.

So what is it that makes players return to Stardew Valley after all this time?

At its core, it requires the player to grind for long periods of time and doesn’t necessarily task them with many objectives. The pixel art style is simple yet effective and it can be argued that once you have played once, you have explored the majority of what the title has to offer.

However, according to its fans, it’s Stardew’s monotony that lends itself to escapism and doing chores or befriending the locals is not challenging and that’s the way they like it.

ConcernedApe

So is that why many other farming simulators fail? Do they task the player with too much to do? By trying to compete with Stardew’s simple gameplay by adding more features, are they missing the point?

That is why it is worth looking at some upcoming farming simulators to see if they will have what it takes to finally knock Stardew Valley off its pedestal.

(Disclaimer: it does not need to be knocked off its pedestal and more than one good game can exist but this is just a bit of fun).

Released earlier this week in early access, Fields of Mistria is the latest entry in the farming sim library and much like Stardew, it offers romance and adventure but with an emphasis on nostalgia.

Presented in an old-school pixelated style with nods to Sailor Moon, Fields of Mistria developers NPC Studio have already released a roadmap for the future of the game.

With plans for more villagers and romance, mines and dungeons, skills and perks and customisation and cosmetics, this title sounds pretty similar to Stardew, at least on paper.

However, according to one positive review on Steam, one user wrote:

“This is what I wanted from Stardew Valley-like games that got out. Heck, this is what I wanted from Stardew Valley - to some extent.”

NPC Studio

They attribute this to multiple features; memorable NPCs, the ability to level up, customisation being available at any time, excellent menu UI and much more.

As a result, although Fields of Mistria appears to be quite similar to Stardew, it has apparently taken all the minor issues with the ConcernedApe title and improved on them dramatically.

Set to arrive in 2026, Moonlight Peaks seemingly has plans to take the farming sim genre and turn it on its head by introducing a supernatural subplot.

Players will take on the role of a vampire who is determined to prove to their father, Count Dracula, that they can live a life full of compassion, even if they are undead.

In the town of Moonlight Peaks, players will be able to befriend and romance both the supernatural and human NPCs as well as unlock ancient powers, develop vampiric abilities such as shapeshifting and enhanced senses, brew potions and even cast spells.

With an aesthetic similar to that of Animal Crossing: New Horizons if it just so happened to have a purple filter, Moonlight Peaks does promise a lot more than the standard farming sim.

As well as the standard features of nurturing crops and looking for a life partner, you will also be able to decorate your house to fit your macabre aesthetic, master the art of witchcraft and even take part in mini-games such as the bartending event.

Little Chicken

Although Stardew’s simple game cycle appears to be an award-winning formula, games like Moonlight Peaks may pave the way for more content and features in the otherwise easy-going genre.

Arriving some time in the next few years, Tales of the Shire: A Lord of the Rings Game is not only perfect for fans of J.R.R. Tolkien’s world but also fans of farming simulators in general.

Allowing players to take on the role of the cozy life of a Hobbit, you will live out your days in the comfort of the Shire.

After creating your very own Hobbit, you will help the town of Bywater flourish by decorating your Hobbit hole, tending to your garden, fishing at the local lakes, foraging in the woods or helping out others of your kind.

With iconic characters to meet, clubs to join to complete daily missions and even a status to gain in Bywater, Tales of the Shire offers everything we expect from a farm life sim.

It is hard to say what makes this entry to the genre different as it has not yet received a release date but having such a big name attached to it will definitely help.

Wētā Workshop

Last but not least, combining the gameplay of Stardew Valley with a serial killer murder mystery, Grave Seasons is also set to make a splash when it releases some time in the future.

Developed by Perfect Garbage, Grave Seasons is set to put a unique twist on the genre by adding a horror-esque story on top of the otherwise calm and familiar gameplay.

Much like the other titles, you play as the new farmer in town and alongside harvesting crops, fishing and mining, meeting and romancing the townsfolk and building a community, you will also have another job.

Stopping the murders.

As a result, you could even find yourself accidentally romancing the killer.

If you’re anything like me, you will already be hooked.

Not to mention that this is unlike any farming sim we have seen before and the unique twist has fans excited to learn more.

Perfect Garbage

It also goes to show that although the tried and tested method may be a winner, there is nothing wrong with trying something a bit different.

There is no denying that Stardew Valley has the longevity that many other titles in the farming simulation genre have lacked.

Whether that is due to its simple, unchallenging gameplay or something else entirely remains to be seen but I, for one, would be excited to see another entry at least offer it a bit of competition in upcoming years.