If you're looking for a change of pace and some welcome distraction from your everyday life, few mediums offer such engrossing, ongoing escapism as video games. Even the best books have an ending, but some games can go on almost indefinitely and come to form a calming part of our daily routines.
If you're looking for just such a game, the list below of the best life sims and farming games on Switch should get you on the right track. Whether you've always dreamed of moving to the countryside, retiring to a deserted island, or simply heading to the watering hole for a spot of fishing, the games below will set you up with a new (digital) life and keep you busy with pleasant little tasks to melt away the stress of real life... or at least replace it with the low-stakes stress of sowing turnips, tending to animals and managing your crops. Just remember when you're stressing about squeezing these digital lives into your packed schedule, it's all for fun!
So, grab your spade and a handful of seeds, and let's take a look--in no particular order--at the cream of the crop; the best life and farming sims on Switch.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons (Switch)
Animal Crossing: New Horizons helped a lot of people get through troubling times around the game's launch in March 2020, and it's the perfect tonic if you're looking to get away from hustle, bustle, trials, tribulations, and any other type of stress. It's arguably best enjoyed little-and-often, although many a player has been known to fall into the a-lot-and-often habit. If Animal Crossing grabs you, it'll never let you go.
Whether you're collecting sea shells, harvesting fruit, growing money trees, fishing, bug-catching, crafting items, diving for sea creatures or simply creating your ideal paradise island, it's one of the best games on Switch if you're looking to escape for a few hours, days, months or, yes, even years!
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Rune Factory 4 Special (Switch)
Adding some traditional RPG elements into its Harvest Moon-style farm sim gameplay, Rune Factory 4 Special adds dungeons into the mix of farming, fishing, cooking and romance and serves up a tasty concoction in the process. One of the game's greatest triumphs is how it melds all those gameplay elements into a thoroughly satisfying whole. If you played it on 3DS, there's not enough here to warrant double dipping, but if you're after a modern classic with equally satisfying farming and combat that lets you decide your own pace, Rune Factory 4 delivers on all fronts. We can't wait for Rune Factory 5.
Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town (Switch)
A 3D remake of GBA's Harvest Moon: Friends of Mineral Town, Marvelous' Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town offers up the celebrated original in sparkling form. The underlying game might be getting on a bit (it released back in 2003) but it's still a fine take on the farm sim genre - simple, straightforward and satisfying. Keeping your farm running smoothly day-to-day and pursuing romance are all part of the game and if you're after a classic Harvest Moon game without the complexities and complications of later entries, Friends of Mineral Town provides just that.
Forager (Switch eShop)
Throwing mining, monster-slaying and scavenging into the sim-style mix, Forager has you building an island community, expanding out and defending your land from nasties. This game is a life sim game for those who find Stardew Valley a bit too slow for their tastes. A few clumsy design choices are overcome with a sizeable dose of charm, so if you're looking for a not-that-slow life, Forager might be just the ticket.
My Time at Portia (Switch)
My Time At Portia has crafting at its heart, and its timers and missions can be tough to grasp at first. Give it time, though, and it may very well become one of your most-played Switch games. Set in the titular post-apocalyptic town, it's your job to bring Portia back from the brink by completing missions and crafting your way back to prominence. Your relationships with the townspeople grow along with your crops and--provided you can get over that initial crafting hump--there's a good chance you won't be able to tear yourself away.
Farming Simulator 20 (Switch)
If all these airy-fairy fantastical worlds aren't serious enough for you, the Farming Simulator series enables you to put your nose to the grindstone and drive tractors, harvest crops and watch numbers go up without all that romance and relationship nonsense. Switch has a couple of series entries to choose from: the mobile-focused and streamlined Farming Simulator 20, and Farming Simulator: Nintendo Switch Edition, which converts the more in-depth Farming Simulator 2017 for Nintendo's console.
If you're not one to enjoy a long, languorous journey to success, you'd be better off sticking to the more abstract, friendly farming sims. However, once you get into Farming Simulator's low-key and repetitive groove, there's a wealth of wholesome, calming work to get lost in and a satisfying flow to cultivating a field, sowing seeds, harvesting, repeating and watching those numbers go up. Getting the key to a brand new combine harvester never felt so good.
Doraemon: Story of Seasons (Switch)
If the visuals of Doraemon: Story of Seasons don't grab you, your specs must be steamed up from that mask you're wearing (quite right too) because its painterly visual style is one of the loveliest on Switch. This crossover is one of the slowest games on the list - perfect if you're looking to chill those beans right down. The fact that it offers a solid, relaxing romp and fabulous farming featuring everyone's favourite robotic blue cat from the future is almost incidental because... We. Can't. Stop. Looking. At. It!
Plantera Deluxe (Switch eShop)
Plantera Deluxe is an incremental little game that puts you in charge of garden which you tend periodically. The game saw release on both 3DS and Wii U, and while the Switch 'Deluxe' version version doesn't add a whole lot, the base game is just as addictive as ever. Obviously, its mobile, casual clicker nature isn't as deep as the other winners above and below, but if you're after something to really unwind with and the others all seem like too much hard work, Plantera will keep your green finger(s) occupied.
Stardew Valley (Switch eShop)
One of the breakout indie hits of the last decade, to call Stardew Valley a 'farm sim' doesn't quite capture the depth and complexity of its remarkable pixel world. Taking inspiration from nearly all of the other series in this list (and others besides), Stardew has grown over time with patches and updates only making it more impressive. It's a time sink, to be sure, but that's what you came here for, right? If you're looking to escape to a world you can fashion to your liking and feel proud of at the end of the day, Stardew Valley is up there with the very best of them on Switch, or any platform.
If the Harvest Moon-shaped hole in the selection above (in name only, of course - Marvelous' Story of Seasons is Harvest Moon minus the Natsume-licensed title) is upsetting you, Harvest Moon: One World will soon be arriving on Switch. There's also Harvest Moon: Light of Hope available now, although unfortunately it's not a game we've reviewed here at Nintendo Life.
Played any other life and/or farming sims on Switch? Think we've missed something? We'll be keeping this list up-to-date with new candidates as they crop up, but let us know your favourites in the comments.
This article is one of our Switch Essentials guides which cover a wide variety of genres, including the Best Switch FPS Games, the Best Switch RPGs, the Best Switch Games For Kids, the Best Switch Couch Co-Op Games and the Best Switch Fitness and Exercise Games. We can also help out hunting down the Best Switch Horror Games, the Best Switch Racing Games, the Best Switch Action-RPGs, the Best Nintendo Switch Roguelikes, Roguelites and Run-Based Games , the Best Free Switch Games, and even Games to Play After You've Finished Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
Whatever your favourite genre, we've got you covered: Strategy Games, Metroidvanias, Puzzle Games, Party Games, Online Multiplayer Games, Shmups, Fighting Games, Hidden Gems, 2D Platformers, 3D Platformers, Sports Games, Beat 'Em Ups, Chill Games, Family Games, Retro-Inspired Games, Short Games, and the Best Switch Exclusives, as well as Every Arcade Archives Game, Every ACA Neo Geo Game and Every SEGA AGES Game On Switch.
If you're looking for the best Switch games regardless of genre, our reader-voted selection of the Best Nintendo Switch Games should help you out, and you can also find the Best Nintendo Switch Games of 2017, 2018, and 2019. And finally, if you're interested in other Nintendo consoles and retro games, check out the Best Game Boy Games, Best Nintendo DS Games, Best Nintendo 3DS Games, and the Best GameCube Games, as well as Every Nintendo Switch Online NES Game and Every Nintendo Switch Online SNES Game.
Comments (37)
Animal Crossing and Rune Factory 4 are definitely the picks of the bunch for me. Stardew Valley's pretty good but I don't love it quite as much as everyone else seems to.
Had Rune Factory 4 not been on this list I might have had to resort to extreme measures.
But hey, it was there, so it's all fine!
Graveyard Keeper is grossly ignored by this site. My only issue with it is SO MUCH ***** TO DO AT ANY MOMENT!
I enjoyed Forager but I don't feel it should be on this list as it's quite arcadey and not at all like a "life sim" once you're done...you're done. Fantastic game still.
Might give Doraemon a go after other sites rated it so highly, I cant say Friends of Mineral Town has aged well after the recent version, just seemed so limited compared to Stardew.
@hadrian as much as I like graveyard keeper I got to a point in it where I am just too busy and have to basically stop running my graveyard to get resources for like hours on end. When you have to start pulling slabs of ore at a time it gets a bit tedious.
Stuff in the game is also so freaking expensive, like the seller license and upgrades to your status. I'm 40 hours in and feel like I have another 100 to even have most of the stuff unlocked.
At this rate, Animal Crossing New Horizons is my Best Sim game so far but due to my very high hype with this game, i gave it score 99/100.
Btw, i want to ask about My Time at Portia. Which version should i consider by all seriousness ?(Switch or PS4). I heard the Switch version still have issues even with the latest update compared with PS4 version.
Considering I enjoyed New Horizons less than New Leaf, Doraemon: Story of Seasons might be the best sim game on Switch.
Peanutbuttergamer would like to know your location
Animal crossing has consumed my life.
I had an anxiety dream that I couldn't pull my slingshot out quick enough to pop a balloon.
I see an insect and my first response, in my head, is go for my net.
I agree with all of these picks!
@Apportal YES I LOVE PBG
Plantera is such a nice little idle game, I really hope they bring the sequel to Switch too, once that comes out.
I have been thinking of getting Doraemon a while now. I think i'll give it a go. Sounds fun, also i never played any of rune factory games. It gets good reviews everywhere but part 5 is coming out soon so i'm thinking of maybe holding out for that.
@Anti-Matter definitely go with the PS4 version on this one. It runs like rubbish on the Switch unfortunately. With that being said, it's a good enough game where I dropped 100+ hours into it on the Switch, but once I got the PS4 version, I ended up never looking back at the Switch port. Please note though, it does lag a bit on the PS4 as well though; but that may just be how the game is optimized universally and may behave the same way on PC.
Does Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles count? Really liked that one.
Everybody is always ignoring the Doraemon game. Even though it might be one of the polished ones out there.
Glad that it is featured here. But I guess people tend to put it aside because they are not familiar with the Doraemon license. Which is barely an issue if you want to enjoy the game anyway.
Graveyard Digger (with the Zombie DLC) feels left out like a spoiled cadaver.
Stardew Valley is a masterpiece. And the fact the Concerned Ape is always updating and tweaking the game makes it the gift that keeps on giving.
Gotta keep those Animal Crossing clicks coming, right?
Ever herd of minecraft?
@Apportal lol I was thinking the same
Dark Souls is ky favorite family game 😎
As @Freddyfred said, Minecraft deserves to be on this list - Forager does not. Stardew renewed the farming genre after Harvest Moon imploded.
@tofarawaytimes No, i don't think so. I played the game all the way to the end. I ended up actually liking the game. However, the farming mechanics were too simple (although the animals were great) the frame rate drops were distracting. I am glad I played it, but i would not recommend it.
I love Animal Crossing.
I liked Stardew Valley as well.
Forager is on my backlog.
RF4 and Story of Seasons FoMT is on my wishlist
@PickledKong64 MY TURNIPS REACHED THE THIRD LEVEL OF THEIR GROWTH CYCLE!
@Anti-Matter I would go for PS4 unless you really want it portable. The graphics and performance would be improved on the PS4. I do have the switch version though, it is very playable just not as polished as the PC or PS4/Xbox version. Overall, I've logged quite a few hours into both, so I don't think you'll go wrong with either.
Forager was a fun little addiction for a few days but after I saw most of what it had to offer I haven’t looked back.
Stardew Valley for Life. Lost count of my playthroughs.
Graveyard keeper has so much promise and is definitely for the more hardcore sim players. You have to really work for success and it only comes in small bits but they are pretty satisfying. If it had the balance and polish of Stardew Valley it would be a real contender.
AC: New Horizons gets a thumbs up but couldn’t hold me for more than a month.
Uh,
Graveyard Keeper
Atomicrops
Minecraft
Forager is really fun.
Animal Crossing and Stardew own hundreds of hours of my life.
Stardew Valley is excellent! Been playing it way too much
No love for Fallout Shelter? Heh.
A lot of people knock SOS:FOMT either for its visuals or for not having enough to do, but I love it just as much as I loved the original. I bought it thinking it might have aged badly and would suffer by comparison with Stardew, but I haven't found that to be the case at all. I would recommend it to anyone who's into this genre.
Not to take anything away from Stardew, it's still one of the best games you can buy on the Switch IMO.
You're missing Farm Together, which is more polished than half the games on this list.
This is just my take, but it's weird that the list of farming games of all things has the most controversial picks.
@KonkeyDong64 @Wordbonder
Thanks for the quick review of My Time at Portia. 😀
I think i will choose the PS4 version.
@Heavyarms55
Psst...
I have surpassed your ACNH gameplay hours. 😉
Mine was more than 350 hours.
@Anti-Matter Forgive me, I had the small matter of moving overseas taking up my time. :/
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