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Squirrel's Pick Squirrel's PickThe best game on this page. If you only try one, try this.
Farming SimAgricultureEconomy
Strong Mods Strong ModsA deep, active modding scene extends it past its base content.
$19.99 ~108.2 hr median co-op complexity: moderate 92.7% of 92k
The Squirrel's verdictFarming Simulator 22 brings co-op and a large mod ecosystem that substantially extends its base equipment and map options, areas where Cattle and Crops fell short. The farming loop — planting, harvesting, hauling, machinery management — is comparable, but FS22 is a finished, actively supported product. It sits at 92.7% positive with a median 108.2 hours played.
Not for you if you wanted a physics-heavy, realism-first sim rather than a broader, mod-driven, more accessible farming experience.
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Closest Match Closest MatchThe most similar game to the anchor, by what players say.
Farming SimImmersive SimTime Management
$29.99 ~95 hr median co-op complexity: moderate 86.9% of 55k
The Squirrel's verdictReleased in 2024 across three biomes with co-op and a large machinery roster, Farming Simulator 25 is a maintained, completed product at $29.99 and 86.9% positive. It covers crop cycles and real equipment brands at a more accessible simulation level than Cattle and Crops, though reviews flag recurring bugs and incremental improvement over its predecessor.
Not for you if you want strict physics-first realism over a wider conventional farming scope, or are bothered by bugs the developer has been slow to fix.
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Classic ClassicOlder, proven, and still worth your time. Budget Pick Budget PickThe best game here for the least money.
Farming SimAutomobile SimOpen World
Strong Mods Strong ModsA deep, active modding scene extends it past its base content.
$12.99 ~72.4 hr median co-op complexity: moderate 92.5% of 16k
The Squirrel's verdictFarming Simulator 15 expands well beyond Cattle and Crops' physics-first focus into forestry, snowplowing, and a broader equipment roster, with mod support stretching the content further. The loop is more arcade-friendly and less concerned with terrain or drivetrain fidelity. At 92.5% positive and a median 72.4 hours played, it holds player attention far longer than most entries on this page.
Not for you if you prioritize detailed terrain response and drivetrain behavior over a wider, lighter task variety.
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Farming SimLife SimRPG
$3.99 ~23.5 hr median no co-op complexity: light 74.9% of 4k
The Squirrel's verdictBoth put you behind the wheel of farm equipment doing real fieldwork, but Farmer's Dynasty wraps that in a life-sim structure: repairing buildings, running errands, talking to NPCs, inheriting a rundown farm. Farming is one system among several rather than the whole focus. Fits players who want farm chores with an RPG-lite shell around them.
Not for you if you want farming to be the whole game rather than one task among repair work, NPC dialogue, and errand-running.
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Farming SimOpen WorldAgriculture
Strong Mods Strong ModsA deep, active modding scene extends it past its base content.
$19.99 ~18.1 hr median no co-op complexity: moderate 73.5% of 2k
The Squirrel's verdictPure Farming 2018 covers more ground than Cattle and Crops in almost every direction: multiple countries, a wider crop list, more animal types, and an easier entry point for new players. Reviews describe it as closer to Farming Simulator than a hardcore sim, with step-by-step fieldwork intact. Median playtime sits at 18.1 hours, and it holds a Mostly Positive rating at $19.99.
Not for you if you want hardcore simulation depth, wheel and pedal support, or a narrow focus over breadth across crops and regions.
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Professional Farmer 2014
PC
Farming SimAgricultureFarming
$2.39 ~2.9 hr median no co-op complexity: light 46.7% of 621
The Squirrel's verdictLike Cattle and Crops, this runs on manual multi-step fieldwork — plow, cultivate, seed, fertilize — with tractor handling reviewers call more realistic than Farming Simulator, and no auto-everything shortcuts. Animals exist in the background without feeding or care systems, the same limitation carried over. Priced at $2.39 with a 2.9-hour median playtime, it suits short sessions in the realism-first format.
Not for you if you want animal husbandry mechanics, tycoon-style management, or fast transitions instead of long drives between tasks.
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Farming SimAutomobile SimDriving
$19.99 ~5.4 hr median no co-op complexity: moderate 46.3% of 693
The Squirrel's verdictFarm Expert 2017 shares Cattle and Crops' pitch: realism-focused farming with deeper terrain physics than mainstream sims offer, including deep tire tracks and detailed crop planting. Reviews describe the same bouncing-tractor physics complaints and unfinished feel. Median playtime sits at 5.4 hours, suggesting most players don't push past the rough edges.
Not for you if you need stable vehicle physics, since reviewers consistently describe bouncing, floating tractors and crashes.
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Farming SimAgricultureOpen World
~4.1 hr median no co-op complexity: light 40.3% of 288
The Squirrel's verdictReal Farm handles the same tractor-and-field loop but sits firmly in simcade territory: simpler controls, shorter learning curve, and mechanics that explain themselves upfront. Reviews suggest it works as an entry point into farming sims rather than a replacement for a serious one. It holds a Mixed rating at 40.3% positive, with a median playtime of 4.1 hours.
Not for you if you want the kind of detailed soil behavior and equipment simulation that veteran farming sim players specifically seek out.