No need to get your hands dirty with these top farming simulators on Xbox consoles
Perhaps a life on the farm, getting up before sunrise, working in all weathers, covered in mud and shoveling out manure isn’t exactly your idea of heaven. That’s understandable, it takes a certain kind of person to want to do all that. But maybe a pixelated alternative is more up your street?
Stardew Valley is an incredible title full stop, but it also happens to be one of the best Xbox farming games available, with loyal fans continuing to play it to this day — more than 8 years after release. The fact that it’s practically endless contributes to its success. It’s hard to get bored of such a great indie game. But what if you’d like to try something slightly different?
What are the best farming simulators on Xbox consoles?
In case you’re looking for another ranch sim to play, our list of the best farming games on Xbox consoles will hopefully plant some seeds of inspiration for you. Get ready for the calming loop of planting, watering and reaping.
Viva Piñata
Our first game on the list is an absolute classic. Released in 2006, Viva Piñata sees you bring an untended, overgrown garden back to life, sowing seeds, creating ponds and creating a landscape just how you’d like it.
But here comes the adorable twist: as part of the process, you can breed Piñatas, who become residents of your island. But be wary of the sour piñatas and Professor Pester’s Ruffians, who are intent on causing trouble and destroying your carefully manicured plot!
One other note: Access to older titles and preservation in general is an ongoing topic of conversation, and rightly so. Who doesn’t want to be able to play their retro catalog on modern hardware? So it’s good news that Viva Piñata is just one of many backwards-compatible Xbox 360 games you can play on newer consoles.
Disney Dreamlight Valley
If you grew up obsessed with Mickey Mouse and friends, you absolutely must play Disney Dreamlight Valley.
It’s a bit like Animal Crossing, as the time and season are synced to wherever you’re playing from. If you love that feature in AC, you’re in for a treat here. There are lots of different areas to explore as you wish and all your favorite Disney characters to befriend.
You might not have considered Dreamlight Valley to be on this list of Xbox farming sim games, but it includes all the classic elements like gardening, digging, harvesting, mining and fishing. Better still, tools never break and don’t take up inventory space! And yes, you can change your outfit at any time and redesign your home to your heart’s content.
The Sims 4 Cottage Living
Okay, so this might not strictly be a full farming sim game, but the Cottage Living DLC is more than just a simple add-on for The Sims 4. In fact, it just so happens to be one of the best Sims 4 expansions available.
You’ll get to set up home in Henford-on-Bagley, a cosy little village complete with its own pub — The Gnome’s Arms. Meet wildlife in the nearby woods; get fresh milk from your cows; rear chickens; and grow fresh vegetables ready to cook in the evening, sell at the local market or — if they’re big enough — enter into the village’s Finchwick Fair.
This truly is an idyllic cottage expansion for one of the biggest free-to-play games around. Just watch out for the foxes trying to steal your hens’ eggs!
STORY OF SEASONS: A Wonderful Life
This updated version of the 2004 title of the same name is about as comforting as it gets. The playthrough literally feels like a sip of hot cocoa. This 2023 release of SOS: A Wonderful Life adds new animals, seasonal events, and additional romanceable characters alongside improved gameplay controls. Grow your farm, cultivate standard and hybrid crops, care for your animals, spend some time fishing and raise a family in the tranquil town of Forgotten Valley.
Before Stardew Valley, there was Story of Seasons. The former’s creator, Eric Barone, is even on record saying that SV began life as a fan-made alternative to Seasons. So if you enjoyed your time in Pelican Town, SOS: A Wonderful Life deserves a permanent place on your Xbox’s hard drive.
My Time at Portia
My Time at Portia takes place during a time when humans are trying to rebuild society following the fall of civilization. But don’t worry, things aren’t as dystopian as that might sound. After inheriting your father’s workshop, you’ll need to set out and gather resources to build not just your farm but also the town of Portia itself.
There’s plenty to do and achieve with mining, farming, manufacturing, horse riding, fishing, seasonal events, town rewards, and even martial arts! If you end up enjoying Portia, you’ll definitely want to take a look at the follow-up title, My Time at Sandrock, which follows a similar premise and style, but this time you’re playing in a desert town.
Harvest Moon: The Winds of Anthos
After a volcanic eruption split the land of Anthos into distinct isolated regions and sent the Harvest Goddess into a deep slumber, it’s up to you to reconnect the regions and reawaken the sleeping deity the only way you know how — by farming, of course!
The story itself makes The Winds of Anthos one of the most unique and best farming games on Xbox. And the gameplay doesn’t disappoint, either. There’s so much variety, thanks to the diverse biomes available to explore, with numerous mines to visit and a wide selection of animals to keep as pets — like wolves and Bengal tigers!
The excitement isn’t limited to when you’re out exploring, though. Back in town, there are farm animals to tend to, unusual mounts to ride and plenty of events to enjoy, including horseback racing, pet-training contests and even musical performances.
Rune Factory 4 Special
Developed by Marvelous, this game begins with your character recovering from amnesia in the magical town of Selphia, where they’ve been embraced as royalty!
Now, you might be wondering how, with an introduction like that, Rune Factory 4 ended up on our list of the best Xbox farming games. But trust us, it’s earned its spot. There are loads of staples from the RGP farming sim genre to try your hand at, from growing crops, cooking, fishing, dungeon exploring, getting married, and having a child — there are even mini-games like Battle Turnip!
Farming Simulator 22
If you’re looking for Xbox farming sim games that lean heavily into the simulation aspect, there are none better than this one right here. Every new interaction of the Farming Sim franchise has immersed players further into the world of agriculture, with FS22 bringing loads of exciting new features for fans.
This time around, you’ll need to plan your farming around the new seasonal cycle, making sure to look after your livestock and plant, grow and harvest accordingly. You don’t want to be left with a wasted yield when winter rolls around! On top of this major gameplay overhaul, there are also new production chains to master, crops like grapes and olives to tend to, structures such as greenhouses and beehives to build, and over 400 vehicles to unlock, including specialist machines for mulching and stone picking.
Minecraft
If we asked you to name a farming simulator on Xbox, this game probably wouldn’t be the first one that comes to mind, but it’s actually a pretty solid experience. And with this being Minecraft, all you need to start are some dirt or grass blocks for farmland, and the ability to craft a hoe for tilling the soil.
You can grow a number of different crops in-game, with various different ways to gather, grow and harvest them. For example, you can find wheat in villages or inside chests throughout the world; a Sniffer can help you dig up torchflower seeds and pitcher pods; while Nether Wart can only be found in, perhaps unsurprisingly, The Nether!
As well as plants, you can, of course, raise and breed animals, like cows, pigs, sheep and… Mooshrooms. Whether you want to rear them for food or other items such as wool and leather is up to you because, like everything else in the best sandbox games, your farmland is your own little sandbox to do with as you please.
Coral Island
If you’re looking for an Xbox farming game that’s as close to Stardew Valley as it possibly gets, Coral Island is the one for you. And the similarities start right away.
After becoming disillusioned with city living, it’s time for you to move away and bring an overrun farm back to its former glory on Coral Island. There are crops to grow, animals to keep, mines to explore, monsters to battle, and lots more too. And, yes, you can build and design your farm inside and out to perfectly match your tastes.
Unlike Stardew Valley, you can also dive into the surrounding ocean: gathering resources, catching creatures, meeting its aquatic inhabitants, and uncovering secrets in the depths below. You’ll also be able to take part in fun mini games and events, and complete tasks to help level up your town — and keep its residents happy!
Play them cheaper with Game Pass
It’s worth noting that some (but not all) of the games on this list are also available on Game Pass. If you’re not familiar with it, XGP is a subscription service available for Xbox One and Series X|S consoles, as well as PC players, giving you access to a huge library of rotating titles.
Check out the best deals for Game Pass Ultimate using our widget below.
Oh, and just so you know, you can take a look at current titles on Game Pass for consoles or the PC Game Pass library at any time on our website.
Note: If you’ve been paying attention, you’ll know we included a Story of Seasons title in our list of the best farming games on Xbox, and mentioned the series inspired Stardew Valley. You might also know that the SoS franchise started life under the name ‘Harvest Moon’. That’s true, but since 2014, the Story of Seasons and Harvest Moon titles have been independently developed (by Marvelous and Appci Corporation, respectively), so although their histories are intertwined, they are, in fact, separate franchises. Hope that clears things up!
