Farming Simulator is a video game series that lets players experience farming. The game locations are inspired by environments in America, Europe, and Asia. Players can grow crops, raise animals, operate machinery, and sell items made from farming.
The games have sold more than 25 million copies in total, and the mobile version has been downloaded over 90 million times. The game was updated and released again every two years, except for the most recent two versions. Each update included improved graphics, more types of vehicles, and new tasks for players to complete.
Gameplay
In career mode, players become farmers. Their responsibilities include improving old tools and machines by harvesting and selling crops. Players can explore the map, choose which crops to grow, and use their earnings to buy more land or better equipment. They may also raise animals or earn money through forestry activities.
The game includes tasks that change each time, such as cutting grass, adding fertilizer to fields, or delivering items. Players receive money after completing these tasks, with extra rewards for finishing quickly (except in Farming Simulator 19 and 22).
Farming Simulator 14 was the first mobile version of the game to include multiplayer mode. Farming Simulator 16 added Bluetooth support. Newer consoles can play the game with multiplayer features (the first console version, Farming Simulator on older consoles, included all features from 2013 Titanium). Farming Simulator 15 for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One also includes multiplayer mode.
Games
Farming Simulator 2008 was released on April 14, 2008. It was the first game in the Farming Simulator series.
Farming Simulator 2009 was the second game in the series. It included new crops like corn, rapeseed/canola, and barley. It also added support for custom modifications and more machinery. The map from 2008 was reused but improved in quality.
This was the third game in the series. It was the first to include a multiplayer mode. A new map was introduced, and machinery from Deutz-Fahr, Pöttinger, and Horsch was added. These brands were also included in the FS 2009 Gold edition. Cows were also added to this game.
Farming Simulator 2013 was first released on October 26, 2012. It was later available on PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 in 2013. A year after its initial release, it was updated and re-released as Farming Simulator 2013 Titanium Edition on October 10, 2013. This version included all previous content, plus a new map called "Westbridge Hills" and new vehicles. Additional content was also released as downloadable content (DLC) for players who owned the original version.
Farming Simulator 15 was released for Windows and Mac OS on October 30, 2014. It introduced forestry, washable vehicles, and 41 brands. The base game included 140 pieces of equipment, while the gold edition DLC added 160 more. It was later released for consoles on May 19, 2015.
Farming Simulator 17 was released on October 25, 2016. It included Fendt machinery, which had not been in the series since 2009. It also added Massey Ferguson, Challenger, and Valtra brands. New crops like soybeans, sunflowers, and oilseed radishes were added to the base game for the first time. Players no longer needed to download modifications to grow these crops. The game changed how crops were grown, allowing players to use methods like fertilizing fields, plowing after harvests, and using oilseed radishes as cover crops. A new missions system allowed players to help other in-game farmers. Other additions included drivable trains and an in-game radio. A new expansion pack was released on November 14, 2017. It added a new map, sugarcane growth, and new vehicles and tools. This expansion was free with the season pass for all platforms.
Farming Simulator Nintendo Switch Edition was released on November 7, 2017. It was a version of Farming Simulator 17 with the same maps and vehicles. No DLC was released for this version.
Farming Simulator 19 was released on November 20, 2018. It included a redesigned graphics engine and new crops like oats and cotton. It also added horse farming and John Deere machinery for the first time. Other brands like Komatsu, Rau, and Wilson trailer were included. A Platinum Expansion added 37 pieces of Claas machinery. A sixth DLC, Kverneland & Vicon, added 20 pieces of equipment. A seventh DLC, Alpine Farming, was released on November 12, 2020. It included a new map called "Erlengrat" and new licensed machinery like AEBI and Rigitrac. A special edition called Farming Simulator 19: Ambassador Edition, which included the base game, two expansions, and six DLCs, was planned for release on June 21, 2022.
Farming Simulator 22 was released on November 22, 2021. It included a seasonal cycle, gear shifting, production chains for crops and livestock, and new crops like grapes, olives, and sorghum. Over 400 vehicles and implements were added. New graphics features like DirectX 12 support and improved rendering were included. A Platinum Expansion was released on November 15, 2022. It added a forestry-themed map called "Silverrun Forest" and 40 new machines, mostly from Volvo BM. New log transport methods like containers and winches were introduced. A second major expansion, released on November 14, 2023, added a Central European map called "Zielonka" and new crops like carrots, parsnips, and red beet. It also included new factories, over 35 specialized machines, and four new brands: Dewulf, Gorenc, Agrio, and WIFO.
Farming Simulator 25 was released on November 12, 2024. It included the new Giants Engine 10, which improved weather effects and shadows. New crops like rice and spinach were added, along with over 400 vehicles and implements. An Asian-themed map was included for the first time, in addition to USA and European maps. This version was released with the Farming Simulator 25 Limited Edition and Deluxe Edition for PC, and as a special green Sega Genesis/Mega Drive cartridge.
Farming Simulator 2012 was released for Nintendo 3DS, iOS, and Android in 2012. The 3DS version supported 3D graphics.
Farming Simulator 14 was released on November 18, 2013, for iOS, Android, Nintendo 3DS, Windows Phone, and PlayStation Vita. It offered a more polished and casual gaming experience on mobile platforms. The game included 10-20 brands.
Farming Simulator 16 was released on May 8, 2015, for iOS, Android, Windows Phone, and PlayStation Vita. It was updated in November 2023 to include a John Deere 7230 R tractor, even though the brand was not added to the series until Farming Simulator 19.
A game was announced for Nintendo 3DS, iOS, Android, and PlayStation Vita. It was released on
Esports
GIANTS Software started an Esports league in 2019. There are about twelve teams in the league, and many of them are supported by companies that make farming equipment. Instead of managing a farm, as players do in the game series, the competitions involve 3v3 matches where teams work together to score the most hay bales delivered in a set amount of time.
Reception
The Farming Simulator series has received different opinions from people. Some critics have praised the games for their feeling of calmness and the many realistic machines and vehicles included. Others have pointed out that the games repeat tasks and do not offer enough new ways to play. However, some people believe that these features are normal for a simulation game. Although the series aims to teach people who know about farming, it is enjoyed by both people who farm and those who do not.