SimFarm: SimCity's Country Cousin is a video game where players create and manage a virtual farm. It was made by Maxis and released in 1993 as a version of SimCity. The game included a teacher's guide for classroom use, with materials to be copied for students, and a user manual. In 1996, SimFarm and other Maxis simulation games were re-released as part of the Maxis Collector Series. These versions had better compatibility with Windows 95 and different box art, including the word "Classics" added beneath the title.

Gameplay

SimFarm is a game that lets players manage a farm in the 48 states of the U.S. Players build the land, place buildings, buy and sell animals, and plant crops. The game includes a weather and season system that creates challenges similar to those on a real farm. Like SimCity, the game features disasters such as tornadoes, droughts, pests, and dust storms that can harm crops and harvests. There are four types of animals in SimFarm. Each animal needs specific food, water, and space to breed. Providing a barn for animals can increase their value.

The game also includes a small town similar to SimCity. Players can interact with the town by suggesting new land types or entering competitions with livestock, such as sending a prize pig for a chance to win a blue ribbon and money. Suggesting an airport in the town usually leads to its construction, allowing players to use a crop duster.

The homestead is the player’s home in SimFarm. At the start of each new game year, the homestead expands if the player earned enough money in the previous year. Players can choose a farm location based on the climate and region of one of nine U.S. areas or create a custom climate by selecting wind, rainfall, and temperature settings.

Equipment is needed to maintain the farm and harvest crops. Structures store tools, animals, seeds, and other items. To harvest one field, players need at least one tractor, one planter, one plow, one harvester, one truck, and one trailer. Crops are the main source of income in SimFarm. Each crop has specific growth periods, water needs, temperature needs, and ability to resist pests, weeds, and diseases. Crops must be planted during seasons that match their requirements and cared for properly to produce high-value harvests.

Reception

In 1993, Computer Gaming World praised the game's graphics and instructions. The magazine noted, "It's not perfect, but learning how to play SimFarm is enjoyable." The publication gave the game a fun rating of 74%. However, PC Games criticized the game for being repetitive, stating, "The packaging calls it 'Sim City's Country Cousin,' and players should not expect more from this program."