It’s no surprise, really; these games offer a unique blend of steady progress, simple pleasures, and an escape to a world where every day promises new growth and possibilities. However, despite the genre's initial promise of what felt like endless charm and enjoyment, we have long since passed the point where cosy farming games felt fresh and full of new ideas – but new titles haven't stopped sprouting up anyway.
The wave of cosy farming games has one key problem – there are just too many of them.
With so many games pulling up the same ideas and mechanics and replanting them into new titles, players have begun to feel the weight of the repetition. The wave of cosy farming games has one key problem – there are just too many of them. And whilst the life of a farmer in a whimsical town seems alluring the first time (or few times) you pick up one of the many existing titles, it doesn’t take long for the routine gameplay and redundant mechanics to become tedious.
Stardew Valley was more than just a homage; it was a love letter to Harvest Moon...
The current crop of farming games can, of course, be traced directly back to the success of Stardew Valley. The 2016 indie game, created solely by Eric “ConcernedApe” Barone, was deeply inspired by Harvest Moon, a classic farming simulator originally launched in Japan in 1996. However, Stardew Valley was more than just a homage; it was a love letter to Harvest Moon, packed with features that ConcernedApe had longed to see in the original series.
Today, Stardew Valley has sold over 30 million copies across different platforms – a staggering accomplishment for any game, let alone an indie title developed by a single person. ConcernedApe’s heartfelt tribute blossomed into a game that completely revitalised the cosy farming genre, capturing the hearts of millions and providing a much-needed escape during the pandemic.
It wasn’t long before the genre took root and spread out of control.
Game genres evolve through reimaginations and reinterpretations of what came before them – it is a sign of good health. For a genre that was once niche, the success of Stardew Valley meant that cosy farming games had suddenly become profitable, and it wasn’t long before the genre took root and spread out of control. Even legacy cosy games such as the Animal Crossing series, which didn’t traditionally include farming, began to incorporate more blatant farming mechanics to tap into the trend.
But this rapid growth inevitably led to a saturated market, and with it, some disappointing releases. Unfortunately, this rings true for the reboot of the Harvest Moon series, and, despite some titles being received better than others, the series has faced terrible criticism for being a husk of what it once was, especially since the debut of its rival counterpart, the Story of Seasons series.
One recent title that may be poised to break the mould, however, is Fields of Mistria. Currently in early access, the game brings a fresh twist to the genre by combining traditional farming mechanics with magical gameplay in a way that doesn’t feel overly complex or intimidating. Though it is not yet fully released, the game already boasts a fully developed and engaging narrative, a vibrant town, and a host of charming and distinctive characters. It’s clear that it’s a game crafted to once again rekindle the love for the genre that was lost amongst so many redundant releases.
Of course, there’s nothing inherently wrong with cosy farming simulator games; in fact, they’re well-loved for good reason. But while the core mechanics of farming, mining, fishing, and relationship-building do remain popular, there is no denying that there is little space for growth in a genre almost defined by its predictability.
