5 Best Gardening Games to Play This Spring (2022)

The floral kingdom is on the precipice of bloom. Or at least, it is in the northern hemisphere, anyway. With that, of course, comes a plethora of exquisite colors and vibrant patterns, all of which play a crucial role in the circle of life. Flowers, weeds, and a whole lot of fruits—all meshing together to form one of the most enchanting seasons of the year. And with that, of course, comes a whole lot of, well, gardening.

As far as video games go, there are plenty of class choices to make up the wet and rainy days. Gardening fanatic or not—there's no discarding the fact that a well-rounded farming sandbox game can make for a great Sunday afternoon. And so, with that in mind, we'll just segue this into some of the classiest chapters on the current market.

5. Wylde Flowers

Wylde Flowers is an Apple Arcade exclusive which launched just back in February of this year. The idea behind it is relatively simple, though it boasts a whole lot more than your bog-standard farming simulator. Because, the fact is, you're not only a farmhand out on the prowl for seeds and soil—but a witch, living in a mysterious village called Fairhaven.

By day, you're doing the usual nine-to-five grind down on the farm. By night, you're up high on your broomstick, traversing the region, and working to unravel a thread of communal issues that disrupt the balance of peace. Next to all that comes a genuinely enjoyable narrative that incorporates player choice at every given crossroad. And so, for anyone looking to indulge in Apple Arcade's blossoming platform, rest assured that Wylde Flowers is, without a doubt, more then enough to justify the price tag.

4. Flower

Forgetting the fact that Flower actually released back in 2009, and that it was unfairly dismissed as just another quirky simulator, the PlayStation exclusive actually had a lot going for it. Although incredibly short and without any major challenges, its simple yet elegant gameplay made for a completely mesmerising experience.

Of course, at the root of its gameplay, it was all about controlling a petal through the seasons, swilling from one day to the next in a state of bliss. Along with a calming soundtrack to help sway the narrative, it became far more of an experience than a video game, to the point of being a rolling canvas, complete with endless brush strokes of green and blue.

3. Viridi

There isn't a whole lot going on with Viridi, which is precisely why we love it. It removes the stress and hassle of having to raise real plants, and pretty much just gives you an entire virtual allotment to cater to instead. And the best part is, it doesn't matter if you're prone to making bad decisions, nor do any of the mistakes you make alter the image in any way, shape or form.

Viridi puts you in charge of, well, a pot of succulents. Take from that what you will, but it's pretty appealing, especially when looking to take a break from the hustle and bustle that comes with most action-heavy blockbuster hits. All you need is a few hours, a selection of tools, and a quick guide on raising a network of fleshy succulents in a home away from home. Simple enough.

2. Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town

A game that is heavily reminiscent of Stardew Valley and Wylde Flowers is Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town, a role-playing journey that has you revamping your grandfather's old farm. Like games of its kind, the story gradually unravels as you plant the seeds and reap the benefits over a period of time. There are no time restraints, and it's more or less a stress-free simulator that asks only that you give it attention.

Olive Town itself is a slow-moving, albeit incredibly interactive world, one that envelopes a great deal of long-term friendships, love interests, and life goals. Of course, being a role-playing game at heart, it's entirely up to you on how you approach your new life as an up-and-coming farmhand. So, a basic little number to consider, providing you're big on farmyard life, of course.

1. Potioneer: The VR Gardening Experience

It's 2022, which means there's a VR experience for just about anything you can think of. Gardening, to be fair, isn't anything revolutionary by any means, though it does make for an unusually satisfying journey. That is, providing you're willing to put the work in to reap what you sow. And if that's not a bother, then you're basically in line for some quality hours with nothing but a rake and a starving plot of land.

While Potioneer doesn't exactly reinvent the wheel with its gameplay mechanics, it does do a pretty tidy job of presenting what's already been built. And as far as afternoon killers go, it does make for a suitable candidate, even with the limitations that it tries so hard to disguise. Therefore, for what it's worth, Potioneer is worth a visit, so long as you know what you're in for before picking up the manure.

So, what's your take? Will you be picking up any of the above five this Spring? Let us know over on our socials here or down in the comments below.

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