5 Best Farming Simulators of 2022

Farming simulators are among some of the most popular types of video games on the planet, a status which, since the rise of COVID, has only multiplied in value. Looking back at 2022 alone, we've had copious amounts of quality life and farming simulators jolt to life on just about every platform on the market. Rightfully so, as they are, at least in most eyes, the perfect time killers, and perhaps the most accessible for newbies.

Unfortunately, 2022 is just about ready to end, which means we've had time to reflect on some of the best games that graced our platforms these past twelve months. Question is, which of the many farming simulation games had us hooked the most? Well, here's how we'd slate them.

5. Disney's Dreamlight Valley

Disney's Dreamlight Valley is a life and farming simulation game that puts you in the angelic homestead of Dreamlight Valley, a realm that has lost its residents to a deadly threat known as Night Thorns. As newcomers to the enchanting village, you must unlock various biomes and Disney words in order to reconnect with its lost friends and, in turn, bring them home to help evolve the community.

Dreamlight Valley is one of this year's most popular life simulation games purely because if its deep Disney-Pixar roots. Besides this, it's also heavy on the customization, farming, and cooking — making it trickle along the same border as Nintendo's Animal Crossing: New Horizons. And right now, it's jam-packed with plenty of early access content, which means there's also plenty to look forward to when it gets its full release in 2023.

4. My Time at Sandrock

My Time at Sandrock is the sequel to My Time at Portia, another life and farming simulation game that tasks its governors with rebuilding a fractured community through the power of innovative designs, finger-licking recipes, and a buddy system that lets you develop lifelong friendship trees. At its heart though, My Time at Sandrock is a farming game, and a pretty great one at that.

It goes like this: you're a member of the wild west-inspired post-apocalyptic town of Sandrock. In the 300 years since the Day of Calamity destroyed most modern technologies, the world has fallen apart and returned to an almost prehistoric state. It's your job, as the former builder, to revive the desert town and transform it into a bastion of pride for the whole community to behold.

3. Coral Island

Coral Island is a tropical life and farming simulation game that lets you explore the vibrant reefs of a sandy haven, a place that's evidently rife with idyllic biomes and mesmerizing plots with oceans of space to utilize. Between going on dives into the bottomless abyss and foraging for resources, you can also build your community from the sandy ground up, using a variety of tools to both construct and design a wondrous home away from home.

Of course, Coral Island also brings plenty more to the table; being able to unearth lost story arcs, farm, and even marry other townsfolk, to name but a few. All in all, the tropical island sim is a perfect choice for those looking to indulge in a world that offers just about everything from a silver spoon. It's cute, addictive, and surprisingly therapeutic.

2. Wylde Flowers

Wylde Flowers is a funny ol' thing, really. It's a farming simulator at heart, but it's also a game that's heavily reliant on witchcraft and potion making. Think of it as a cutesy version of The Sims' Makin' Magic; its primary purpose is to let you live our your dreams of being a witch, but with the added responsibilities of having to cater to a town, farm, and even serve as everybody's go-to person for magic-related requests. That's Wylde Flowers, in a nutshell, and it sure is as entertaining as it sounds on paper.

Another thing that mkaes Wylde Flowers the appealing gem that it is, is its story. Unlike a lot of farming simulators that opt out of cramming in a narrative of any form, Wylde Flowers does its best to spread out a surprisingly immersive story, and one that you can gradually unravel as you master the art of magic and befriend the locals. So, if you'd much rather delve into a world that also happens to provide a hearty adventure on top of the usual farming elements, then this one is an absolute must.

1. Farming Simulator 22

When it comes to immersive simulators that go big on just about every detail relating to agriculture, Farming Simulator 22 really hits the nail on the head, tenfold. Although without the quirky social perks that come with other hybrids, Giants Software's latest edition comes clean with more farming elements than any other of its kind. And for that, we have to give it the top spot on the list.

There is a minor drawback to picking up Farming Simulator 22, and that is, well, you're going to need to sacrifice a lot of your time to developing the plot of your dreams. Due to the game starting you out with nothing but some cattle and a barren farmland, you'll have to work every station around the clock to get the agricultural scene off the floor. It's tricky, but it's also incredibly rewarding, especially if you learn the ins and outs of the business and find a routine that suits you best. So, if it's a true farming sim you want, then this is your best bet, for sure.

So, what's your take? Do you agree with our top five? Let us know over on our socials here or down in the comments below.