Farming Simulator 25 Review (PS5, Xbox Series X|S & PC)

Farming Simulator 25 continues the tradition of delivering a deeply engaging agricultural simulation, appealing to both new players and seasoned fans of the franchise. The sequel launched on November 12, 2024, and unlike its predecessor, this entry is much more refined. For instance, the game has more advanced and varied features. At the same time, there is an improvement with the quality of life as well as new farming mechanics. This platter offers us the baseline to check exactly how much Farming Simulator 25 has outdone its predecessors to stand out in the gaming community.

Plowing Through the Basics

Farming Simulator 25 introduces a light narrative element, the first one for the series. The story begins with the player inheriting a farm from a family member, typically from the grandfather. Set in a rural community, the narrative serves as a gentle introduction to the game’s mechanics. It provides context for the farming journey.

Throughout the game, NPCs from the community, such as your grandfather’s friends and neighbours, act as mentors. They offer guidance on tasks like planting, harvesting, and managing livestock. Each character brings their own expertise, adding fun to the tutorial process.

What makes the tutorial stand out is how approachable it feels. Instead of dumping all the information on you at once, it breaks things down into simple, manageable steps. Want to learn how to plant your first crop? You will be guided perfectly. For instance, Ben, one of the community members, walks players through the steps of rice farming. He breaks down what could feel overwhelming into manageable tasks.

In addition, the tutorial also integrates the farming lessons into the actual gameplay. Consequently, you’re not stuck in a separate training mode. It feels more like part of the story, which makes it less intimidating, especially for new players. 

On the other hand, the story’s tone is casual and heartwarming. While it won’t win any awards for its depth or originality, it helps set a friendly atmosphere. Players can choose to engage with the narrative as much or as little as they like. The story only serves as a backdrop to the core gameplay. Though simple, the story complements the game well, making it more inviting for new Farming Simulator players.

Farming in Style

The game shines the most in its gameplay. It’s all about the rhythm of farm life: plowing, planting, fertilizing, and harvesting. Surprisingly, the whole experience feels therapeutic. You start with the basics, maybe working a small patch of land, and before you know it, you’re juggling multiple fields. You can manage livestock and decide whether to sell your crops or turn them into more profitable products.

The gameplay in Farming Simulator 25 stays true to the series’ roots while adding a few new twists. You’ll spend your time plowing fields, planting crops, fertilizing, and harvesting, with the satisfaction of watching your farm grow. The developers ensured new players could access an updated tutorial that provided a clear introduction to the basics. For seasoned players, you can dive straight into managing larger farms with new crops and more farming tools.

In the game, there’s also a steady progression that makes every little win feel rewarding. Expanding your farm, upgrading your machinery, or simply nailing a good harvest feels like a real accomplishment. Of course, some of the tasks can sometimes feel repetitive. However, there’s something oddly satisfying about getting into that repetitive flow.

Now, here is the kicker: the game doesn’t pressure you to be perfect. It’s more about enjoying the process, experimenting, and figuring out what kind of farmer you want to be. Remarkably, that’s what makes it so easy to stay hooked for hours in Farming Simulator 25. It’s a super fun and fulfilling farming simulation game.

What’s New

Farming Simulator 25 introduces a variety of new features that bring fresh life to the series. The most prominent addition is East Asian farming, offering a unique gameplay style centered on rice paddies. Players now manage water levels as part of the rice-growing process. The game offers specialized equipment for planting and harvesting rice. That includes unique planters and harvesters, further immersing players in the fun style of farming. Other new crops, such as spinach, also debuted, adding more variety to what can be grown.

In addition, animal farming gets an upgrade, with water buffalo and goats joining the livestock roster. These additions expand the diversity of animals players can raise, making the farming experience more dynamic. Paired with updated tutorials, these features make it easier for both newbies and veterans to explore new aspects of the game.

Dynamic weather is another standout feature. Surprisingly, the devs added rainstorms, hail, and even tornadoes into the mix. These tornadoes aren’t just for show; they can actively disrupt farming operations, adding an element of unpredictability and challenge. On top of that, these unpredictable elements are realistic, forcing players to adapt their strategies to protect their crops. 

The terrain deformation has also been improved, with tractors leaving realistic tracks in the soil, making the world more interactive. The game also includes starter packs tailored to specific farming methods, like rice farming, which streamline equipment purchases for beginners. Undoubtedly, the team at GIANTS Software was committed to making Farming Simulator 25 feel fresh while staying true to its roots.

A Double-Edged Sword

Compared to earlier versions, Farming Simulator 19 introduced better textures and lighting, while Farming Simulator 22 added dynamic weather and thicker vegetation. Farming Simulator 25 continues to improve on these, though the changes aren’t as big as in the previous games. It’s more of a refinement than a major upgrade.

Farming Simulator 25 makes a strong impression with its visuals, especially for players on high-end PCs. With powerful GPUs like the RTX 3080 Ti, the game looks stunning on ultra settings. Fields shine under the sun, water in irrigation ditches moves realistically, and farm machinery looks brand new. These details make it one of the best-looking games in the series.

Unfortunately, the story is different on consoles. On PS5 and Xbox Series X, the game is locked at 30 frames per second, which feels outdated. Players have also noticed texture pop-ins, flickering, and other visual glitches. These issues disrupt the experience and make the game feel less polished. On the PC, the game has occasional problems, like objects clipping or lighting inconsistencies.

While Farming Simulator 25 looks fantastic on high-end PCs, its uneven performance across platforms is disappointing. Console players, in particular, may feel let down by the lack of smooth performance and visual polish. Despite its strengths, these issues hold the game back from reaching its full potential.

The Elephant in the Farm

The pricing of Farming Simulator 25 has stirred debate among fans. The base game is set at USD 49.99, and the Year 1 Bundle, including a season pass, is priced at $79.78 USD. For new players, the game offers a wealth of content, including two new maps, additional crops like rice, and slightly enhanced visuals and weather effects. However, for long-time fans of Farming Simulator 22, these updates may feel more like small upgrades than major changes.

Much of the new content, such as additional animals and minor gameplay tweaks, could have been delivered as DLC for FS22. Furthermore, the vibrant modding community of FS22 already provides free custom maps, equipment, and improvements that rival or surpass FS25’s offerings.

The Year 1 Season Pass for Farming Simulator 25 costs $44.99 USD and is also available in the bundle. It includes three content packs and a large expansion, set to release in 2025. While it offers savings compared to buying each pack separately, its value is unclear. GIANTS Software has not provided much detail about the content. With optional DLCs, the total cost of FS25 can exceed $100. 

The price might not seem worth it for Farming Simulator 22 diehards; this might not seem worth it. It may be prudent to wait for more information or potential sales before committing to the Season Pass. Ultimately, the decision depends on individual preferences and how much value one places on the anticipated new content.

Verdict

Farming Simulator 25 is a solid addition to the franchise, with new maps, crops, and gameplay updates that will appeal to newcomers. The base game offers an engaging farming experience, providing countless hours of fun. However, for seasoned players, the changes may not be groundbreaking. Many of the improvements, such as rice farming and enhanced weather effects, are welcome. Nevertheless, they don’t fully justify the $49.99 base price, especially considering the robust modding community of FS22.

The Year 1 Bundle adds potential future content but comes at a high price with little transparency about its offerings. Combined with optional DLCs, the total cost can feel excessive, particularly given the game’s pending technical issues, such as performance inconsistencies on consoles.

For players who are eager to explore the new features and can overlook the flaws, FS25 may be worth the investment. However, for veterans, waiting for updates, mods, or a price drop may be the more prudent choice. Ultimately, FS25 offers potential but falls short of being the fantastic farming simulation game experience many hoped for.