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One of the most relaxing genres in gaming is the farming simulator. In recent years, it seems like the genre has taken the world by storm, with tons of new farming simulators coming out every year. This includes Disney Dreamlight Valley, which came out late last year. Although nowadays it seems like an obvious pairing, when it was released, I found the thought of a Disney simulation game to be both surprising and amazing. Now, the title continues to have a lot of support and is still updated to this day. While Disney Dreamlight Valley is a great farming sim choice, the Disney branding isn’t for everyone. To help find the perfect fit for you, here are the best farming sim games like Disney Dreamlight Valley.
5) My Time at Portia
My Time at Portia is one of the best farming simulator alternatives to Disney Dreamlight Valley. As is common with farming sims, My Time at Portia involves restoring your father’s workshop and farm. To do this, players will need to plant crops, raise animals, and help villagers in a post-apocalyptic landscape. The game also has some interesting crafting elements and mysteries that permeate Portia. My Time at Portia provides a very traditional farming simulator experience, similar to classic Harvest Moon games. Although it doesn’t have too many things that help it stand out, for fans of farming simulators, My Time at Portia is one of the best of the genre to check out.
4) Farming Simulator
Of course, a list of the best farming sims isn’t complete without Farming Simulator itself. Overall, Farming Simulator is the perfect game for players looking for a more intense and realistic farming experience. While other games on this list are rooted in adventure and fantasy, Farming Simulator takes a more grounded approach. Players will need to raise crops and animals without any other elements getting in the way of pure farming fun. Compared to Disney Dreamlight Valley, Farming Simulator is an extremely different game. Despite this, Farming Simulator has been around since 2008 and is still releasing updates to this very day. In the end, Farming Simulator is a great choice for a pure farming experience.
3) Slime Rancher
Next up, Slime Rancher is one of the most unique farming simulators I have ever played. This game places players on a strange planet, where odd creatures called Slimes roam the land. Players will need to capture these Slimes, feed them, and harvest their crystals to sell. The game is especially interesting as there is a massive world that the player can explore in their free time. One of the most fun parts of Slime Rancher is finding new and adorable Slimes around the planet to bring home and raise on the ranch. Overall, Slime Rancher is one of the best gateway farming sims that can get players hooked on the genre.
2) Rune Factory 4
Coming up next is Rune Factory 4, another one of the best farming sim games if you like Disney Dreamlight Valley. Rune Factory 4 is a perfect fusion between fantasy adventure and farming simulator games. Being a spin-off of the Harvest Moon series, Rune Factory takes on a fantasy setting where players raise monsters and meet dragons. Additionally, unlike Harvest Moon, Rune Factory has some very fun combat and RPG elements. Specifically, Rune Factory 4 is a great and accessible introduction to the series as well. Players can try out the game on Xbox Game Pass, with the game being relatively new to the service. Rune Factory 4 is the best farming sim for fans of fantasy and RPGs and is a great substitute for Disney Dreamlight Valley.
1) Stardew Valley
Finally, Stardew Valley is arguably the best farming simulator out there, and a great change of pace from Disney Dreamlight Valley. As many players know, Stardew Valley is a modern example of classic farming simulator games. Players can farm, forage, fish, mine, fight monsters, and much more, all to help build out their farm in a sleepy town. In terms of content, Stardew Valley has massive amounts of content and can easily provide hundreds of hours of enjoyment. Additionally, Stardew Valley has multiplayer, which is the cherry on top of a near-perfect game. For fans of farming sims, if you haven’t played it already, Stardew Valley is one you have to check out.