Summary
The open-world genre of games has a diverse range of in-game mechanics that add variety to their large open-world settings. Such features includeunderwater mechanics, hunting, and a range of other elements, such as vehicle gameplay, that add an assortment of interesting things to do insprawling open worlds.
One such component is farming; while not all open-world games have farming mechanics, some of the best open-world experiences lean on agriculture’s peaceful, idyllic nature to add depth to gameplay. A popular feature of open-world games, farming allows players torelax and unwindin a recreation often overlooked in video games.
No Man’s Skyis famed for its immense sandbox ofprocedurally generated planetsthat players can explore. It is also known for its rocky start and incremental change from a lackluster experience to a fully-fledged, immersive, open world. Farming is an essential part of the game and one of its best parts. InNo Man’s Sky, players can explore the universe using equipment such as the Haz-Mat Gauntlets to farm fictional exotic crops for crafting items and products that can be sold to merchants.
Examples include solar vine and frost wort, which players can farm in their base or outside depending on the planet’s environment. The depth of ‘space farming’ inNo Man’s Skyis extensive, making it the best fictional farming open-world game.
Terrariais an open-world game that blends mythical and nonfictional elements to create a nostalgic and expansive farming experience. In Terraria, players can practically do whatever they want, whether digging for treasure, fighting monsters, or opening up a peaceful farm - the choice is yours. The game features generated worlds and great farming mechanics, with the ability to plant a vast range of herbs such as daybloom and deathweed, trees, mushrooms, pumpkins, and more.Terrariais a great open-world game with some of the most in-depth farming mechanics in gaming.
An open-world game known for its appealing 64-bit graphical style,Stardew Valleyhas comprehensive farming mechanics that allow players to create the farm of their dreams.Stardew Valleyblends classical farming mechanics with fictional elements, such as raising livestock and harvesting crops. These fictional components include fighting witches and other monsters.
WhileStardew Valleyis not the most extensive farming open-world experience on this list - lacking the graphical immersion of its counterparts, its farming mechanics have considerable depth, with elements such asfishingadding to the quality of farming simulation available. The deep, rewarding gameplay and fictional and nostalgic graphics makeStardew Valleyone of the best open-world games with farming mechanics.
This list would only be complete by mentioning aFarming Simulatorgame. First released in 2008 on the PC,Farming Simulatorhas gone from strength to strength, satisfying hardcore farming fans who want to experience all the nuts and bolts of owning your own farm. The most recent title in the series,Farming Simulator 22, is its best entry - with hundreds of machines for players to use, new crops to plant, and even a multiplayer option for a collaborative farming experience. The game also lets players experience three different biomes from Europe to America.
Released on the latest consoles, such as the PlayStation 5, the game is also the mostvisually and technically impressive gamein the series, immersing players fully in the technicalities of being a farmer.Farming Simulator 22is currently the best technical open-world farming simulator.
Arguably the most influential game on this list,Minecraftset the standard for basic farming in expansive gaming environments. Released in 2011,Minecraftenabled players to build farms on a considerable scale, inspiring a new genre of titles such asStardew Valley. LikeStardew Valley, Minecraftalso played the nostalgia card with pixelated 16-bit graphics - harkening back to the fourth generation of video game consoles such as the Super NES.
Over a decade later,Minecraftand its farming mechanics are still going strong, with continuous updates adding new farming elements, such as the ability to farm bees. Due to theopen sandboxmechanics ofMinecraft, players have also created intricate in-game systems and methods to farm creatively and efficiently, adding further depth to gameplay.Minecraftis the best open-world farming game, influencing most of the other titles on this list.
