Mock me all you want, but Giants Software’s latest Farming Simulator is the kind of game that some of us would like to play when they’re on downtime and want to play something on their own time. The agricultural sandbox as I’d call it is oddly zen like despite me drowning my cattle just to see how the water physics in this game are. Nevertheless, for a game that has attracted the collective mockery from the internet merely for existing, Farming Simulator 2017 is one of those games that will grow on you if you let it.
This year’s edition of what’s arguably a real simulator is a prettier follow up to last year. It’s not the best looking game it can be but it certainly delivers so much more than what you had in 2016’s version of the game and it’s in the little things that make Farming Simulator 2017 a great experience. One of these things that make the game enjoyable and meta in a way is the game’s music radio, something to keep you distracted from the drone of Tractor hums as you plough your way through the fields. Music is however limited. You have your token country radio station along with three others, rock, pop and electronic. If that doesn’t please you, you can connect to Internet radio ( I found it funny that considering this is a simulation, that tractors have online internet radio to keep farmers entertained. It’s a nice touch.)
You will have some seriously meta moments as you’re playing this game, and suddenly Lunchmoney Lewis’ Bills starts playing on the radio to put you in some existential perspective as you’re delivering your crop.
While it’s not the prettiest, you have to appreciate the level of detail that goes in Farming Simulator. Environmentally speaking there’s not much between american and european landscapes but equipments , to farm animals to buildings are refreshingly detailed and on release the game has plenty of content to offer. ( Some would say that this offers more things to do in a same class of leisurely gaming experiences than in a game such as , No Man’s Sky for example. ) Say what you will but, Farming Simulator 2017 also did very well in its debut release with sales up 54% on the last entry for the PlayStation 4 and 32% on Xbox One in the UK.
Jokes aside, Farming Simulator as a core game is a very niche product. The main game can be done as a single player or even online co-op and gameplay hasn’t changed with the simple objective of maximising profit, being capitalistic and surviving. There are also challenges that earn you extra cash if completed on time and can earn you extra plots of land at cheaper prices. If that doesn’t suit your fancy, it has a great modding community that will let you have fun with the game in ways you didn’t know you could. The game explains how to do things in tutorial fashion but after that you’re on your own to forge your own farming destiny.
It’s not a game for everyone. I can’t stress this enough. Fans who are familiar with the franchise will enjoy Farming Simulator 2017, even those who enjoy playing games like Farmville, or Stardew Valley will take a liking to it. For anyone else who may not find the appeal of watching digital crops grow and mature over time hardly sounds like a fun time or you can play with friends and probably do some crazy things,
