The Best Farming and Life Sim Games for Nintendo Switch

Once very niche, farming and life sims have become some of the most popular and beloved games around. The Nintendo Switch has no shortage of these kinds of games, and it can be difficult to know which ones are worth spending your time on. Here are some of the best farming and life sim games for Switch to get you on your way.

Stardew Valley

Stardew Valley made a huge impact when it first released, and it’s only gotten better thanks to years of fantastic updates. This game has a little bit of everything to enjoy. You can grow a wide variety of crops and raise livestock, scour the world for materials, form relationships with the townspeople, go fishing, go spelunking in caves, and more. It’s amazing just how much there is to do in this game. If you’re only going for one, this might be the best farming and life sim for Switch.

Harvestella

This take on the genre manages to fit all of the things you would expect from a Square Enix action-RPG into a life simulation game. While Rune Factory hit on this particular combination before, Harvestella still manages to distinguish itself with its solid presentation, intriguing story, and the variety of its job system. The blend leans more towards the action-RPG side of things than the life sim side, but for RPG fans looking to step into this world, it’s a very warm welcome indeed.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons

You can’t really talk about the best farming and life sims for Switch without touching on Animal Crossing, can you? It doesn’t offer quite the same experience as something like Stardew Valley. In some ways it’s more streamlined, but in other ways it offers more. There are lots of things to catalog and collect, and trying to decorate your house and island to your satisfaction is a never-ending quest. Additionally, there are many things to do with other players. There’s an undeniable charm to this game, and it’s hard to beat when you’re looking for something to relax with.

Farm Together

Sometimes you want to relax with your friends, and Farm Together is a great way to do that. This one sees you focusing on your farm, so don’t expect many social elements. In that respect it excels, however. Grow crops, develop your farm, decorate your house, customize your look, and more. Overall, this is a great choice if you want a more straightforward farming sim. For those who like to play together, this might be one of the best farming and life sims for Switch. With that said, playing it alone is allowed too. Your call.

My Time at Sandrock

The follow-up to the excellent My Time at Portia, My Time at Sandrock expands on its predecessor with a bigger world and more to do. Search for treasure in a desert, build a workshop, make friends, play mini-games, and do some farming. As a result, there’s a nice balance between chilling out and adventuring in this game, making it hard to put down. It taxes the hardware at times, but it’s still one of the best farming and life sims for Switch.