Reviewed on: Nintendo Switch

Sometimes we need a break from the action and adrenaline of action and adventure games, sometimes we want a new and different experience from the usual ones in video games… And sometimes we want to learn something about real life in a more interesting and interactive way. Farming Simulator – Nintendo Switch Edition is the ultimate simulator of a farm owner’s life, and does a competent job of filling this little-explored niche.

Some activities involve coordination with hired workers!

Fun: 8

If you enjoy simulation games, FSim does a competent job of delivering varied and deep content. There are countless activities to work on, including harvesting, cultivating, sowing and fertilizing, as well as managing the purchase and sale of materials and equipment and caring for animals. The controls are generic enough to handle all kinds of activity, letting you quickly become able to take care of everything and move on to the complex juggling act of balancing all your priorities.

There is a curious pleasure in hearing your tractor’s engine along with one of the game’s radios while you work your land, and a careless player can lose hours on end developing their rural empire!

Pigs are just one of the 3 main types of animals you can raise!

Mechanics: 9

As mentioned above, Farming Simulator – Nintendo Switch Edition features a “generic” control setup that can be adapted to the whole enormous range of machines and equipment you need to operate.

Most of the work is done by driving a tractor, which can be fitted with countless different machines and equipment. The ZL and ZR triggers serve as brake/reverse and accelerator, respectively, while the B button is used to attach or detach additional equipment.

Holding L reveals a panel with the operations that can be taken with the equipment attached to your tractor (in the case of a seeder, for example, there are actions to extend/fold the arms, turn the equipment on/off, open the seed storage lid, etc).
Holding R offers lighting options, such as turning on flashlights, headlights or safety/reverse lights.
Holding R+L shows some conveniences, such as switching radio, skipping a song and managing the vehicle’s autopilot.

At first, the controls feel a bit strange. But, with a little practice, it becomes clear that this is the best way to give the player a way to learn to control all the machines in a standardized way… And the scheme works very well. Soon comes the moment when you acquire new equipment and already know how to use it right away!

There is enormous complexity in the game, as it gives you basic instructions in 5 minutes and then releases you into the world to do whatever you want. Freedom and an endless range of possibilities give the game its name, as you can choose to grow dozens of different vegetables, tend various kinds of livestock, expand or buy your land, buy/sell machines and materials at various points around town, following the fluctuation of prices due to supply and demand, etc.

There is a lot to do and only one player taking care of everything… But fortunately you can hire temporary workers (paid by the hour) to complete activities and let you move on to the next one on your list! You can always do jobs for neighboring farms, letting you earn some extra money quickly and also learn to handle some equipment you have no experience with yet.

Audiovisual: 7

Whether running in docked or handheld mode, Farming Simulator – Nintendo Switch Edition constantly gives the feeling of being a very pretty game for a phone, or a very ugly one for a last-generation game. The scenery textures in general are quite poor, with serious cases of more objects and details popping in as you move across the map.

Still, you can notice the enormous care GIANTS Software took in faithfully recreating the dozens of licensed tractors and machines from real brands! The equipment models are carefully made, and each engine seems to have its own different sound (perhaps taken from the real machines, but I can’t say).

There are several radio options, including Country, Rock and Pop, and all of them help create a rural countryside atmosphere. There are options to hear music constantly or only when you are inside a vehicle, giving the player the power to choose between a more realistic simulation or a more pleasant experience.

Want to make better use of your land’s space? Get ready to clear a path by removing trees… Like everything in the game, wood is a byproduct that can be put to use.

Final thoughts

Farming Simulator – Nintendo Switch Edition is definitely not a game for everyone. Here you are encouraged to be methodical and careful, to learn the best farming techniques and to study market trends to increase your rural business’s profitability.

If you would like to explore a bit of rural life, learn how a real farm works or simply take on the challenge of running a business realistically, FSim is the best experience you can have at home or on the go (thanks to the Switch’s portability)… And, if you aren’t careful, you may end up losing hour after hour looking after your farm!

We are used to the agility and adrenaline that only video games can offer, and it is strange to think there is the option of playing for a slower, relaxing and even educational experience.

The vast fleet of licensed vehicles and equipment seems to be the biggest pride of the developers at GIANTS Software.