SimFarm

SimFarm is a spin-off of SimCity, developed and published by Maxis Software. It was released in 1993 for DOS. It was ported to other platforms in the subsequent years.

You could say that SimFarm applied Will Wright's simulation design to agricultural management. In fact, instead of a city, you are tasked with building and managing your own farm.

The player chooses a region that mimics different areas of the United States, or you can determine your own climate. The game also features a changing weather system that simulates conditions such as rain, droughts, tornadoes, and more. Starting out, you must build up your land, place your structures (barns, silos, etc.), plant some crops, and purchase animals. You must also acquire farming equipment to help with harvesting and general farm maintenance. Certain crops only grow in certain climates, so there is a strategy for what to plant. You also need to keep an eye on your pesky livestock as they will try to make a break for it. If you build the recreation area, you can participate in rodeos and enter your livestock into fairs. Much like SimCity, Sim Farm could appeal to any gamer. One thing to keep in mind is that the game has a relatively slow pace, so don’t expect much action.

This game could be seen as the ancestor of games like Farmville or Hay Day, but more involved. Though not one of the more successful Sims spin-offs, it was praised for its graphics and realistic simulation. Though slow-paced, it’s still fun and not a bad way to spend a few hours.