Farming Simulator 20

Pros

• Huge and highly accurate selection of farming equipment
• Effectively replicates weather and night-time operating conditions
• An open world setting with a variety of events and challenges

Cons

• Interface can be intimidating to new players
• Does little to advance the existing series formula

Farming Simulator 20 offers a counterpoint to action-packed gaming by tasking you with accomplishing the mundane chores of a farmer. As the latest in a long line of these simulators, this latest edition adds some polish to a well-established experience. The results are a bit of a mixed bag. Returning fans might be disappointed with the lack of expanded features since the last version, while new fans could find the lack of transparency intimidating. A short tutorial opens up the experience, but it only really teaches you the fundamentals before throwing you into the midst of responsibilities.

But if you're ready to be thrown in the deep end, that can be an exciting thing — at least as long as you're willing to adjust your enthusiasm to the subject matter. As a member of the realistic sim genre, Farming Simulator tends to prioritize authenticity above all else. Figuring out the exact rhythm of activities to repeat and how to most efficiently arrange for them to be completed can often come down to a case of trial and error or even require you to look online. There's a satisfaction in that, but it might not be everyone's cup of tea.

If you can get past the learning curve, the immersion can feel therapeutic. You're essentially thrown into the wide open world of your farm and presented with little more than a goal of thriving as much as possible. The commitment to verisimilitude is reflected in day and night cycles and weather conditions that can dramatically change how effectively you can use your tools. This is a big, open sandbox — and while its dimensions can initially seem intimidating, you have a wide array of farm equipment at your disposal. No matter how much crop prices, the weather, or unexpected expenses might be affecting your routine of activities, there's always a new goal to reach towards. Progress is incremental and rewards patience and consistency rather than paying out high risks and rewards.

That's not to say that the game is entirely lacking in any sort of structure. While the seasons are the ultimate arbiter of how you should be best spending your time, missions return from the earlier games in the series. These may initially appear oblique when you're first introduced to them, but learning to juggle these small tasks quickly becomes just a part of the game's rhythm. And since missions offer better rewards the quicker they're completed, prioritizing tasks plays a considerable role in your progress. Farming Simulator 20 might not break new ground for the genre, but it does a decent job of offering a little corner of the universe where you can just relax and put yourself in the shoes of a modern farmer.

Pros

• Huge and highly accurate selection of farming equipment
• Effectively replicates weather and night-time operating conditions
• An open world setting with a variety of events and challenges

Cons

• Interface can be intimidating to new players
• Does little to advance the existing series formula