- Primary Subject: Farming Simulator Genre (e.g., Stardew Valley, Harvest Moon, Story of Seasons)
- Key Update: The article argues that escalating costs and expanding features transform "cozy" farming sims into high-stress, efficiency-driven work simulations that can cause more anxiety than relaxation.
- Status: Confirmed (Genre Analysis)
- Last Verified: January 20, 2026
- Quick Answer: Farming games become stressful when expanding features demand extreme efficiency, turning "relaxation" into a laborious second job centered on profit maximization and rigid daily routines.
When people try to find something to play that lets them escape stress and relax, they'll very likely turn to casual and cozy games to get what they need. There are definitely a lot of options out there, but looking at them all, a good number believe that farming games provide the best way to unwind.
Examples such as Stardew Valley and the Story of Seasons series have certainly made it seem they can provide people with the calm and peaceful gameplay they're looking for, and to some extent, they do. However, as someone who has played many farming games, I can say with certainty that they are far from the relaxing experience they're assumed to be.
When playing them from the beginning, there are no issues. You've just started, and you'll be focusing on familiarizing yourself with the areas you'll regularly visit, the people you'll form connections with, and the work you'll need to do daily. You'll do it at your own pace until you find a routine that works, and that is fun in and of itself.
However, the trouble really starts when you think you figured out what you need to do, only for things to show up that make you change how you've been playing so far. The more time you spend on a farming game, the more new features start to show.
For example, when playing something like Harvest Moon: Friends of Mineral Town, the beginning is sweet and simple: remove some debris, and start planting and selling crops. However, as time goes on, things like animal raising and home and farm appliances get unlocked.
They certainly sound great, considering that they provide you more to look forward to, but they actually make the game more stressful than intended. Stuff like that will cost you money, and a lot of it. As expensive as they can get, you'll want them to enhance your experience, which will lead to you needing to find the best way to earn a lot in the most efficient manner possible.
When that happens, you'll be forced to think about matters like which crops yield the most value, where renewable resources are located to pick up and sell them, the routes you need to take to get everything needed done within the day, etc. If you forget to do any of the things you've planned out, it means a loss of potential profit, which can make you feel bad even when you shouldn't.
What was supposed to be a relaxing single-player game has now turned into a job that makes you feel anxious if you forget to finish any of the important steps. The worst thing is that the more time spent on the farming game, the more this particular problem grows. While you eventually get the more expensive items that will help make you, your farm, and maybe even your town more beautiful and worth living in, you'll likely be showered with even more things to unlock to make them even better. There's a good chance they'll also be very expensive and be actually extremely good in terms of quality and what they can do for gameplay, making it feel like what you have isn't enough and forcing you to work towards them.
This then repeats the cycle of having to come up with a new, and likely more laborious routine with what you currently have, just to obtain the things you think you need. If that wasn't enough, you also have to consider your relations with the townsfolk while doing all that, as growing closer to them could mean better discounts at stores or even more unlockable content, which means you'll have to find a way to fit them into your already hectic schedule as well.
With all of that combined, it creates a playthrough experience that's full of activity, but makes you feel like you're a ragged workhorse. You will be running and doing so many things, but there's a good chance you won't be satisfied with what you have until there's nothing left for you to obtain.
For some, this isn't an issue, as they can simply decide that certain features or items aren't worth getting, and appreciate what they have. However, as mentioned earlier, farming games make sure to show you that the things you could get are far superior to what you currently have, making you want to work harder even though you don't really need to.
While it has no difficult boss battles or unfair segments, farming video games can still give people many stress-inducing moments in the most innocent and friendly-looking way possible. Again, a player can choose to play such titles and be content with their most basic content, but then that means missing out on a good chunk of what they have to offer, leading to a situation that perfectly encapsulates the saying "damned if you do, damned if you don't".
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