Farming has never looked as good! (though you may get bored).

I didn’t have many expectations from Farming Simulator 20, to be honest. Just by looking at the cover, I imagined how boring it would be (just like any other game featuring a harvester as its centerpiece). But, as the saying goes: “Don’t judge a game by its cover.” I probably butchered that, but I digress.

Well, I finally tried the game after much hesitation, and let me tell ya, I dug it a lot! I’d have to warn you, though: You won’t get any thrills here!

FM 20 is for people who simply want to relax and be left in their thoughts while going through the motions, and the game marketing and presentation don’t give any hints to the contrary. That doesn’t mean the game doesn’t present any semblance of challenge, though. Results will hinge upon various choices you make, and these choices can get highly technical. 

You’d have to buy a good deal of farming machinery - tractors, seeders, trailers, harvesters, and trucks - each with precise specs (engine power, fuel tank, working width, working speed, crop type, etc.) You ought to also keep up with a routine, especially when raising livestock. You must keep watch of their bedding, fodder, and water, all of that without losing sight of your crops, of course.

In a nutshell, this game takes every detail and errand proper to farming life and transforms it into a mechanic. You also need to be mindful of your finances and, if possible, look for extra sources of income, such as a livestock side business. All of it will involve a lot of micromanagement and busy work, which might not be ideal for the least patient gamer who just cares about the bare action.

This game can feel like a chore in itself, and if you’re not familiar with its ins and outs, you can go broke relatively quickly. For that reason, as a first-time player, you may benefit from playing a tutorial session first so as to get attuned to the different gameplay aspects. The game will surely teach you not to take these decisions for granted, just as in real life (that’s where the simulator part comes in!) 

Keep in mind that this is a watered-down version of Farming Simulator 19 (objectively speaking, the better game). I applaud the guys at GIANTS Software for bringing at least a portion of the PC/console experience to the little screen, though those who crave the same perks as those found in the PC/console versions will be mildly disappointed.

On an unrelated note, the visuals in this game are breathtaking. The lighting effects are not very different from the flagship port, albeit with some compromises. The shadows can look very jagged up, which is understandable considering how modern mobile hardware can still struggle with anti-aliasing. 

The popups at a very short distance (almost ten meters apart) are also quite distracting, especially the vegetation. I really don’t mind all these setbacks, as this remains one of the best-looking mobile games as of this writing, and I’m not exaggerating. This looks “finer than a frog’s hair!” as Southerners would put it.

The physics are also astonishingly compelling. GIANTS gave special attention to the vehicles, which have some of the most believable animations ever seen on mobile. Every piece of gear is carefully crafted and assembled to convey the feeling that you are driving an actual farming vehicle, and the baler is just.. wow! 

The last thing I want to point out is the sound design. It’s functional, though I wish I could put on some nice country music to fit the theme. This can seem like a minor complaint, but this game can get awfully repetitive, and music would have made the chores a bit more tolerable, in my opinion. Listening to the charring sound of your tractor non-stop can become grating after a short while.

Farming Simulator 20 is an absolute recommend from us, especially if you’re into rural life and want unpretentious entertainment after an excruciating day at work (though, ironically, this could feel like work at times). Also, for $3.99, this game is practically a gift, and you know what some folks say about looking a gift horse in the mouth: Do not!

Get all your ducks in a row and leave your feedback about this game in the comments below!