Farm life sim

Farm life sim is a subgenre that blends life simulation and farming simulator genres. Harvest Moon [牧場物語] pioneered the genre, but it wasn't until the late 2010s with the release of Stardew Valley that the genre gained wide popularity. Ever since then, there has been a proliferation of games in the genre with a variety of settings. These games are often marketed as "wholesome" or "cozy" with the visuals matching a more pleasant aesthetic. Also, the genre tends to rely on more casual gameplay experiences where there is no urgency or hard fail states. Lite RPG elements can also be present such as leveling, lengthy narrative, side quests, and character customization.

Farming simulator elements such as sowing, collecting, growing, harvesting, trading, and selling of crops is a main feature of the genre. This is combined with the social elements of talking to various NPCs, accepting quests, forming relationships, and making decisions that benefit the living area. Time management can also play a role in the genre with games incorporating day/night cycles and cyclical seasons.