Slime Rancher 2 has hit the ground running, making waves in the adventure and resource management genre. The long-awaited sequel to Monomi Park’s adorable Slime Rancher doesn’t disappoint and is hours of nothing but pure fun. The jetpack is better, the slimes are cuter, and everything is perfect.
The only real question now is what to do after you’ve blasted through the early-access content and obtained everything you can. If you’re chasing the same vibe that Slime Rancher 2 is giving you, then you’ll love these other hits for that rush of sweet, sweet brain chemicals.
10 Harvest Moon: One World
The small realm of Harvest Moon: One World is easy to navigate and looks adorable the whole way through. The Harvest Goddess is missing in action, and it’s up to you and your new friends to restore the harvest. The farming and mining mechanics are easy, and fishing and exploring in between quests are tons of fun.
This game’s charming design and mellow music make it a great choice for Slime Rancher fans. The wildlife across the world can also be approached and given a good healthy pet. Even the bears.
9 Outer Wilds
With a similar dynamic that Slime Rancher 2’s eerie lore-building and weird mysteries give you, Outer Wilds is an adventure in the galactic wilderness. Developed by Annapurna Interactive and Mobius Digital, Outer Wilds is a quirky story set in a time loop of a solar system’s final moments.
Every loop uncovers new clues and solutions that may just get you one step closer to solving the grand puzzle of the universe. This Majora’s Mask-like tale will give you the perfect dose of adventure and urgency.
8 Spiritfarer
There aren’t many things that sound more tranquil than gardening in the spirit world on a nice boat. Spiritfarer is a resource management game from Thunder Lotus, with loads of exploration. It's a heartwarming game that deeply explores the concepts of care, responsibility, and loss.
Stella and her cat, Daffodil, are in charge of ferrying lost souls to their next destination. While you provide for your guests and keep your crops in order, a much bigger picture begins to form with your loved ones around you.
7 Bugsnax
Don’t be fooled by the whimsical character names and adorable food creatures. Snaktooth Island is shrouded in mystery, with dangers lurking in unlikely spaces. Young Horses and Fangamer’s hit game Bugsnax feels like a mix of Slime Rancher and Pikmin with its gorgeous scenery and unique pseudo-wildlife.
Wrangle Bugsnax and collect them in a corral, help your neighbors finish business and get closer to unearthing the true nature of Bugsnax. Be sure to bring an appetite for a constant stream of food-related puns.
6 Ooblets
A life-simulator that’s incredibly fun to say, Ooblets is a fun followup for those still chasing that Slime Ranching mood. Developed and published by Glumberland, this game combines collection and farming gameplay with a little bit of Pokemon-style battling.
Use your farm to grow the ridiculously adorable Ooblets, who hang around and lend a hand wherever you need them to go. The Ooblets can also engage in battle, with a twist: it’s a dance battle. This wonderful and entertaining game isn’t going to get old any time soon.
5 Viva Piñata
The theme song isn’t wrong when it describes Viva Piñata as “tons of fun”, even long after its first days. Unfortunately, you’ll need an Xbox 360 to play Viva Piñata, or its sequel, Trouble In Paradise, but you won’t be disappointed with how well they hold up.
The characters you meet around your farm are helpful and dynamic, and each species of Piñata has its own unique personality. Farming won’t be effortless, though, as some of the wild Piñatas will be attracted to your seeds and sprouts and try to liberate them from their plots.
4 Astroneer
Sandbox and adventure blend perfectly in this stellar game by System Era Softworks. Astroneer sees a little astronaut in a big galaxy, working to colonize beautiful planets and farm important resources.
There’s a lot to go over, and the menus can get a little overwhelming at times, but if you take it slow and just go at your own pace, Astroneer is a great time. This is a perfect game for those who enjoy building new worlds and collecting dozens of satisfying achievements for their hard work.
3 A Short Hike
One of the best parts about Slime Rancher 2 is the scenery. Sometimes, you just want to take a break from all the farming and mining and just take a little walk. A Short Hike is exactly that, with a scenic picture that’s just as lovely and music that’s perfect for a brisk trek along your surroundings.
Powered forward by the urgent need to access cell phone reception, your only goal is the top of the mountain and the beauty you’re able to take in along the way.
2 Stardew Valley
Moving out to the country to farm and live your best life is a lot easier when you have a community. ConcernedApe’s Stardew Valley is endless amounts of exploration, farming, and socialization with your neighbors.
In this isometric farm simulation, cultivating friendships and relationships is just as important as building your grandfather’s old farm up and restoring it to its full glory. In addition, Stardew Valley also has one of the best relationship-building systems of any other farming and exploration game.
1 Grow Home
Grow Home is a serene and surreal adventure game from the PlayStation 4. B.U.D. is a little robot on a big mission to find oxygen-producing plants and healthy animals to bring back to its suffering home planet.
Climb higher and higher atop the great, growing stalk and explore the big open world while you’re keeping it going. You’re free to explore how you want and collect and harvest whatever way you want in this lonely story of a determined robot.