Video games are judged based on various criteria: how the graphics look, what type of combat system it has, how long the game is, whether or not there's multiplayer, the narrative, dialogue options, and many more. But what truly makes video games great is how different and unique each game is from one another. There are games that take us to outer space to fight aliens, make us build a civilization from the Stone Age, or even teach us how to plant and grow succulents.
Gardening has always been part of our society and continues to be one of the most common hobbies out there. Old or young, people grow everything from typical house plants to fruits and vegetables to eat. With how universal gardening is around the world, it's no surprise that there is a wide range of games about it. From starting your own plant business to restoring an old family farm, these games should be high on the wishlists of plant lovers.
Updated on January 23, 2023, by Avery Feyrer: Gardening games relieve plenty of stress and allow people to generally relax and enjoy their time. We've added a few more entries that highlight games that task green thumbs with maintaining herbs, plants, and gardens.
17 Mendel
Have you ever wanted a game with unparalleled freedom? No pressure to complete goals or objectives? Mendel is the game for you. This 2018 single-player sandbox takes you to a random planet and you're in charge of creating new plants on it.
You'll pilot a probe and gather samples of the native herbs and merge them together. There are tens of thousands of different plant possibilities, so you'll have plenty of new creations to make. Mendel was recognized for its focus on genetics by being the first game to receive the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Public Understanding award.
16 Strange Horticulture
Strange Horticulture offers a unique experience that puts you as the owner of a local plant store. But in the town of Undermere, nothing is as it seems. You'll harvest new plants and by growing your collection, you'll uncover the dark mysteries that surround the town.
Many different customers interact with you in Strange Horticulture, which will shape your experience in the game. You'll have the opportunity to join covens and experiment with all kinds of exotic plants. And on top of tending to your plants, you'll have a furry feline that wanders the shop and serves as your assistant.
15 Prune
Prune is a plant-themed puzzle mobile game that focuses on the care of trees. You'll need to shape and trim your tree to direct it out from the shadows and into the sunlight to pass each level.
As you progress through the game, you'll need to become more creative in how you prune the trees. The game will throw other obstacles at you as well that will try to hinder your path toward the sunlight.
14 Garden Simulator
If you're looking for a close representation of managing a garden then look no further than Garden Simulator. This PC game gives games their own patch of land to grow all sorts of plants and cultivate it as they see fit.
Taking care of your plants will allow you to harvest and sell them, giving you more money to continue tending to your garden. You'll use a lawnmower, watering can, and seeds to maintain your garden. Besides nurturing your garden, you can also decorate it with various lawn decor. There are several games you can spend hours on and Garden Simulator figures to be one of them.
13 Reap - Itch.io
Have you ever been asked the question, "What would happen if you washed ashore on a deserted island?" Well, Reap puts you in that position. When your ship crashes and washes onto the shores of a mysterious island, you're tasked to simply survive. However, there are many dangers, some a bit more unsuspecting than others.
Every action you take throughout the day will drain energy, so you'll need to be cautious about what you choose to do. After searching the wreckage of the ship, you'll find tulips that can be planted to provide a quality source of sustenance. Ultimately, Reap is about surviving off of the labor of the land, figuring out ways to properly grow food, and building a shelter.
12 Plant Daddy - Itch.io
For a quick, extremely laid-back gardening experience look no further than Plant Daddy. Available on PC, the plant growing simulation game presents a user-friendly way of gardening. Plants grow in real-time, so it's best to seed and water the plant, then either close or minimize the game tab and check on it later.
There are also some customization options for the pots, especially when plants begin to overgrown their initial pots. Although there's not a whole lot of content, Plant Daddy works quite well as an entry point into virtual gardening or as a quick fix on the internet.
11 Pocket Plants - Android, Windows
Unless it's a massive hit like Pokemon Go or Genshin Impact, most mobile games tend to fly under the radar. Pocket Plants is a cute, delightful game about planting new plants and restoring the surrounding area.
It's a whimsical approach to the very real issue of climate change, and how we need to take care of the planet. Pocket Plants is a free-to-play game that can also connect to a Fitbit for more in-game rewards and benefits. With such adorable art design on top of that, there's no reason not to give Pocket Plants a try.
10 Potioneer: The VR Gardening Simulator - HTC Vive Or Valve Index
Whether a novice gardener or an experienced green thumb, no video game comes close to the realism of gardening than Potioneer: The VR Gardening Simulator. In the game, you dump the soil and properly plant seeds in the garden and watch them grow.
In addition to growing your own garden, you can explore the nearby surrounding wilderness to discover other plants, flowers, or trees to help build the garden. Unfortunately, virtual reality isn't as mainstream as normal consoles, but if it's possible, don't pass up the opportunity to experience Potioneer.
9 Mr. Tulip Head - Itch.io
If you combine gardening tulips and solving puzzles, you'll get Mr. Tulip Head. This laid-back, charming browser game focuses on you helping Mr. Tulip Head in designing gardening plots and solving various puzzles as you sip on your virtual coffee.
The ultimate goal in Mr. Tulip Head is to help the oversized flower to properly plot the garden for its other tulip brethren. Mr. Tulip Head is fully functional over a browser and offers excessive amounts of enjoyment that's just a mouse click away.
8 Viridi - Android, iOS, Windows
As it's the case in anything else, most gardeners hold a preference on what to grow. For every one that holds a special place in their hearts for succulents, say hello to Viridi.
This mobile and PC plant simulator is a calm, relaxing space to grow virtual tiny cacti. Viridi's plants almost grow in real-time, so keeping the game open on the side to monitor is the way to go. However, as is the case for real succulents, giving too much water or not enough won't be good for these desert plants.
7 Flower - PS3, PS Vita, PS4, iOS, Windows
Developed by Thatgamecompany, Flower is a tranquil, peaceful experience. By controlling the wind, you lift flower petals and carry them through wonderous, grassy valleys that burst into vibrant colors.
There's no dialogue throughout the entire game; the narrative of the game is reflected through visual cues. Everything from the beautiful scenery to how the music was composed contributes to your emotional journey through the game. With a Metacritic score of 91 on PS4, Flower is highly regarded as being a well-worth experience.
6 The Botanist - Windows
One of the few plant simulators that offer a narrative alongside growing plants, The Botanist adds a bit more importance to properly caring for plants. You're fired from your job, but decide to pursue your dream of becoming a botanist. Instead of having complete control over what to grow, customers will submit requests for specific plants for you to harvest for them.
You also have the ability to curate a seed catalog that will have all the plants ever grown recorded. The Botanist is an uplifting, encouraging game that highlights all the joy that comes with caring for plants.
5 Ooblets - Xbox One, Switch, Windows
Ooblets first launched in early-access in July 2020 on Windows and Xbox One before an official 2022 launch. The game takes many features from the farming simulators like Story of Seasons and Animal Crossing, while making Ooblets a unique experience.
Set in a seaside town called Badgetown, you're tasked with simply growing your farm and decorating your home. You can unlock more stores around the town, by completing quests, which will help you find new ways to improve your home and farm. Little creatures called Ooblets are grown from seeds and can help you in various tasks. Instead of having a combat proponent to the game, you can challenge people with Ooblets in card-based dance battles.
4 Story Of Seasons: Pioneers Of Olive Town - Switch
Formerly known as Harvest Moon, Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town follows a similar narrative of past games that tasks you in rebuilding an old family farm. Also similar to Stardew Valley in mechanics, Pioneers of Olive Town presents a nice change in art style, especially if pixel art isn't your thing.
In order to get the farm back to respectable standards, you must clear out overgrown foliage, grow crops, tend to the animals, and socialize with the locals. Pioneers of Olive Town doesn't push the farming genre forward but is a solid game that satisfies any agricultural urges.
3 Stardew Valley - Switch, PS4, Windows, Xbox, Mobile, and More
Inheriting old, run-down farms is kind of a trend, huh? Similar to Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town, the story of Stardew Valley revolves around you taking over their grandfather's old farm. Tasked with restoring the plot of land, you chop trees, grow crops, raise animals, and mingle with the townspeople.
Whether it's the unique pixel art style or the friendly interactions with the locals, Stardew Valley emits a calming aura that's charming and warm. It's quite easy to get lost in rebuilding your grandfather's farm and seeing how it affects the growth of Pelican Town.
2 Plant Tycoon - Windows
Plant Tycoon offers the ultimate plant-growing experience. As the owner of a plant nursery, you're tasked with growing and breeding a wide range of plants. With more than 500 different kinds of plants, there will hardly be a dull moment in supply the nursery's plant selection.
Plant Tycoon differs from other plant-growing simulators by adding in the economic responsibilities for the nursery to succeed. Having a successful nursery leads to the ultimate end goal of Plant Tycoon: the growth of the six Magic Plants. Putting magical plants aside, Plant Tycoon provides an unrivaled realistic experience of owning and operating a plant nursery.
1 Animal Crossing: New Horizons - Switch
Animal Crossing: New Horizons is the pinnacle of the adorable life simulator. New Horizons introduced new game mechanics to the series, such as pole-vaulting and terraforming. You'll choose an island layout and whether the island will be in the North or South hemisphere, which will impact the island's seasons. After choosing the island, you'll have the ability to spend time doing whatever you want, whether it's growing and breeding flowers, building bridges, landscaping, or many other things.
While New Horizons may not be a gardening sim specifically, it embraces the whole notion of having a green thumb. You must know how to properly tend to the many demands of your island to see it grow and flourish. New Horizons is a sublime experience that balances a sense of relaxation and urgency (must get more Bells!) that makes the latest Animal Crossing one of the most complete gardening and farming sims out there.