Hey there! If you‘re looking to get your hands on the realistic farming simulation game Farming Simulator without paying, you‘ve come to the right place. As a fellow gaming enthusiast, I‘ve got the inside scoop on how to download Farming Simulator for free. Keep reading and I‘ll walk you through all your options.
The short answer is:
While the latest Farming Simulator games require purchase, you can often find CD keys for huge discounts on sites like Kinguin or get temporary free promotions of Farming Simulator 19 on Epic Games Store. For mobile, Farming Simulator 20 has a free trial version on iOS and Android. To get Farming Simulator full free on PC/Mac, your best bet is to wait for a free trial period or seasonal Steam sale.
An Overview of the Farming Simulator Franchise
Now let‘s start from the beginning. Farming Simulator is a series of super realistic agricultural simulation games developed by GIANTS Software. The games allow you to take control of a farm, manage crops and livestock, operate authentic farming vehicles and equipment, and generally live the peaceful farm life.
The series first launched in 2008 and new iterations release every couple years with improved graphics and features. Here‘s a quick look at the main titles:
- Farming Simulator 22 (2021)
- Farming Simulator 19 (2018)
- Farming Simulator 17 (2016)
- Farming Simulator 15 (2015)
- Farming Simulator 2013
- Earlier versions like Farming Simulator 2011
The latest versions FS22 and FS19 are available across platforms like PC, Mac, PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One and Series X/S, Stadia and even iOS, Android mobiles.
With its realistic graphics and incredibly detailed mechanics, you really feel immersed in the farming experience. No wonder Farming Simulator has sold over 25 million copies!
Scoring Farming Simulator 19 For Free
Now I‘m sure what you really want to know is how to get your hands on the most recent Farming Simulator games for free.
Let‘s start with Farming Simulator 19, which was released in 2018 but remains popular with players.
Unfortunately, the free promotion of FS19 on the Epic Games Store back in January 2020 is over. But all hope is not lost! Here are a few ways you can still get it for free or cheap:
- Watch for Epic Games Store promotions – FS19 may come back for free in the future
- Check CD key sites like Kinguin, CDKeys, Eneba, and G2A for discounted FS19 keys. You can often find them for as low as $15-20 compared to the usual $40-60 price tag.
- Sign up for GIANTS Software‘s newsletter – sometimes they give away older games there
- Keep an eye out for FS19 deals on Steam seasonal sales
The Steam Winter Sale usually has great deals on Farming Sim games. By being a little patient and keeping tabs on promotions, you can get FS19 for 80-90% off!
Farming Simulator 20 – Free on Mobile
Now I know staring at a tiny mobile screen isn‘t nearly as immersive as gaming on a PC or console. But if you want a quick Farming Sim fix on the go, there are free options!
Farming Simulator 20 is available as a free download on both the App Store for iOS and Google Play Store for Android. It‘s a scaled back version of FS19 rebuilt for mobile.
You can play the first few levels for free and then choose to unlock more content through in-app purchases. It‘s not the full farming experience, but it‘ll scratch that Farming Sim itch when you‘re away from your gaming rig.
There are also some older entries like Farming Simulator 16 and 14 available for free on mobile app stores. The graphics and mechanics are dated, but could be worth checking out.
Is Farming Simulator 22 Free?
I know what you‘re thinking – what about Farming Simulator 22, the latest and greatest release in the series that came out in 2021? What are the chances of scoring that for free?
Unfortunately, FS22 is too new for any major promotions or discounts yet. Your best bet is to:
- Wishlist FS22 on Steam and wait for a big sale like the Summer or Winter sale events
- Follow GIANTS Software closely for any giveaways or contests
- Check Cdkey sites over the next several months – discounted keys will start to appear
Realistically, you‘ll likely have to shell out $50-60 to get Farming Simulator 22 right now. But if you wait a few months and keep an eye out for deals, you may just get lucky!
What You Need to Run Farming Simulator on PC
If you‘re hoping to play Farming Simulator on your PC, make sure your rig can handle it! Here are the minimum and recommended system requirements:
Minimum Requirements:
- Windows 7, 8 or 10 64-bit
- Intel Core i5 or equivalent processor
- 8GB RAM
- DirectX 11 capable graphics card like Nvidia GTX 600 or AMD Radeon HD 7750 with at least 2GB VRAM
Recommended Requirements:
- Windows 10 64-bit
- Intel Core i5-6600 or AMD Ryzen 5 2600
- 16GB RAM
- Nvidia GTX 1060 or AMD RX 580 with 4GB+ VRAM
Farming Simulator is surprisingly demanding so you‘ll need a decent gaming PC to run it smoothly. But trust me, it‘s worth investing in some PC upgrades to experience the stunning graphics and details!
Codes, Mods and DLC – Enhance Your Game
Once you‘ve got Farming Simulator installed, there are a few cool ways to enhance your game for free.
Promo Codes – Redeem codes like LAVABEAST, PETS, and MEGAREBIRTH to get free in-game pets and rewards
Mods – Head to sites like ModHub to browse thousands of free mods that add new vehicles, environments, gameplay tweaks and more. Totally transform your game!
DLC – When you buy a legitimate copy, you often get access to all DLC released for that version. That‘s a ton of additional content!
So don‘t just settle for the base game. With codes, mods and DLC, you can get so much more value from Farming Simulator.
Worth Buying? Experts Weigh In
While scoring Farming Simulator for free is awesome, you may be wondering – is it actually worth buying?
Well according to most gaming experts and reviews, Farming Simulator is 100% worth the investment if you want the full experience. Here‘s why:
Huge open world maps – FS19 alone has 3 massive maps with accurate topography and weather modeled on iconic farming regions in the USA and Europe. FS22 expanded to iconic American and European environments as well as a new Mediterranean map. You could easily sink 100+ hours into exploring them all!
Incredibly realistic simulation – nearly 200 authentic vehicles and tools, real crop growth mechanics, detailed animal husbandry systems, dynamic weather and seasonal effects. All modeled on real farming principles.
Robust customization – customize your farmer, farmhouse, animals, fields, equipment and more. Tweak the gameplay settings to your perfect difficulty.
Multiplayer – invite friends to work together in co-op or compete in multiplayer modes. Shared experience!
Regular expansions – GIANTS Software frequently releases new DLC adding more equipment, activities, crops and production chains.
Endless mods – enhance the base game exponentially with mods. Add specialist production chains (grapes, olives), new brands like JCB or Case IH, new animals, and endless tweaks.
So while you can find Farming Simulator discounted or even free at times, serious farming fans will want to invest in the full version to get the most value from the incredible depth and options in these simulators.
The free trials are cool, but limited – to really immerse yourself in the farming lifestyle long-term, buying is highly recommended by experts.
Which Platform Should You Play on?
One great thing about modern Farming Simulator titles is they are available on just about any platform you can think of:
- PC – best graphics and performance, plus supports mods
- Mac – almost as good as PC
- PlayStation 4 and 5 – smooth optimized console experience
- Xbox One and Series X/S – PC quality visuals on console
- Nintendo Switch – lower performance but you can farm on the go
- iOS and Android – enhanced mobile ports of the core games
- Google Stadia – play via the cloud on any screen
No matter what devices you own, you can experience Farming Simulator in one form or another. I‘d recommend PC if you really want to crank the graphics up and have easy access to mods. But console and even mobile are totally viable.
Pick your platform of choice and get ready to start a relaxing new life as a virtual farmer!
Let‘s Get Farming – For Free!
There you have it friend – the inside scoop on scoring awesome farming sim games without emptying your real life bank account.
While buying the latest versions is highly recommended for the full experience, keeping an eye out for discounts, free promotions and giveaways can let you play for free.
I‘ll be keeping tabs on all the deals so you can focus on tending your virtual crops and livestock. Now go embrace the farming lifestyle – even on a budget! See you out in the fields. Happy gaming!