The games generally feature a protagonist going out to a rural setting and taking upon a farm, oftentimes because of an inheritance from a deceased relative, or because of urban boredom.
The player-character grows crops and raises livestock to make money, and can interact with a wide cast of characters who are inhabitants of the town, and work toward the main plot's objective, if one exists.
As a bonus, the player could bond with and marry eligible bachelorettes in town, making it one of the earliest examples of a dating sim.
[2][7] After Stardew Valley's success, the genre experienced a massive boom in popularity, and more farm life sims would release, many of which were also indie.
[9][10][11] Joining in on the genre's boom, the 2.0 update of popular social sim Animal Crossing: New Horizons (2020) added the ability to create a farm and grow produce.