Farming Simulator Tips For A More Immersive Experience
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Farming simulator games have gone from a quiet niche to one of the most dedicated corners of simulation gaming. On the surface it looks simple. You drive tractors, plant crops, harvest fields, move equipment and build a farm.
A good farming simulator session is relaxing, strategic, surprisingly technical and easy to sink hours into. You are not chasing lap times or fighting for overtakes. You are planning ahead, upgrading machinery, managing money and trying to make every job around the farm run more smoothly.
At Gamer Gear Direct we have tested a wide range of simulator setups at our Dandenong South showroom, including seating positions, cockpit layouts, monitor placement, control reach and long session comfort. This guide is about making a farming simulator feel better, play smoother and keep you comfortable. If you already know you want dedicated hardware, the farming simulator controls range is the place to start.
How we tested farming simulator setups
Our team reviewed farming simulators from a hardware and comfort perspective. We tested with standard controller layouts, keyboard and mouse, programmable controls, larger displays, gaming chairs and simulator style mounting positions.
The biggest thing we found is simple: farming simulators do not have the same hardware priorities as a racing simulator. Pedal feel and racing seat positioning are not the focus. The upgrades that matter most come down to control access, screen clarity, comfort and the ability to manage a lot of in game actions without hunting through menus.
That means a smart farming simulator setup does not have to be the most expensive one. It means choosing hardware that suits how you play, how long you play for, and how much control you want over machinery, menus, camera views and farm management.
Start with the right control setup
A standard controller or keyboard and mouse will absolutely work. For casual players that may be all you ever need. But once you are managing several machines, workers, attachments and camera views, control access becomes a much bigger part of the experience.
In our testing the biggest improvement came from reducing friction. If you are constantly reaching across the keyboard to find commands, checking bindings or pausing to change menus, the game stops feeling natural.
Controllers and input devices
Farming simulation asks for different inputs than other sim genres. Steering matters, but so does proportional control of a loader arm and quick access to dozens of in cab functions. There is purpose built hardware for both jobs, and the difference it makes is larger than most people expect.
Input type |
What it adds |
Best for |
|---|---|---|
Standard controller |
Immediate accessibility, comfortable for long sessions |
Casual players and console users |
Keyboard and mouse |
Every function available, no extra outlay |
Menu heavy play and tight budgets |
Wheel and pedal system with side panel |
Large steering rotation, pedal control and dedicated switches for in cab functions |
Driving between fields, towing and road work |
Joystick and side panel unit |
Proportional axis control for loaders, buckets and cranes, plus a throttle lever |
Loader work, yard work and precise implement positioning |
Gaming keypad |
Customisable layouts and macro support |
Efficient workflow management on a budget |
The two purpose built options in our range sit either side of that split. The HORI Farming Vehicle Control System pairs a large rotation wheel with a three pedal set and a side panel carrying the bulk of its programmable buttons, which suits players who spend most of their time driving. The MOZA FCS Farming Control System takes the other approach, adding a multi axis joystick, a throttle lever and a block of programmable inputs for the implement work a wheel cannot cover. Plenty of setups end up running both.
Check the platform listed on any product before you order. PC carries the widest choice by a distance, and console peripheral support varies by device and by title.
Our recommended farming simulator setup tiers
A setup should match your play style. From what we have tested, most players fall into one of three types.
Entry level. A controller or keyboard and mouse with a comfortable chair and a clear display. Perfect for casual players, console users, or anyone still learning the game.
A more immersive desk setup. Add a larger monitor, a better chair and programmable controls. This gives you easier command access without taking over the room, and for many players it is the sweet spot.
Dedicated simulation setup. Stable mounts, a larger display, a supportive seat and a layout that keeps controls, keyboard, mouse and screen aligned. This works well if you also play racing, trucking or flight sims and want one flexible area for all of them.
Building your farming simulator cockpit
Display considerations
Farming simulators benefit more from screen size and clarity than from very high refresh rates. Racing games need fast response and smooth motion. Farming needs clear menus, readable instruments, good field visibility and easy camera awareness.
Resolution: 1440p or better for clear instrument readouts
Size: 27 to 32 inches is the sweet spot for desk setups
Refresh rate: 60Hz is enough, unlike competitive racing
Panel type: IPS for better colour accuracy across viewing angles
Get your seating position right
From our showroom testing, the best seating position kept the monitor close enough to read comfortably, the keyboard and mouse within easy reach, and any extra controls positioned without shoulder strain. If you have to lean forward every time you change an implement or activate a worker, the setup starts to feel awkward.
A good farming simulator setup should feel relaxed. Elbows sitting naturally, back supported, monitor near eye level, core controls reachable without twisting.
Desk and mounting solutions
Desk mounted. Clamp your wheel or side panel to the desk you already have. This works well when the space is shared with other activities, and it is how most people start.
Dedicated rig. Much like a racing simulator setup, you can build a frame specifically for farming. A sim racing cockpit designed for motorsport carries a farming layout just as happily with the right mounts.
Hybrid. Modular mounting lets you adapt between racing, flight, trucking and farming depending on what you are playing. If you run more than one discipline, look at truck simulators as well, since the crossover in hardware is significant.
Understanding the gameplay loop
Knowing what you will actually be doing helps explain why the hardware matters. The gameplay revolves around interconnected systems that reward planning and efficient execution.
A farming year starts with field preparation. You plough, cultivate and potentially apply lime to get the soil right. Each step needs different equipment, and switching between implements is where a dedicated control surface starts paying for itself.
Crop management and economics
This is where the strategy deepens. Different crops have different requirements, growth times and market values, so you are constantly balancing:
Seed costs against potential returns
Equipment requirements for each crop type
Seasonal timing for planting and harvesting
Market price movement through the year
Crop rotation for soil health
Equipment progression
Starting with basic machinery and upgrading gradually creates a satisfying arc. Your first tractor will struggle with larger implements, which pushes you to take contracts for other farmers, harvest efficiently despite the limitations, invest in more capable equipment, expand your fields, and eventually specialise. The progression mirrors how an actual agricultural business develops, so every purchase feels like it means something.
Techniques for more serious farmers
Once the basics are handled, the depth shows. Experienced players minimise wasted time by planning routes that reduce empty travel, overlap and turning. It sounds minor, but tidy harvesting patterns make a noticeable difference to how much you get done in a session.
Automation and helper workers
You can hire AI workers to operate equipment. Knowing when to hand over and when to drive yourself is most of the skill:
Task |
Automation suitable? |
Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
Ploughing large fields |
Yes |
Straightforward, low risk |
Precise planting |
Sometimes |
Depends on field shape complexity |
Harvesting |
Yes, with monitoring |
Worth checking for equipment issues |
Baling and collection |
Limited |
AI struggles with coordination |
Loading and transport |
No |
Manual control is more efficient |
Modding and customisation
This is where farming simulation really opens up. The modding community has built thousands of additional vehicles, implements, maps and gameplay changes, so you are not limited to what ships with the base game. Want to farm a recreation of your local region? There is probably a map for it. Prefer a specific brand of machinery? Someone has almost certainly recreated the lineup.
Physics mods improving handling and weight distribution
Quality of life changes streamlining repetitive tasks
Extra crops and production chains expanding the economy
Map extensions adding new regions and terrain
Visual enhancements upgrading graphics and weather
Multiplayer farming
Running a farm solo is satisfying, but multiplayer changes the dynamic entirely. You can specialise within a group, with one player on crop production, another on animal husbandry and a third running forestry. That division of labour mirrors real agricultural cooperatives and makes for a genuinely social way to play.
It also puts more load on your controls. Coordinating with other players while operating machinery means you want functions reachable without breaking off to find a key binding.
Platforms and performance
The farming simulator community spans PC, PlayStation and Xbox. PC players get the most robust modding support, the widest hardware choice and the most graphics options. Console players trade some customisation for couch comfort and a simpler setup. Both are legitimate depending on your priorities, but if you are buying dedicated controls it is worth knowing that most of the purpose built hardware is designed for PC first.
Whatever you play on, you want smooth performance. Large maps with multiple AI workers and detailed vehicles can push a system. Reduce shadow quality and view distance before you touch texture quality, close background applications, and clean out old saves and unused mods now and then to keep things stable.
Common setup mistakes we see
The first is placing controls too far away. If a side panel, keyboard or mouse needs a long reach, you will feel it during a long session.
The second is choosing style over comfort. A setup can look impressive and still feel poor if the seat, monitor and controls do not line up.
The third is ignoring desk depth. Farming often needs keyboard, mouse, controller and extra controls available at once, and a cramped desk makes that harder than it should be.
The fourth is buying too much too soon. Build in stages: comfort and visibility first, then control access, then mounting and a dedicated space.
What we would upgrade first
If you are building gradually, start with the parts that improve every session. Get comfortable first, because a supportive chair and a sensible desk height make long sessions easier. Then improve your display, since a larger, clearer screen helps with menus, field work, reversing and machinery control.
After that, improve control access. This is the point where dedicated hardware earns its place, and where a wheel system or a joystick unit from our farming simulator controls range changes how the game feels rather than just how it looks. Mounting and cable management come last.
Final thoughts from Gamer Gear Direct
A farming simulator is at its best when the game feels smooth, comfortable and easy to control. You do not need to overcomplicate the setup, but the right upgrades make a real difference.
From our testing, the best improvements usually come from a clearer display, better seating comfort, smarter control access and a layout that lets you play longer without strain.
If you are putting a setup together, our team can help you choose hardware that suits your space and budget. Call us on (03) 9961 0240 Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, browse the farming simulator controls range, or book a showroom appointment at our Dandenong South location to try the gear in person before you buy.
