With the game now available in Xbox Game Pass, Farming Simulator 25 introduces more tools and systems than ever before. While that creates more freedom, it also brings a steep learning curve. These tips help simplify early gameplay on all platforms—PlayStation, Xbox, PC, and Mac—whether for Farming Simulator 25 or any past titles in the series.
Farming Simulator 25 will be available on Xbox Game Pass starting today!
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Start with New Farmer Mode and Riverbend Springs
Start with New Farmer mode under the career menu. This gives $100,000 in starting funds, essential equipment, and a pre-built farm. Players can raise the funds to $250,000 for a smoother start. Avoid setting it to $1 million, as that removes all challenge. Select Easy for economic difficulty to earn more per sale.
Use the guided tutorial, available only on Riverbend Springs. This will walk players through crop cycles, harvesting, and using equipment. Avoid starting with mods or other maps like Zalavka or Hutton Pentei until after completing the intro.
Avoid Mods and Stick to the Basics
Although FS25 supports thousands of mods, new players should wait before enabling them. Early mods add clutter and complexity. It’s better to master core mechanics before downloading new tractors or features. Focus on learning how to harvest, sell, and rotate crops first.
Sell What You Don’t Need
Instead of borrowing funds, players can sell unused vehicles and buildings. For example, on Riverbend Springs, sell one of the two tractors—keep the one with more horsepower. Remove small buildings, sheds, and decorations to clear space and gain cash. Selling cows and animal pens frees up even more room and budget. Keep the silo for storing crops until prices rise.
Focus on Basic Crops First
Stick with crop types supported by your initial equipment. These include wheat, barley, canola, soybeans, sorghum, and oats. These provide consistent earnings and don’t require extra machinery. Rotate between them to keep tasks fresh. Harvest and plant as needed without expanding fields too early.
Don’t Rush Expansions
Avoid making large purchases without a clear purpose. While the store offers tempting options—like fast tractors or cosmetic items—buy only what fits the current farm layout. Save up for necessary upgrades, and run test saves if exploring advanced machines. Buying too much too soon leaves little room to recover from mistakes.
Only Buy When Necessary
Use the in-game store carefully. Review each item’s purpose before making a purchase. Once bought, equipment sells back for less, leading to early losses. Avoid features not used on the current farm setup. The store includes filters and stats to help understand what’s needed.
Use Contracts to Earn Extra Income
Access the Contracts tab from the pause menu. These tasks offer quick cash and exposure to different tools. Choose contracts that include equipment rental and avoid unfamiliar or slow missions like logging. After completing the intro, talk to Grandpa Walter on Riverbend Springs to unlock additional jobs.
Turn Off Seasonal Growth
Seasonal mechanics restrict planting and harvesting to certain months. Turn this off from the Game Settings menu to work fields at any time. Leave seasonal visuals on for immersion, but disable strict cycles and crop withering. This simplifies progress and prevents loss from bad timing.
Skip Animals in the Beginning
Managing livestock adds layers of feeding, maintenance, and equipment needs. Players should hold off on animals like pigs, sheep, cows, and chickens until learning crop management. The included beehives require no effort and still generate honey, so they’re safe to keep. Avoid animal pens until ready.
Adjust Game Settings to Simplify Play
From the Game Settings menu, turn off features like crop destruction, weeds, and fieldstone. Disable periodic plowing and lime to reduce upkeep. Set Disaster Destruction to visuals-only or off. These tweaks remove unnecessary roadblocks and allow beginners to learn without losing progress to accidents or weather effects.
Learn Through In-Game Help and Videos
Use the built-in Help menu to review systems like planting, harvesting, and transport. For more detailed explanations, search for tutorial videos that show step-by-step walkthroughs. Many creators focus on FS25 and share specific solutions for common mistakes.
