Farming Simulator Goes Retro: 16-Bit Edition Is Real, And It’s Glorious

Well, this is something I didn’t have on my 2025 bingo card: Farming Simulator is officially going retro. And not just retro in vibes—I’m talking full-blown, 16-bit, actual cartridge you can blow the dust off levels of retro. GIANTS Software has teamed up with Strictly Limited to drop Farming Simulator: 16-Bit Edition for Mega Drive/Genesis-compatible consoles. Yes, real hardware. Yes, it’s actually happening.

This glorious left-field release spun out of the Farming Simulator 25 Collector’s Edition that launched last November. That version came bundled with a faux-retro cartridge and, apparently, fans lost their collective minds over it (in a good way). The response was so overwhelmingly positive, GIANTS decided to go all-in and give the retro treatment its own standalone spotlight—with help from the physical game release wizards at Strictly Limited.

Green Shell Glory: Limited & Deluxe Editions

The Farming Simulator: 16-Bit Edition is dropping in two flavours: a Limited Edition arriving May 14, and a Deluxe Edition landing in July. Both are Strictly Limited Store exclusives and come housed in sleek green cartridges—of which only 1,000 will ever exist. That’s right: one thousand total worldwide. For collectors, this is a blink-and-you-miss-it kind of drop.

• Limited Edition – €49.99
• Deluxe Edition – €69.99 (with bonus collectibles for those who want that extra flair)

If you’re into the idea of pixelated crops and tractor vibes with a soundtrack straight out of the 16-bit era, this one’s for you.

Retail Version Incoming (In Black)

Not near your PC 24/7 to snipe the green cart? Strictly Limited’s also cooking up a retail version with a slick black cartridge, heading to stores like Amazon and VideoGamesPlus. The gameplay’s the same across the board—it’s the cart color and box art that’ll separate the serious collectors from the casual fans. You know who you are.

Retro Meets Rural: A Love Letter to Sim & 16-Bit Fans

This isn’t just a novelty release—it’s a loving reimagining of the Farming Simulator formula filtered through a chunky, CRT-era lens. Built for Mega Drive/Genesis-compatible hardware, this version is the kind of “what if?” experiment most franchises wouldn’t dare attempt—but GIANTS Software and Strictly Limited aren’t most companies.

Between the pixel-perfect presentation, ultra-limited print run, and genuine playability on original consoles, Farming Simulator: 16-Bit Edition is shaping up to be one of the most charming curveballs of the year. Whether you’re a farming sim lifer, a retro game hoarder, or just someone who appreciates a good old-school surprise, this is a collectible worth keeping an eye on.