ACRES is a small strategy simulation game about growing crops for evolving market demands. Build a farm, one acre at a time, to create a prosperous enterprise. Upgrade equipment, optimize harvests, and nurture the soil against increasing time pressure. How long can you keep the farm operating?
Players begin by tilling the soil to transform overgrown land into fertile ground, the first step in the crop cultivation process. They then employ precision planters to sow a diverse range of seeds, each with unique growth requirements. Weeds must be neutralized using cultivators to ensure the crops take center stage. Maintaining soil health is crucial, as neglecting factors like water levels, pH balance, and nutrient content can lead to decreasing harvests over time. Players use soil amendment tools to sustain the soil's vitality, adjusting these elements to suit each crop's needs and ensure a continuous cycle of fruitful harvests.
As crops mature, players can utilize state-of-the-art harvesters to gather the yields at their peak. The harvested crops are then automatically sold to fulfill market orders that queue up, requesting specific crops and quantities. Fulfilling these orders before the deadline earns a profit, but allowing them to expire can hurt the operation's reputation. This dynamic market system encourages players to diversify their crop selection, as certain crops may suddenly become more valuable, requiring a shift in planting strategies. Careful planning and execution are essential to meeting the evolving market demands.
Players can upgrade their basic hand tools to automated tractor-mounted implements, which allow for faster processing times and free up time for other management tasks. These advanced tools come with increased operating costs, requiring players to weigh the benefits of upgrades against their financial impact. Automation plays a key role, enabling players to streamline repetitive tasks like plowing, seeding, weeding, and harvesting. This allows for greater efficiency and the ability to focus on higher-level strategic planning as the farm expands.
While the core gameplay loop is straightforward, the game's systems interact in complex ways, offering players opportunities for emergent, optimized strategies. Factors like crop rotation, strategic field placement, and carefully timed upgrades can all contribute to a more efficient and profitable operation. This encourages a sense of discovery and mastery as players experiment with different approaches and learn to navigate the game's mechanics to achieve their goals.