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Rune Factory 5

Rune Factory 5 Game Cover
78%Game Brain Score
story, graphics
grinding, optimization
77% User Score Based on 1,173 reviews
Critic Score 82%Based on 2 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchPCWindows
Buy Nowfrom $9.68
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Rune Factory 5 Game Cover

About

Rune Factory 5 is a single player role playing game with fantasy and anime themes. It was developed by Marvelous Inc. and was released on July 13, 2022. It received positive reviews from critics and mostly positive reviews from players.

Set off on a grand adventure in a fantasy world with the latest entry in the Rune Factory simulation RPG series. After losing their memory, the hero lands in a small town blessed by nature. There, they are recruited into a band of peacekeeping rangers, and their new life begins. In addition to their normal duties, the hero can farm the land, cast a line into the nearby river, and so much more! Tea…

Genres & Tags
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Rune Factory 5 screenshot
Rune Factory 5 screenshot
Rune Factory 5 screenshot
Rune Factory 5 screenshot
Rune Factory 5 screenshot
Rune Factory 5 screenshot
Rune Factory 5 screenshot
Rune Factory 5 screenshot
Rune Factory 5 screenshot
Rune Factory 5 screenshot
Rune Factory 5 screenshot
+6
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77%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,173 reviews
story89 positive mentions
grinding473 negative mentions
  • The game offers a charming blend of farming, crafting, and RPG elements, making it enjoyable for fans of the genre.
  • The graphics and character designs are vibrant and appealing, providing a visually pleasing experience.
  • The addition of same-sex marriage options is a welcome improvement, adding inclusivity to the game.
  • The controls and UI are clunky and unintuitive, making gameplay frustrating at times.
  • The story feels rushed and lacks depth compared to previous entries in the series, leading to a less engaging experience.
  • The game suffers from performance issues, including lag and stuttering, especially on the Switch version.
  • story
    529 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story in Rune Factory 5 has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it lacking compared to previous entries in the series, particularly Rune Factory 4. While some appreciate the light-hearted and gentle narrative, others criticize it for being predictable, poorly paced, and filled with cliches, leading to a sense of disappointment. Overall, the story is seen as serviceable but not particularly engaging, with many players feeling it fails to capture the charm and depth of earlier titles.

    • “The game thoughtfully integrates character arcs into the main storyline, making your interactions feel meaningful and impactful.”
    • “The story unfolds in the peaceful town of Rigbarth, where you play as a new member of a peacekeeping organization tasked with protecting the community from threats.”
    • “The characters, visuals, story, and gameplay are all done so well.”
    • “The story is a snooze fest and the bachelors/ettes are not very well written.”
    • “The story itself is bland so far and not engaging.”
    • “The pacing is so slow that I tend to forget many important plot points.”
  • grinding
    475 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The grinding aspect of "Rune Factory 5" has received mixed feedback from players. While some appreciate the depth and variety in farming, crafting, and leveling systems, many find the mechanics tedious and cumbersome, particularly with clunky controls and repetitive tasks. The game offers a blend of farming and RPG elements, but the grind can feel excessive, especially in the endgame, leading to frustration for those seeking a more streamlined experience.

    • “A lot like Stardew Valley or Harvest Moon, but with a lot more quality of life features and more to do when not farming.”
    • “The game feels so tedious and frustrating, there is no quality of life improvements and it takes forever; it just feels like a chore to play.”
    • “Farming in this game feels annoying, overly complicated, and takes ages.”
    • “The farming mechanics are hard to control, placing furniture is awkward, the map is big but super empty, and the graphics are reminiscent of 2009 Hatsune Miku videos.”
  • graphics
    241 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of Rune Factory 5 have received mixed reviews, with many players criticizing them as outdated and reminiscent of earlier console generations, such as the PS2 or GameCube. While some appreciate the vibrant colors and charming anime-inspired art style, others find the textures rough and the environments lacking detail, leading to a perception of a visually barren world. Overall, while the game shows some improvement over its predecessors, it struggles to meet modern graphical standards, leaving many players disappointed.

    • “The graphics are colorful and beautifully rendered, adding to the overall immersive experience.”
    • “Visually, Rune Factory 5 embraces a charming, anime-inspired art style with vibrant colors and detailed environments.”
    • “While the graphics may not push technical boundaries compared to AAA titles, they serve the game’s whimsical, cozy atmosphere perfectly.”
    • “The graphics on default and even max settings had major issues.”
    • “The biggest knock against the visuals are generally rough looking textures.”
    • “Graphics are PS2 tier, and this is no joke; it's like this was a game developed for the 3DS and not PC or the Nintendo Switch.”
  • gameplay
    233 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "Rune Factory 5" offers a mix of farming, crafting, and combat mechanics that are both engaging and accessible, particularly for newcomers to the series. While many players appreciate the depth and variety of activities available, including the crafting system and dual gameplay loop, there are notable criticisms regarding clunky controls, outdated mechanics, and a lack of polish that can detract from the overall experience. Despite these issues, the game retains its charm through its characters and story, making it enjoyable for fans of the franchise, though it may not meet the expectations set by its predecessors.

    • “At the heart of Rune Factory 5 is its balanced dual gameplay loop: managing and growing your farm while delving into dungeons to battle monsters and uncover secrets.”
    • “The farming mechanics remain accessible without sacrificing depth; you must pay attention to seasons, weather, and soil quality, as well as tending livestock and creating goods.”
    • “The gameplay is enjoyable, although I miss the caves with the seasons.”
    • “The janky furniture placement, the obnoxious pick-up mechanics, the fact it's very easy to destroy crops by mistake with a tool/weapon, the capture and training mechanics, and missing quality of life features you have to mod in make it a generally un-fun time.”
    • “Every single aspect of this game feels like it was handcrafted to make gameplay as slow, sloppy, and bland as possible.”
    • “The game is filled with mechanics that either aren't explained to you, or aren't explained in an understandable way.”
  • optimization
    116 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The optimization of the game has received significant criticism, particularly for its Nintendo Switch version, which is described as "horrifically unoptimized" with frequent frame rate drops and stuttering, making it nearly unplayable. While the PC version shows marked improvements in performance, running smoothly for many players, it still suffers from occasional issues and could benefit from further optimization. Overall, the transition from Switch to PC has been a positive one, but the game's initial performance problems have left a lasting negative impression on many users.

    • “Not only does Rune Factory 5 boast impressive performance on PC, but it's also a joy to play.”
    • “The improvements over the Switch version (graphics and performance) make this version so much more enjoyable.”
    • “I ran this version at 4K 144 FPS with no performance issues to speak of, and I cannot emphasize just how much of a changed experience it is.”
    • “Even on PC, the game is still unoptimized and has some lags and jitters occasionally.”
    • “The performance was atrocious on Switch, and I double dipped on PC to give this another try - but RF5, despite some charm, is nowhere near as good as previous games in the series.”
    • “The original Nintendo Switch version has performance issues.”
  • music
    63 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is generally well-received, with many praising its ability to enhance the atmosphere and emotional depth of gameplay, featuring beautiful melodies that shift with the game's mood. However, some players noted issues with repetitiveness, particularly in town music, and occasional sound glitches that disrupt the experience. Overall, while the soundtrack is enjoyable and complements the game well, it could benefit from a larger variety of tracks to prevent monotony during extended play sessions.

    • “The soundtrack complements the game’s mood beautifully, featuring melodic tunes that shift seamlessly from peaceful town life to intense dungeon encounters.”
    • “Music plays a subtle but important role in setting the tone for exploration and emotional moments, adding depth to the experience.”
    • “A cast of colorful characters, a surprisingly engaging story for a farming game, and some absolutely wonderful music that I can see myself listening to while I do all sorts of random day-to-day activities.”
    • “The repetitive sounds/music/sheer amount of clicking around drives you nuts.”
    • “You will hear the dang town music on repeat and loop forever, and it will drive you insane.”
    • “Soundtrack feels like an afterthought.”
  • emotional
    21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of Rune Factory 5 is characterized by its heartwarming themes, diverse and well-written characters, and engaging music that enhances the overall experience. While some players feel the emotional weight of the story doesn't quite match previous entries like Rune Factory 4, many appreciate the game's wholesome nature and the joy it brings through character interactions and memorable moments. Overall, it offers a blend of fun, nostalgia, and emotional connection, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of the series.

    • “Maybe even the best in the series, it’s definitely up there with Rune Factory 3 for me. There are some fun and memorable themes, the best emotional themes (seriously, 'Calming the Storm' is so good and elevates romance events for me), and tasteful remixes.”
    • “The cast of townsfolk is diverse and well-written, featuring personalities ranging from quirky and comedic to deeply emotional.”
    • “Music plays a subtle but important role in setting the tone for exploration and emotional moments, adding depth to the experience.”
  • character development
    19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in Rune Factory 5 is highlighted as a central aspect of the game, with many praising the originality and depth of individual characters, particularly in their designs and romantic potential. While the character designs are generally well-received, some players feel that the overall character development and story may not be as strong compared to previous entries in the franchise. Overall, the vibrant character designs and quirky personalities contribute positively to the game's appeal, despite some critiques regarding depth and consistency.

    • “Narrative and character development remain central to the Rune Factory experience, and Rune Factory 5 excels in this area.”
    • “What I love about it is the originality of the concept; it covers each other's weaknesses, such as the mundane repetitive farming life, by the mystery and action of the story and the individual character developments of each person in the said story.”
    • “If you're thirsting for an all-star voice acting cast with a cliché, but heartfelt story, and some of the best character design seen in a modern JRPG, look no further.”
    • “The story is kind of weak compared to others in the franchise and there isn’t a ton of character development, at least that I’ve seen so far.”
    • “Imo most of the character designs are rather bland, but that's just my own take.”
    • “Monster and character designs are completely lost on this game.”
  • humor
    18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in Rune Factory 4 is characterized by a mix of intentional and unintentional comedic elements, with NPCs providing amusing dialogue and quirky character interactions that enhance the game's charm. While some players appreciate the funny lines and unique character quirks, others find certain aspects, like the dialogue and animations, to be unintentionally humorous. Overall, the game successfully incorporates humor through its characters and situations, making it a more enjoyable experience despite some criticisms.

    • “There’s still a good amount of funny lines; in fact, I think the game is funnier than I thought before.”
    • “The parts that really matter, like the funny dialogue and goofy character events, are still there and what you'd expect, and the dungeon crawling is still pretty fun.”
    • “The villagers are very charming, funny, and unique, each one with many different lines of conversation to say each day as time progresses.”
    • “This type of BS is not funny.”
  • stability
    15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The stability of the game varies significantly across platforms. While it runs smoothly on PC with minimal glitches, users report frequent freezes and stutters on the Nintendo Switch, making it difficult to play. Overall, the game is considered buggy, particularly in its 1.0 release, with many recommending caution before purchasing until stability issues are addressed.

    • “The game runs great on PC.”
    • “The game runs great on PC with no stutter or FPS drop like on the Nintendo Switch version.”
    • “The game is filled with glitches and crashes; I had to redo the same day's activities over and over.”
    • “As others have warned, the 1.0 release freezes randomly and constantly, meaning you have to save every five minutes or so just to avoid doing the same things over and over again.”
    • “There were a lot of us who wanted to love the game, but due to hardware limitations of the Switch, the experience was extremely sub-par, with slowdowns and outright freezes mid-combat and during events, often resulting in single-digit framerate.”
  • atmosphere
    7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is consistently praised for its comforting and uplifting qualities, making it easy for players to lose track of time. While the graphics may not be cutting-edge, they effectively complement the whimsical and cozy environment, enhanced by relaxing music and engaging character interactions. Overall, it is described as a charming and soulful farming sim RPG that fosters a sense of community and warmth.

    • “It’s the kind of game that’s easy to sink hours into without noticing, offering a comforting and uplifting atmosphere that makes coming back to it feel good every time.”
    • “While the graphics may not push technical boundaries compared to AAA titles, they serve the game’s whimsical, cozy atmosphere perfectly.”
    • “The most charming, atmospheric, comfy, soulful farming sim RPG on Steam.”
    • “If you care about romancing characters, a cozy atmosphere, and easy combat, get Rune Factory 5.”
    • “Music also helped with that kind of relaxing atmosphere.”
  • replayability
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's replayability is mixed; while players can explore different character routes and marriage options, many feel it lacks depth and endgame content. Despite its shortcomings, some find the gameplay loops and charm provide enough incentive for multiple playthroughs. Overall, it offers a degree of replay value, particularly for fans of the genre.

    • “While janky in a lot of areas and its shortcomings are apparent, the amount of replay value, charm, and satisfying gameplay loops make it one of the most endearing games I've played this year.”
    • “Although I love the Rune Factory series and enjoyed this game, I simply can't recommend it due to the lack of replayability and endgame.”
    • “There's replayability in marrying the other candidates, though I wish some NPCs could be married.”
    • “It's even mildly replayable if you want to run the other gender or date someone new.”
  • monetization
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization strategy has received mixed reviews, with some players expressing frustration over DLC content that was advertised but then locked behind paywalls. Additionally, while microtransactions for cosmetic skins exist, they are not prominently featured, which some users appreciate.

    • “DLC is fine, but when your game advertisement includes it, and then that shown content is locked behind DLC, well, I don't support that.”
    • “The one downside would be microtransactions for cute skins, but they keep the skin shop out of mind, out of sight, to be honest.”
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82%Critics’ scoreBased on 2 critic reviews
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31h Median play time
41h Average play time
9-50h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 15 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Rune Factory 5 is a role playing game with fantasy and anime themes.

Rune Factory 5 is available on Nintendo Switch, PC and Windows.

On average players spend around 41 hours playing Rune Factory 5.

Rune Factory 5 was released on July 13, 2022.

Rune Factory 5 was developed by Marvelous Inc..

Rune Factory 5 has received positive reviews from players and positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its grinding.

Rune Factory 5 is a single player game.

Similar games include Rune Factory 4 Special, Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma, Harvestella, Sun Haven, STORY OF SEASONS: Pioneers of Olive Town and others.