Fans of slice-of-life games were given good news at E3 2021’s Future Games Show for the heavily anticipated farming RPG Rune Factory 5 for the Nintendo Switch. The game released in Japan in May of 2021, with no news on when it might be available in other parts of the world. With the last new title in the series, Rune Factory 4, almost a decade old, many are excited to see what new mechanics will be included in the fantasy RPG, and how the game has been adapted for the power of the Nintendo Switch.

Rune Factory is a title similar to the Harvest Moon game series, in which players have the ability to farm crops, romance NPCs, and explore a small town. However, Rune Factory deviates from the typical slice-of-life titles by integrating a JRPG fantasy storyline and combat system. In Rune Factory 4, the player selects between a male and female main character who has lost their memories and must unravel their origin story while helping defend and expand the town Selphia. The title originally released for the Nintendo 3DS in 2012, and was later ported to the Nintendo Switch as Rune Factory 4 Special.

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Like with many farming simulation titles developed and produced by Marvelous and XSEED games, Rune Factory 5 has had a delayed release in North America. This can be frustrating for fans of the series who must avoid spoilers from streamers and players who have been able to access the game in Japan or play the Japanese version of the game. Luckily, at E3, XSeed provided an update which included the reveal that Rune Factory 5 will release worldwide in 2022 (via Games Radar). While having the chance to get a sneak peek at Rune Factory 5 gameplay might help those on the fence decide if the game is worth buying, many would likely prefer to have Rune Factory 5’s mechanics and story remain a surprise for the worldwide release.

Currently, Rune Factory 5 has been confirmed for release in North America during 2022, but the announcement during the E3 2021 Future Games Show did not include a firm month and date. Despite this, players can still visit the Nintendo store to read up on Rune Factory 5, which will include familiar mechanics from the previous titles. Unfortunately, it doesn’t appear the game will allow character customization, a popular option seen in recent Story of Seasons games, leaving players stuck choosing between a preset male or female protagonist instead.

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To help tide fans over while they wait for Rune Factory 5, there was also an announcement during the E3 2021 Future Games Show for the confirmed release of Rune Factory 4 Special on the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 this coming fall. This is exciting news for fans who have wanted to see the detailed world and combat system on bigger consoles in the past. While not sporting the graphics of the upcoming game, playing the previous title in the series may be the perfect way to build up hype while waiting for Rune Factory 5 to release next year.

Source: Games Radar/Youtube

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Laura Gray
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Laura Gray is a writer, illustrator and gamer in cozy Boise Idaho. They have had a wild freelance career in being a nerd, spending time traveling as a professional cosplayer and becoming a published illustrator while working the night grind as an IT tech. Laura is currently a content writer for D&D campaigns and Screenrant while working on personal writing projects for publication. They are also busy welcoming their first child into their life, which has been the best adventure life has given yet.

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