Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma
Last updated: 2025-06-05
- Major improvements over Rune Factory 5.
- Emphasis on town building.
- Simplified, automated farming mechanics.
- Good performance and stability.
- Oversimplified core mechanics disappoint fans.
- Lost Rune Factory identity.
- Reviews
(sample size) - 269
- Helpful reviews
- 78%
- Unhelpful reviews
- 19%
- Protest reviews
- 3%
- 74%Helpful reviews with positive sentiment
- 26%Helpful reviews with negative sentiment
- Positive points
- 459
- Negative points
- 338
- Gameplay points
- 138
- Perf. points
- 49
- Rec. points
- 159
- Misc points
- 31
| Point | Description | Importance |
|---|---|---|
| Major improvement over Rune Factory 5 | The game is a significant improvement over Rune Factory 5, with reviewers praising its enhanced graphics, smoother gameplay, better optimization, and overall polish. Many consider it a return to form for the series, addressing criticisms of its predecessor. | 92% |
| Emphasis on town building | The game shifts focus towards town building, story, and character relationships, offering a refreshing change from the series' traditional emphasis on farming. The town-building mechanics are well-executed and provide a satisfying sense of progression as players develop their village and unlock new features. | 60% |
| High-quality voice acting | The game features full or nearly full Japanese voice acting for major events and conversations, with well-done English voice acting also available. Reviewers praise the quality of the voice acting, which enhances character portrayals and adds to the overall immersion. | 27% |
| Beautiful and vibrant graphics | The game features beautiful and vibrant graphics, with reviewers praising the character expressions, environment, and overall visual appeal. The graphics are well-optimized and contribute to the enjoyable atmosphere of the game. | 20% |
| Appealing characters and designs | The game features appealing characters with great designs and engaging personalities, making it difficult to choose a marriage partner. The marriage candidates are well-developed and contribute to the overall enjoyment of the game. | 17% |
| Expanded romance and exploration | The game offers more time for romance and exploration, with a relationship system that adds depth to character interactions. The game features a large number of romanceable characters and allows players to date them all in a single save file. | 9% |
| Expressive 3D character models | The game features expressive 3D character models with detailed facial animations, compensating for the lack of 2D portraits. The character models are well-made and visually appealing, adding to the overall aesthetic of the game. | 9% |
| Fast and fluid gameplay | The game features fast animations and smooth interactions, with no delays after performing an action. The gameplay is fluid and snappy, contributing to an enjoyable and responsive experience. | 9% |
| Simple yet satisfying combat | The combat is simple yet satisfying, with a focus on evasion and well-timed dodges. The generous dodge window and readily available healing items make it beginner-friendly, while still offering a fun and engaging experience for more experienced players. | 7% |
| Engaging story and plot | The game features an engaging story with a solid plot and endearing characters, drawing players into the game's events. The art style and music are also enjoyable and contribute to the overall positive experience. | 7% |
| Improved skill leveling system | The game introduces skill trees as a way of implementing the in-depth skill leveling system of previous entries, making it less esoteric and intimidating. The skill tree provides added goals and enhances the overall progression system. | 6% |