Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma Reviews

Rune Factory is a series that manages to put out games rather quickly, with very different feels each and every time. While I am aware that two of the three games I covered on the Nintendo Switch, Rune Factory 3 and Rune Factory 4, are remakes of earlier games, they were still flying out. The last new game, Rune Factory 5, while quite good, did run into some performance issues on the original Switch. I’m sure that is a surprise to no one, especially if you know the scale of that game. This ...

Even with no prior experience of the Rune Factory series, Guardians of Azuma is a relaxing blend of genres that works in part due to the wholesome nature of its cast and setting. It’s chicken soup on a rainy day - uncomplicated, but unmistakably enjoyable.

Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma revitalizes the beloved series with a fresh Japanese-inspired setting and innovative village management. This blend of engaging combat, deep relationships, and beautiful visuals offers a highly satisfying experience for both fans and new players.

Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma is a game that well combines several systems, such as farming, RPG, combat, open world, and romance. The story and characters are engaging because they resemble action anime. But it needs much more to compete with many games in its category.

Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma is perhaps one of the most different and unique games in the entire series, for better or worse. The game plays like a dream on Nintendo Switch 2 for the most part, offering a 60FPS frame rate and clever use of the Joy-Con 2's mouse capabilities.

Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma confidently advances the life sim genre while still keeping one foot comfortably in the past. With streamlined farming and town management mechanics, deeper yet-still-accessible combat, and the usual great writing and character work, Guardians delivers a consistent good time for new and old players alike. This beautifully animated game is a great way to break in that Switch 2.

Typically, the big reason the Rune Factory series always appealed to me a bit more than its sister franchise Harvest Moon, was because of the more fantasy-focused setting. While Harvest Moon always presented a pretty chill and down-to-earth Japanese farm fantasy, the Rune Factory series always leaned a bit more Western and high-fantasy in its style. I’ve come to associate that setting with the series, which made the initial reveal of Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma and its traditional Japanese twist on the setting make me feel a bit conflicted. Despite a vibe shift and new setting, though, this game is an incredible new take on the Rune Factory series that shines just as bright as my favourite entries.

Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma does a little bit of everything, and thanks to some very complementary core gameplay components, the whole is remarkably cohesive and a good deal of fun. There are plenty of aspects requiring a bit more polish, though, so don’t go into it expecting a masterpiece.

Once it finds its footing, Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma is an engaging romp through a charming and dynamic world.

Explore the traditional Japanese world of Azuma while you bring back villages to life in the latest and greatest Rune Factory installment.

When Fantasy Farming meets Elemental Chaos.

Welcome to the eastern nation of Azuma! In this fresh take on Rune Factory, use your powers as an Earth Dancer to restore the land, its people, and even its gods. Along the way, battle corrupted monsters, rebuild seasonal farms and villages, and form bonds with the colorful locals. Switch version reviewed. Review copy provided by company for testing purposes.

Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma is a really cool spin-off for the Rune Factory series, and it's an overall good game that'll tide you over until the inevitable sixth numbered entry.

The journey through Azuma is a journey packed with a mish-mash of boring dungeons and weak RPG progression tools, supported by a fun cast of characters and decent story.

I am sure I have not mentioned everything this huge game offers. But Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma is a great game that I wholeheartedly recommend. It’s got the many-games-in-one content extravaganza that previous Rune Factory games have had. But unlike Rune Factory 5, this time it really works together and meshes into an addictive and immersive experience. I’m no series expert, but I played dozens of hours of this. And I feel like I barely started. If you’re looking for an action RPG where you can play music, fight monsters, grow turnips, and get married, Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma is the game for you.

Despite character events being the best they've ever been, Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma fails to offer much depth after its opening hours.

After Rune Factory 5, which was a bit of a rough transition for the series as it made the jump to 3D, I was a little unsure if they would be able to stick the landing on the second attempt. I am happy to report that Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma might be my favorite entry in this long-standing series yet, bringing a fresh new aesthetic, gameplay innovations, and a far better-performing game on PC.

While there are good ideas at play, Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma doesn't do enough to impress

Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma is perfect for anyone looking to enjoy a heartfelt adventure with meaningful relationships and creative opportunities.

Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma is a farming game with very little farming, but the combat and exploration more than make up for it.

The latest addition to the Rune Factory franchise has arrived with Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma. For those unfamiliar with this series, it began as a spin-off to the classic Harvest Moon farming games, and since then, Rune Factory has stood on its own over the years. In the most recent release, it’s dungeon-crawling meets city-building. Players will be juggling numerous tasks while attempting to save the world of Azuma and revive its weakened gods. When you’re not battling corrupted beasts and monsters, you’ll be hard at work rebuilding villages through farming and renovation. The big question is whether these various mechanics can recapture longtime fans' love for the series and draw in a new audience.

Although the separate gameplay elements have notable flaws, Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma deftly weaves them together into an addictively fun loop. This game is so, so close to being a spectacular RPG. It's a truly impressive example of "the whole is greater than its parts." For me, it's a brilliant weekend RPG—a laid-back game that will keep you playing "just one more day" for hours. If Zelda plus Stardew Valley sounds fun, I recommend Guardians of Azuma. If that combo doesn't excite you, give it a pass.

Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma manages to reinvent itself while still maintaining the bones that make the Rune Factory series feel like itself. It takes bold new strides in unexpected directions that thankfully pay off. Guardians of Azuma is a must-play for Rune Factory fans and would be well-enjoyed by newcomers to the series as well.

Normal town revitalisation games make you focus on the well-being of one town. Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma takes that idea and runs with it, putting you in charge of four villages that need help. The land has been ravaged by corruption, ruining the environment and creating dangerous beasts. It’s up to you as the Earth Dancer to become the chief of all four villages and restore prosperity for all.