Rune Factory has come a long way since its humble beginnings as a Harvest Moon (today known as Story of Seasons) spin-off in 2007. Originally introduced as a “Fantasy Farming Sim,” the series has blossomed into a franchise rich with its own identity, complete with spin-offs of its own.
Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma takes place in Azuma, the mysterious "Eastern" land long referenced by beloved characters like Mei, Yue, Uzuki, Sakuya, and Xiao Pai in the mainline games. Launching on May 30th, 2025, the game will be available on Steam and Nintendo Switch.
In this article, we’ll delve into the exciting new features of Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma. We will provide everything you need to decide if this Japanese-inspired life sim deserves a place in your gaming library.
Japanese-Inspired Life Sim
"Expansive" and "a lot of story" were two terms I was happy to hear during the feature Livestream. After much backlash from Rune Factory 5's backlash for poor performance and "rushed" story, hearing about the attention to detail put into crafting this Japanese-inspired world felt reassuring.
The Livestream teases at new Japanese-inspired festivals, monsters, and aesthetics that not only will add a fresh new perspective to the series but may also potentially answer what makes Azuma so different from the Kingdom of Norad. But don’t worry — classic Rune Factory staples will still be there! Hidden Norad easter eggs will be scattered throughout the lands of Azuma, similar to how you can find pieces of Azuma in Norad!
16 Romance Candidates
Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma offers the largest romanceable cast to date with a whopping 16 options and yes, same-sex marriage is confirmed! The featured voice actors praised each romance candidate's uniqueness and fleshed-out, deep, relationships with the protagonists. This has always been my favorite part of Rune Factory romances and I am ecstatic that the team has raised the romance bar even further.
During the voice actors’ spoiler-free descriptions, it was clear there was more focus on the emotional depth of relationships. Each character has their fears and place in the world, and as Subaru and Kaguya get to know them, the themes of their potential romances seem to explore these personal struggles in meaningful ways.
Guardians of Azuma also introduces new dating sim aspects like embracing, holding hands, and teasing your partner! Not only that, it seems like each interaction has its own "level", letting you to easily track moments you have and haven't seen yet. Yet again, this adds another layer to how you play your game, allowing you to shape your romance in ways that resonate with how you portray your protagonist's romance.
Village Building and Farm Maintenance
Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma aspires to be the most customizable version yet! Not only do you get to design entire villages, but the lines between "my land" and "the village land", have been blurred. A huge emphasis has been placed on making farming more fun and fluid so you can spend more time creating the village of your dreams or exploring the vast lands of Azuma. Villagers even help manage the farmland, reinforcing the timeless theme of town unity in the Rune Factory series!
New Weapons, Earth Dancing, and a Smoother Battle Experience
Rather than playing the usual role of an Earthmate, Guardians of Azuma capitalizes on diving deeper into its Japanese-inspired culture through the protagonists' new roles as Earth Dancers. In addition to traditional tools like hoes, Earth Dancers wield Sacred Treasures such as the Sacred Drum, Sacred Sword, and Sacred Parasol. These treasures not only help manage the farm but also allow for dynamic shifts in elemental strategy during battles.
Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma also debuts two new weapons to the series: Bows and Talismans. The Bows, which has caught fans' attention the most, finally adds a smooth, ranged weapon that allows you to target enemy weak spots. Talismans, on the other hand, are designed to hone in on enemies from afar and are especially useful when going up against fast monsters.
Characters and monsters come with a pre-set strategy that may not suit every situation. In Guardians of Azuma, you can invite up to six characters or monsters on an adventure and seamlessly swap between them as you explore or battle across Azuma.
The battles themselves seem more dynamic, flashy, and fast-paced with the new stun bar mechanic introducing a new tactical edge that can turn the tides of combat. I can't wait to assemble my dream team of characters and save Azuma with these exciting new additions!
Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma Special Edition
To celebrate Azuma's momentous release, Marvelous is offering a Special Edition as a limited-time preorder bonus. This edition includes a charming Woolby Plushy keychain, the Original Soundtrack, a Sacred Fan with a Display Stand, a 140+ page art book, the game itself, and four exciting DLC packs: Festive Attire & Dark Woolby Bundle, the Seasons of Love Bundle (a romance scenario DLC), the Rune Factory 4 Outfit Bundle, and the Useful Item Bundle. For pricing and availability, check out Marvelous USA, Marvelous Europe, Amazon, or your local game store!
Sakuna Collaboration DLC
The Sakuna Collaboration DLC is a free DLC that brings Sakuna, the protagonist from Sakuna: Of Rice and Rain to Azuma.
For more guides on games like Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma, check out Rune Factory 5 Romance Guide on Pro Game Guides.
Published: Jan 22, 2025 09:14 am