Upcoming Persona and Xenoblade inspired RPG ‘Runa’ gets crowdfunded after 18 hours

Sci-Fi Fantasy game Runa has shattered expectations, meeting both its initial goal and its first stretch goal just 24 hours after being launched on Kickstarter.

Runa was created by Fennec Studios using classic JRPG games as inspiration. It is set in the world of Akasha, which has elements of both Sci-Fi and fantasy and has a somewhat nostalgic turn-based combat system.

Its environments are varied and include ancient ruins, wide-open fields, and brightly colored cities. Runa has a day and night cycle and a weather system, allowing players to experience the environment in all manner of different conditions. I'm a big fan of the city environments as they are a nice mix of retro and futuristic.

I found the base mechanics to be particularly exciting. As you recruit more characters and complete quests, you're able to add new buildings and rooms to the base. Some of these areas, like the Farm, come with their own mini-games. This makes building a base a nice mix of both fun and functional.

However, it also appears to be a good place to speak with the NPCs you've recruited! This segment of the trailer appears to have been taken from the area beneath the base, judging by the hanging sign and lanterns.

In addition to the base mechanics, we also get a glimpse of what romanceable relationships could look like in Runa. There are over 15 romanceable NPCs, including the sunset-watching Alya. New dialogue and scenes are unlocked between the player and any NPC as the relationship progresses. Most importantly, any of the romanceable characters can be dated regardless of the gender of your character!

Related: Honkai Star Rail Tides of War Guide

How you can support Runa

If you want to support Runa and its developers, one of the easiest ways is by following them on social media. They post updates on both their Kickstarter and the game itself on the official Runa X (formerly known as Twitter) account. Runa can also be supported financially through donations to their Kickstarter. They have already reached their funding goals, but still have backer rewards available for anyone wanting to donate. Additionally, they have two new stretch goals that additional funding will be used for.

Runa Kickstarter backer perks

Currently, Runa has eight different rewards still available for backers. All of the rewards will include early access to the game later on, so you'll be among the first to try it out! Six of these eight rewards are limited in quantity, so I recommend checking them out quickly before they're gone forever.

The Kickstarter provides a glimpse at what some of these in-game rewards will look like. If your reward includes a grave, a statue, or a mausoleum, they'll look like the images below.

Additionally, the special backer pet is a blue Fennec that can transform into a larger mount for you to ride.

Runa Kickstarter stretch goals

Currently, there are two stretch goals Runa's Kickstarter will be funding. Runa's developers have stated that regardless of whether stretch goals are being completed or not, they will complete the game "according to its complete vision". This means that important systems won't be removed if goals aren't met, and likewise stretch goals won't be added for features that won't improve players' gameplay experience.

Related: How to level up the Relic substats you want in Honkai Star Rail – HSR Upgrade guide

Fishing stretch goal

The first of these is their fishing mini-game, with the stretch goal being about $63,927 in US dollars. Even if the stretch goal is not met, the mini-game is intended to be in the final version of the game. However, meeting the goal will allow the development team to improve upon the fishing mini-game and have it ready in time for the Early Access version of Runa. This stretch goal has already been met as of 12:17 pm CST on April 17th, 2024.

Character stretch goal

The next stretch goal, which will be achieved at a total donation of $101, 217.75, will unlock two new romanceable characters. The first of these characters is a lance-using Void Adept named Angelo. The second is a masked Aether Adept named Meithen, who looks to be an assassin-type character.

The Runa devs have hinted at further stretch goals if these two are completed. These future stretch goals would potentially include more mini-games, romanceable characters, and even a physical copy of the game just for backers!

Looking for more JRPGs while you wait for Runa? Check out our All Unicorn Overlord achievements and trophies here on Pro Game Guides.