Rune Factory 5
Rune Factory 5
Game
Game2025
Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma
Developer Marvelous Inc.
Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma is a 2025 role-playing simulation game developed and published by Marvelous. It is a spin-off of the Rune Factory series and released for Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, and Windows on June 5, 2025. The game received generally positive reviews from critics. From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
402 reactions from 4 sources (Steam reviews, Bluesky, Lemmy, Mastodon) · newest Nov 4, 2026 · last updated Nov 5, 2026 · How this works
Audience score
85
LovedLoved
214 positive · 37 negative
95% range 80–89%
| Source | + | − | = |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam reviews | 214 | 37 | 0 |
| Bluesky * | 36 | 6 | 88 |
| Lemmy * | 2 | 0 | 14 |
| Mastodon * | 0 | 0 | 5 |
* shown, not counted in the score (label accuracy below our 85% bar or not yet audited).
Steam's own rating
Very Positive
1,578 of 1,729 reviews positive (all languages, per Valve)
What players are saying
86% recommend · 209 yes, 35 no
Counted from the reviewers’ own thumbs up/down on the 244 English Steam reviews we collected, not by the AI. Valve’s all-language rating: Very Positive (3,290 of 3,722 positive).
Some find the farming simplified and the game lacking depth compared to previous entries. [1][2][3] Many recommend it as a great starting point for newcomers to the series. [4][5][6]
Liked
Representative posts
- [2]
Rune Factory games are my bread and butter. Hands down my favourite farmings sims, in a fantasy setting. However, I have rated this one down, not because I didn’t enjoy it or play it a lot, but I feel like these games should improve on the previous games, and this one scored some own goals by ruining some established mechanics. I wouldn't recommend this game to someone over the previous Rune Factory games. Namely: - …
- [11]
ONE OF THE BEST GAMES I EVER PLAYED. I just 100% it today, like couple of minutes ago and now I am crying because what am I supposed to do with my life now?! I enjoyed every moment of this game. Characters? Perfection! Story? Amazing! Gameplay? Refreshing and enjoyable. And the romance? ADORABLE!! I am a fanfic lover and a heavy shipper and this game melted my heart (Subaru x Fubuki are my OTP now). You don´t have …
- [8]
Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma has completely stolen my heart. From the moment I arrived in Azuma, I felt like I was stepping into a living painting, the villages, the seasonal areas, the UI, even the little animation details all feel so full of love and personality. The visuals are cozy but stylish, and the whole atmosphere makes me want to stay in this world as long as possible. The story grabbed me more than I …
- [10]
This review was made after obtaining all achievements. Rune Factory Guardians, what can i say about this? Compared to the previous game, RF5, its a "half-step up", it does some things alright, and others that really ruined my mood for the game. I'm going to start with the bad points first, since people tend to post the good and people skim that text and move on without getting the full info. Note that these are my …
- [1]
Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma takes a western fantasy-inspired series eastwards in this new spinoff game. And since it’s a spinoff and not a proper numbered entry, that means the game gets to try things of its own. How does it fare? The farming has been simplified, going for the bare minimum. That means there’s no health or levels for soil among others. It’s clear the focus is not on farming on its own, but on …
Summarised from 34 of the 373 public posts collected about this game; every point cites the posts behind it ([n] opens the post) and the split is counted from the posts’ own ratings. Updated Oct 12, 2026. How summaries are made
RottenBot@rottenbot · automated account
86% of the 244 Steam reviewers we collected recommend Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma. The complaint that keeps coming up: simplified farming and lack of depth in mechanics. Deal-breaker or nitpick?
Critics, per Wikipedia
Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma received generally favorable reviews. Critics praised the game's blend of farming simulation and action RPG elements, as well as its engaging story and character development. Nintendo Life awarded the game a 9 out of 10, stating that it "manages to reinvent itself while still maintaining the bones that make the Rune Factory series feel like itself." RPG Fan gave it a 94 out of 100, calling it "the best series entry yet." However, some reviewers noted shortcomings. RPG Site rated the game 6 out of 10, citing "boring dungeons and weak RPG progression tools" despite a "fun cast of characters and decent story." TechRaptor also gave it a 6 out of 10, mentioning…
From the “Reception” section of Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Critic context only — not part of the audience score.
Reactions
60 of 402 · most liked firstWe've seen some confusion about our upcoming #NintendoSwitch2 releases. Our physical editions for Rune Factory, STORY OF SEASONS, and Daemon X Machina in the West will feature the full game on the cartridge. Hope that helps clear things up. 👍
neutral · AI labelView post →Happy Scarlet Saturday! The current vibe is thinking about Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma! This is the second best game I played in 2025, it was an amazing journey with a cast of incredible characters 🥹 I highly recommend it! I hope you have a fantastic day, I send love and positivity your way 💛☺️
positive · AI labelView post →Bel, 30s, new here! #promosky #gamingsky #artsky 🎨 art & illustration 🎲 ttrpgs 🎮 gaming & game dev 💭 game analysis 💎 RPGs/Narrative Games 💎 Trails series (sky arc best) 💎 Vanillaware 💎 PS1/2 Final Fantasy 💎 Fire Emblem 💎 Rune Factory 💎 Disco Elysium 💎 Dragon Age 💎 Chainsaw Man 💎 Dungeon Meshi
neutral · AI labelView post →Happy Yuyuko Tuesday! The current vibe is thinking about Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma! ngl Azuma was such an amazing game 🥹 the game was a ton of fun and featured an incredible cast of characters, it was so immaculate 😭 I hope you have a wonderful day, I send love and positivity your way 💛😊
positive · AI labelView post →Happy Marisa Monday! The current vibe is thinking about Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma! ngl Azuma was such an amazing game 🥹 the world was so much fun to explore, and the vibes were comfy 😊 it was an unforgettable experience! I hope you have a wonderful day, I send love and positivity your way 💛☺️
positive · AI labelView post →Ulalaka from that new Rune Factory game #Drawing #MyArt #RuneFactory
neutral · AI labelView post →What if a farming game wasn't always peaceful? What if your livestock in a farming game were monsters that you had to tame? Japan, August 24, 2006. Rune Factory: A fantasy Harvest Moon was released as a spinoff to the internationally loved Bokumono series. #runefactory #RF20th #artistcollaboration
neutral · AI labelView post →The teaser for the upcoming #RuneFactory game, Rune Factory 6.
neutral · AI labelView post →Every game is some flavor of Animal Crossing/Rune Factory now
neutral · AI labelView post →The first game of the Rune Factory 20th Anniversary Collab has been completed and it's Rune Factory 4! But the collab isn't over! We still have a multitude of characters needing to be done and 5 more games to complete! #runefactory #rf4 Credits in comments
neutral · AI labelView post →This is a game I’m so curious about 👀 Might have to pick this up later for Switch 2! #RuneFactoryGuardiansOfAzuma
neutral · AI labelView post →Guess who started playing Rune Factory Guardians of Azuma again with mods to make the game 10x (not hyperbolic) harder and make it last longer this time? 😅 New and old doodles for the health and the soul. #zweiart #rfgoa
positive · AI labelView post →Starting this game ❤️🥳 #RuneFactoryGuardiansOfAzuma
neutral · AI labelView post →Ecstatic to announce that I voice the male protagonist, Subaru, in the newly released Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma! It’s a beautiful game, and the support conversations with everyone were especially fun to record! Thank you, @marveloususa.bsky.social @cupofteaprod.bsky.social, for having me!
neutral · AI labelView post →Rune Factory games are my bread and butter. Hands down my favourite farmings sims, in a fantasy setting. However, I have rated this one down, not because I didn’t enjoy it or play it a lot, but I feel like these games should improve on the previous games, and this one scored some own goals by ruining some established mechanics. I wouldn't recommend this game to someone over the previous Rune Factory games. Namely: - Characters behind DLC. This game is not the cheapest, and RF games have never…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →New Rune Factory game came out yesterday but hasn't shipped yet for whatever reason Looked it up and apparently the special editions aren't getting shipped for *2 more weeks* ;____;
neutral · AI labelView post →Rune Factory 3 is the 2nd game to be completed in the Anniversary collab. There's little characters left, and I'm so amazed at all the artists in this game series. #runefactory3 #rf3 #runefactory Credits in the comments.
neutral · AI labelView post →So do I like the new #RuneFactoryGuardiansOfAzuma you ask? Well I’ve already put over 10 hours into the game and the hours fucking flew by so that’s a resounding YES. THIS GAME FUCKS ❤️😭
positive · AI labelView post →The 3rd game completed for the Rune Factory 20th Anniversary Collaboration! The most recent game to have come out: Guardians of Azuma! Credits in the comments! #runefactoryguragiansofazuma #runefactory #guardiansofazuma #rfgoa
neutral · AI labelView post →A temporary diversion into Rune Factory world with Raven, a bachelorette in RF3. I've only played RF4 and she is a visiting character in that game... and I was all "but I want to marry YOU! 🥰" And the game was all "nope 😔 you gotta play 3 for that" I sad face. 😟 #runefactory #rf3 #raven #doodle
neutral · AI labelView post →The 5th game completed for the Anniversary is Rune Factory 2! Artist credits will be in the comments below! #runefactory2 #runefactory #rf2 #rf20th
neutral · AI labelView post →Rune Factory 3 is such a wonderful game
positive · AI labelView post →I wanted to love Guardians of Azuma. As a longtime fan of the series, I went in expecting an evolution of the formula—a fresh take that modernized the experience while preserving the systems that made the franchise special. Instead, what I found was a game that feels determined to leave much of its identity behind. The biggest disappointment is how heavily the game has streamlined and simplified many of the core mechanics. Previous entries rewarded players who were willing to invest time into…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Unfortunately I mainly want to yap about my OCs, but horse game has me by the neck currently and I’ve convinced multiple people to play the new Rune Factory game in the past few weeks so HEH. HEHEH.
neutral · AI labelView post →Shoutout to the new Rune Factory I wasn't familiar with your game 🗿
neutral · AI labelView post →Second piece for the Rune Factory collab, Sierra from Rune Factory Oceans! No prizes for guessing why. 😏 (I haven't played this game either 💦) #art #fanart #runefactory #runefactoryoceans #sierra
neutral · AI labelView post →Finally, Stardew Valley delusionists don't have a leg to stand on. This is the pinnacle of Farming Life Sim, at long last on PC. Get lost women, no one can stop me from farming now! I mean, what are the odds I won't find love here either? It's like if Harvest Moon, Zelda and Pokemon was just one game. My wife's boyfriend says it's like Harvest Moon with blackjack and hookers. I have always loved the Waifus and watermelons series and I'll continue supporting these games as long as they keep…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma takes a western fantasy-inspired series eastwards in this new spinoff game. And since it’s a spinoff and not a proper numbered entry, that means the game gets to try things of its own. How does it fare? The farming has been simplified, going for the bare minimum. That means there’s no health or levels for soil among others. It’s clear the focus is not on farming on its own, but on the new village building mechanics. You can build houses and other establishments…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →WHAT UP GAMERS it is STREAM TIME!! New Rune Factory game is out and I'm going in mostly blind, let's gooooo!! youtube.com/live/eWHnwz5...
neutral · AI labelView post →If you are hoping for any amount of in-depth Rune Factory like gameplay, skip this game. It was the definition of "meh". The characters are interesting and, music, and visuals are pretty solid. However... there is literally ZERO depth. No real goals to do anything besides smash the attack button (with the occasional dodge). The farming is a pointless side distraction (offering zero value once you have villagers), and the decorations are really pointless. Beat the game mid summer…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Just completed #RuneFactoryGuardiansOfAzuma & what a lovely game. Over 90 hours later & the main story is done most bonds maxed I’m in relationships & I still have things to do in the post game to finish up & decide who I want to marry/have kids with. This game was WONDERFUL!
positive · AI labelView post →Today’s stream is sponsored! We are checking out Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma! I’ve been excited to try this game as I am a big fan of the series. Thanks for this opportunity @marveloususa.bsky.social and Rune Factory team! Check it out here: bit.ly/YunaAzuma #ad twitch.tv/yunalescka
neutral · AI labelView post →First Rune Factory Game that made me struggle to play. Not finished with it yet, so this review is still susceptible to change, but as it stands...Very disappointed. I've played every Rune Factory game. My favorite mechanics are the Infinite leveling (Practically infinite) Long story mode Tons of bosses Everything levels up and makes you stronger Upgrading the tools In depth relationships+Marriage+Kid Collecting items, monsters, and equipment Rune Factory has been my all time favorite game…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Second to last game completed is Rune Factory 5! We're almost to the anniversary! Little more than a month to go! All artists will be credited in the comments. #rf20th #runefactory5 #rf5
neutral · AI labelView post →Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma feels like a game that might have gotten passed over initially because of its release that was so near Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar. Grand Bazaar was fantastic, but Guardians of Azuma could really be a hidden gem for some people; it’s definitely one of my new favorite Rune Factory games. Even though both games fall into the same genre, the gameplay experience is very different, with Guardians of Azuma offering strong story-driven features, and a pretty…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Get to know me; Game Edition 🎮 First Game: Pokémon Red Last Game Played: Mirthwood Favorite Game: Rune Factory 4 Special Worst Game: Recently? Pixelshire Game I've Played the Most: Apparently Pokémon Sword Most Surprising: FFXIV after three failed attempts to start
neutral · AI labelView post →It's an either/or on how you rate this game, and my feelings are mixed about this, but my overall feelings for this is negative. This is not a Rune Factory game. This is a colony management sim wearing a Rune Factory Costume. It's a fairly competent colony management sim, and as a colony management sim, it's fine and fun, but that's not the game that I want to play when I get into Rune Factory. This game makes me want to go back to RF4 or RF5. I like a few of the things that it does on the…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Bought the game and DLC at discounted price because I can never stand behind paywalling candidates through a DLC. Even aside that fact, Guardians of Azuma is a mediocre open world hack-and-slash game with equally mediocre main story, wrapped around a fun farming minigame and very well-written CYOA romance novel. While a commendable effort from Marvelous to get themselves back on their foot after the financial shakeup and Rune factory 5's low quality release, ultimately Guardians of Azuma's…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma game cards will also work on the original switch, according to its publisher.
neutral · AI labelView post →🍂 What’s your favourite Rune Factory game? 🥰 📸: gikadosgames
neutral · AI labelView post →Only play this game if you are into chill farming/building and relationship building. Definitely do not play for combat or exploration. They are bare-bones mediocre at best, and annoying and frustrating half the time. If you like the first two things, you might enjoy it. But be prepared to do a LOT of tedious fighting and exploring. In short, this is a decent game on sale. Only buy at full price if you are a fan of games of this genre. I will consider shilling for this game if they make…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →What can I say? I love it. Romance (x) Farm life with gardening and building (x) Dragons (x) Interesting story (x) Characters that are cool to interact with (x) Can get married and have kids (x) The game has it all. I am honestly having a great time.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This sort of transparency makes me very, very happy I chose Rune Factory as my Switch 2 launch game. Thanks for keeping us in the loop, guys!
positive · AI labelView post →Hina from Rune Factory Guardians of Azuma!! This game looks very very good I don't play third party games often but with it being a Switch 2 launch title I think I want it it looks great :3 #RuneFactory
positive · AI labelView post →Shoutout to Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma for bringing back the classic video game tradition of having a substantial physical manual in the game case.
positive · AI labelView post →It's been forever but we finally have a kid and she's soooooo cute :3 Game: Rune Factory Guardians of Azuma Platforms: PC+Consoles
neutral · AI labelView post →It's here!! Check out my 10|1|10|1 review for Rune Factory Guardians of Azuma where I review the game after 10 mins, 1 hour, 10 hours, and 1-year (in game). My goal is to help you make an informed decision on whether this game is for you! youtu.be/fMoHYj2TjSQ
neutral · AI labelView post →I’m headed to bed. Night! choose the switch game to play: Rune Factory 4 Special Stardew Valley Story of Seasons FoMT Spiritfarer
neutral · AI labelView post →Day 170: Rune Factory 2 RF2 was my first ever Rune Factory game, and it's still my favorite one. I know 4 is objectively the best, and that one is my 2nd fave, but 2 has a special place in my heart 🥹 #RuneFactory #RF2 #doodles
neutral · AI labelView post →It's "post a random game from your collection" Saturday! I see someone started Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma today 👀 I gotta help spread the agenda whenever I can 😌 it's an excellent game and that's coming from someone who's never played a Rune Factory game before
positive · AI labelView post →This game to be frank sucks. I understand it is a reboot and not going to be like the old rune factory games, however this game feels SO shallow. It blows my mind how boring this game is the npcs are bland there is not fun farming and running the village just sort of sucks. The combat is uninspired, it just is not good. I really wanted to find something to like about this game but frankly I can not. If you find yourself attached to any of these people just watch a youtube video and you will…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →ONE OF THE BEST GAMES I EVER PLAYED. I just 100% it today, like couple of minutes ago and now I am crying because what am I supposed to do with my life now?! I enjoyed every moment of this game. Characters? Perfection! Story? Amazing! Gameplay? Refreshing and enjoyable. And the romance? ADORABLE!! I am a fanfic lover and a heavy shipper and this game melted my heart (Subaru x Fubuki are my OTP now). You don´t have to be an old Rune Factory player to enjoy this game. Before this I only tried…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Talking more about Rune Factory, one of the reasons why I loved that game was because of good character design. These are 4 examples. Again I recommend this game!
positive · AI labelView post →Frey from Rune factory 4 Still the best game ive ever played #rf4 #runefactory #runefactory4 #illustration #fanart
neutral · AI labelView post →🌸NEW VIDEO!!🌸 My first time playing a Rune Factory Game... and I'm making it a BL run! Check out my first steps into Rune Factory Guardians of Azuma! Watch the video: youtu.be/u8RY89cHMtQ
neutral · AI labelView post →plz buy this game, you won’t regret it. This is my fav Rune Factory game!!
positive · AI labelView post →God, I’m so relieved this Rune Factory game is really fuckin good.
positive · AI labelView post →This is my first and only Rune Factory game, and I was pleasantly surprised at how fun this farm/dating sim with RPG combat elements is. Overall, I recommend it as someone who is a fan of the OG Harvest Moon games. Here are my notes for Guardians of Azuma! Pros: - The music and setting are beautiful. I like the traditional Japanese aesthetic, and the game has a cohesive design. The UI feels modern and is easy to read and use. - Fishing is one of my favorite activities. It emulates the thrill…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →checkbox the game. i don't know what went wrong with this game. but o my lord. play any of the other rune factory games please. this is literally how i discribe it to friends "checkbox the game" does this game combat? check does it have dating? check does it have farming? check does it have city management? check does it have exploration? check and absolutely nothing of it is implimented well. it's so so so bad that even playing alongside friends. it's a bad game. (not co-op, just playing…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I'd give this game a solid 3 out of 5 stars. Not horrible, I just have some things to say about it. Was excited to see a new Rune Factory game coming out. Would probably rate this higher if I didn't have the other games to compare it to. The dialogue is clunky and difficult to sit through at times. The village building aspect of the game is something new and has potential, but just feels like extra unnecessary tasks to complete and is confusing at times. This game also isn't very clear at…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
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