Rune Factory 5

Rune Factory 5[lower-alpha 1] is a role-playing simulation video game developed and published by Marvelous for the Nintendo Switch. The first entry in the Rune Factory series since 2012's Rune Factory 4, it was released in Japan in May 2021 and will be released worldwide by Xseed Games in March 2022.

Rune Factory 5
Developer(s)Hakama
Publisher(s)Xseed Games
SeriesRune Factory
Platform(s)Nintendo Switch
Release
  • JP: May 20, 2021
  • NA: March 22, 2022
  • EU: March 25, 2022
Genre(s)Role-playing, simulation
Mode(s)Single-player

Plot

A hero loses their memory and ends up joining a group of rangers operating in the small town of Rigbarth. The hero is encouraged to tend the land as well as battle monsters in order to maintain the peace. Players control a male or female hero with the default names of either Ares or Alice, respectively.[1]

The romanceable bachelorettes are a half-elf named Scarlett, the shy Priscilla, Priscilla's childhood friend Lucy, wereanimal Fuka, succubus Ludmilla, and the pampered Beatrice. Romanceable bachelors are the knight Reinhard, blacksmith in training Martin, Martin's younger brother Cecil, wereanimal Murakumo, the traveler Lucas, and the apprentice carpenter Ryker.[1]

Gameplay

As with previous games in the series, gameplay features the ability to farm and tame monsters. Players can also form social connections with the game's townfolks, including ones with bachelors or bachelorettes leading to marriage.[1]

Development

Following the success of Rune Factory 4, series producer Yoshifumi Hashimoto commented that the development of a sequel was expected.[2] However, after Rune Factory developer Neverland Co. declared bankruptcy in 2013, the future of the series was left uncertain.[3] In 2014, Marvelous AQL stated that they had hired former Rune Factory developers, including Hashimoto, to develop Lord of Magna: Maiden Heaven. In 2018 Hashimoto left his executive officer role and opened Hakama, a new studio under Marvelous, where he went to work on Rune Factory 4 Special and Rune Factory 5.[4][5]

The game was announced in February 2019 and was planned to be released in 2020 before being delayed.[6] It was released in Japan on May 20, 2021, and will be released in North America on March 22, 2022, and in Europe on March 25.[7][8]

For the first time in the series, the player can date/marry characters of the same sex. This feature wasn't available in the Japanese version of the game, and was added for the English localisation, though will be patched into the Japanese version at a later date. The English localisers programmed the feature in themselves.[9]

Sales

In Japan, the game debuted first with 102,853 retail copies sold.[10]

Notes
  1. Japanese: ルーンファクトリー5, Hepburn: Rūn Fakutorī 5

References
  1. "The Stage is Set for a New Adventure; Marvelous Europe to launch Rune Factory 5 in 2021". Marvelous Europe. Retrieved March 29, 2021.
  2. "Rune Factory 4 Sales Cross 150,000 In Japan". Siliconera. September 28, 2012. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
  3. "Rune Factory Developer Declares Bankruptcy | The Escapist". www.escapistmagazine.com. November 30, 2013. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
  4. "Story of Seasons producer Yoshifumi Hashimoto opens new studio Hakama under Marvelous". Gematsu. July 24, 2018.
  5. HAKAMAさん。 [@hkm_info] (February 26, 2020). "The day has finally arrived… We're so glad to share this with our fans! Thanks for waiting. #RuneFactory4 Special! Now available! Love you guys! Yoshifumi Hashimoto & Minako Iwasaki HAKAMA Inc" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  6. Gilliam, Ryan (February 13, 2019). "Rune Factory 5 in the works as Rune Factory 4 heads to Switch". Polygon. Retrieved June 10, 2019.
  7. "Rune Factory 5 launches May 20, 2021 in Japan; new details, trailer, and screenshots". Gematsu. October 28, 2020. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
  8. Romano, Sal. "Rune Factory 5 launches March 22, 2022 in North America, March 25 in Europe". Gematsu. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  9. XSeed: "Rune Factory 5 Localization Blog #2"
  10. "Famitsu Sales: 5/17/21 – 5/23/21 [Update]". Gematsu. May 27, 2021. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
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