Rune Factory 4 Special

 Switch
Metascore
81

Generally favorable reviews - based on 32 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 29 out of 32
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 32
  3. Negative: 0 out of 32
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  1. Switch Player
    Apr 2, 2020
    70
    Rune Factory 4 Special seems to be a jack of all genres but a master of none. It’s a fun game with a lot of interesting features, I only wish that the beautiful illustrations of the characters would’ve been portrayed in the gameplay itself.
  2. The Indie Game Website
    Feb 25, 2020
    70
    Rune Factory 4 Special has so many layers to it that you can’t help but be fascinated by its charm. The town has a tight-knit feel to it, where each character has a unique, delightful personality. The variety in your side quests and the depth of each system can enthral you for hours. And while its combat is perfectly flawed, it’s a decent change to the life sim formula that other games haven’t quite nailed.
  3. Guardian
    Feb 27, 2020
    60
    This comfortable but clunky reboot of the part farming simulator, part dungeon crawler, part life sim is very much a product of its time.

Awards & Rankings

47
#47 Best Switch Game of 2020
53
#53 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2020

User Reviews

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User Score
8.3

Generally favorable reviews- based on 88 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 70 out of 88
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 88
  3. Negative: 9 out of 88
  1. Jinuaga
    Feb 25, 2020
    10
    Reliving this experience on the switch after years of being away from the series brings me joy. I enjoy the jack of all trades master of noneReliving this experience on the switch after years of being away from the series brings me joy. I enjoy the jack of all trades master of none type of game this is. You have dungeon-crawling RPG elements, to farming and town managing. You can tame monsters and hold festivals. Also, the new things that they added were great, like the Newley wed mode and the new episodes. It has a little bit of everything and I would recommend giving it a shot. I know when I started with Rune Factory 3 and was hesitant at first but soon I became a fan of the series.… Full Review »
  2. Nautious
    Feb 26, 2020
    10
    Easily one of my favorite games of all time. The cast is full of charming characters, the game play is very relaxing, yet addictive. I oftenEasily one of my favorite games of all time. The cast is full of charming characters, the game play is very relaxing, yet addictive. I often found my self up until 2 am saying "just one more day before bed".

    The game is most often compared to games like Stardew Valley, Harvest Moon, and its parent series, Story of Seasons. If you enjoy farming/life sim games but want a better characters and combat than Stardew, this is definitely the game for you.    … Full Review »
  3. WinterSoldierAM
    Feb 27, 2020
    10
    Rune Factory 4 happens to be one of my favorite games of all time. It is a great blend of life sim, farm sim, and full on RPG. The cast isRune Factory 4 happens to be one of my favorite games of all time. It is a great blend of life sim, farm sim, and full on RPG. The cast is great and the have more life than any other game in the genre. It focuses around your character, male or female who loses their memory when confronted by a sinister organization. You find yourself a steward of a the land making decisions, raising monsters, cultivating crops, exploring a great story, and even falling in love and starting a family. Rune Factory 4 gives you countless hours of content to explore. Crafting is rich and rewarding, making different weapons and leveling up your skills with them is a great way to spend your time.

    I do want to expand upon the "Special" moniker and what is different between the 3ds version and this port. And honestly, there isn't a ton of change. Some balance changes, some additions to help remedy third act relationship issues, some up-resing of textures and animated character portraits that show up from time to time. There is new dlc, free until sometime in March that adds some stories read by the voice actors that give insight into what comes after the main story. Another DLC is packaged with the special edition of the game, but it is not substantial at all. I would have liked to see some major changes (like the difference between Rune Factory 1 and Frontier), however the game does carry a $39.99 price point, $10 higher than that of the 3ds version. And ultimately I think this Switch version is the best version to experience and a great jump in point for new fans.

    With some luck, and support for this title Rune Factory fans may also see Rune Factory 5 come to fruition.

    TLDR: If you like farm sims, dating sims, and/or rps with anime aesthetics, Rune Factory 4 will give you a great time at a decent price.    … Full Review »
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