Rune Factory 4 Special

Nintendo LifeMitch Vogel

9/10

There’s something here for everyone in Rune Factory 4 Special, but its greatest strength is how it ties together everything into one thoroughly enjoyable package. Varied gameplay, strong writing, and an emphasis on progressing at your own pace make this one of the best farm sim games available on the Switch to date. We’d give this one a high recommendation to anyone looking for an engaging yet undemanding game for their Switch. With that being said, those of you who have already played it on the 3DS may want to pause before buying it again, as the new features alone do little to justify the co...

PC InvasionAndrew Farrell

8.5/10

Still one of the best of its kind nearly a decade after its initial release, Rune Factory 4 Special is still thoroughly engrossing when it comes to most of what it attempts.

COGConnectedThi Chao

85/100

The Rune Factory series allows players much more to do than simply tending to a farm. Loosely described as Harvest Moon but in a fantasy setting with swords and magic, Rune Factory 4 was highly regarded as one of the best titles in the series in 2012 for the 3DS. Unfortunately, the original developer Neverland Co. went bankrupt. However, the publisher, Marvelous Entertainment, brought in the devs from Neverland to bring us the Switch port of Rune Factory 4 which acts as a prelude to the upcoming Rune Factory 5. While I’m an avid lover of the Harvest Moon series, I never actually had the chance...

Pure NintendoHeath Shusterman-Zimmerman

8.5/10

Rune Factory 4 Special is the definitive version of the 3DS game. It contains updated HD graphics, as well as a few additional cutscenes. With so many ports com

RPGamerZack Webster

Rune Factory 4 Special comes to the Nintendo Switch seven years after its original 3DS release. Does the move to a new console with one fewer screen work?

Twisted VoxelSalal Awan

7/10

Rune Factory 4 Special was my first introduction to this series, which combines the farming simulation elements of Harvest Moon with a traditional action RPG, and suffice it to say, I greatly like it, despite its flaws.

TechRaptorWilliam Worrall

7/10

Rune Factory 4: Special packs a whole lot of decent content into a singel package. The game is only let down by some poor decision in the porting department.

WayTooManyGamesAaron Price

7/10

The good old reliable 3DS was quite the handheld wasn’t it? So good, maybe you want to play some of those games again? The good news is, Rune Factory 4 Special is here, the remake of the 3DS version that was inherently less special than it would appear. It’s obvious right off the bat who Rune Factory 4 Special is meant for. This is a game that’s all about time management, farming, and slaying monsters. It’s more or less Stardew Valley with more updated graphics and more of a story.

GamerBravesKit

4/10

Your gender is decided by a simple dialogue choice (which you can change before confirmation):

GameTyrant Rachel Engstrom

0/10

Rune Factory 4 Special may get off to a slow start but now I can’t put it down!

MonsterVineSpencer Legacy

Finally there’s the “Order” system, which focuses on improving the town through your royal decrees. Using Prince Points that are gained through doing pretty much anything, you’re able to host various festivals, expand your inventory and crafting systems, bring new stores to town, and much more. Performing Orders gives you a sense of power as the town gains more and more tourists and resources, though the resource requirements can feel a bit extreme at times. Still, it’s a minor complaint against what is largely an enjoyable system.

Worth PlayingChris "Atom" DeAngelus

Unscored

Rune Factory 4 Special combines the farming elements the series is renowned for, with classic action-JRPG elements in a stunning fantasy setting.