Rune Factory 4 Special

“While no particular element of Rune Factory 4 Special stands out, the game sums to a better experience than its component parts.”

“You can still clearly see the 3DS roots in Rune Factory 4 Special's PC port, but it's still a fantastic game worth enjoying if you haven't already played it. It does have some keyboard input issues, particularly with name entry, and some aspects were clearly not intended to be viewed at a high resolution, however it does put forward enough effort to work on PC that makes it a decent platform to play on.”

“Rune Factory 4 Special delivers all the life sim, farming, and RPG action of the original 3DS release-it's perfect for fans of the Story of Seasons series or Stardew Valley.”

“Rune Factory 4 Special offers up a different take on the beloved farm/life sim genre, focusing more on RPG elements. This makes Rune Factory 4 a good entry point for newcomers to the genre due to its ease of entry. At the same time, Rune Factory 4 simplifies a great deal of what makes this genre special. The catch-22 is accessibility versus gameplay depth here. While still a good game in its own right, it limits its own potential by diversifying so vastly.”

“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.”

“‎Running an agricultural kingdom is no easy task, but Rune Factory 4 Special knows how it ‎‎claims the importance of agriculture as a fundamental asset‎‎ for the life of the planet. It teaches us, through training and informative missions, that having a powerful and solid food producing sector, capable of resisting moments with changes and guaranteeing an adequate supply is fundamental. In this sense, ‎‎Neverland's‎‎ work uses with ease the role of farmer at the same time that it sows a seed loaded with fantasy adventures, thus cultivating relationships with the inhabitants and the hobby of role-playing.‎”

“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.”

“Rune Factory 4 Special on the Nintendo Switch deserves its title. With an addictive, gratifying gameplay, content for many hours and enjoyable characters, this is a gem that while more attractive for new players than for veterans, deserves an investment of time and energy, even if its visual world could use some improvement.”

“All in all, my time with Rune Factory 4 Special has been great.”

“Rune Factory 4 Special is a delightful game with a ton of content to keep you busy, despite feeling a little overwhelming in the beginning. Good localisation and post-game content around character episodes and a Newly-wed mode will please returning fans.”

“This comfortable but clunky reboot of the part farming simulator, part dungeon crawler, part life sim is very much a product of its time”

“I had a blast from my day to day activities and my time spent with it didn't feel like nearly enough. I will be playing this long after reviewing it. Rune Factory enthusiasts, as well as newcomers, should certainly give this a go.”

“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.”

“Rune Factory 4 Special arrives on the Switch, proving to be a worthwhile Farming Simulator/Dungeon Crawling hybrid.”

“Rune Factory 4 maintains its full and outstanding spark, charm, and polish for the Switch audience. The new content isn't substantial, but the old content remains exceptional. This is absolutely worth your time.”

“For its flaws, Rune Factory 4 Special brings an incredible life-sim/Action-RPG to the Switch.”

“Whether you want to whet your appetite before Animal Crossing: New Horizons comes out or you're looking for your next fix after blowing through everything available in Stardew Valley, Rune Factory 4 is the perfect second-life for you. You might feel a bit overwhelmed at first, but once you manage to find your focus the addictive gameplay lets you wash away hours of your day in an instant.”

“Any Harvest Moon, Story of Seasons, or Rune Factory fan should definitely check this one out on Nintendo Switch, as it has one of the most charismatic worlds I’ve seen in a game in the genre yet.”

“Rune Factory 4 Special delivers a wealth of content in a charming and engaging package that should keep newcomers and long-time fans happy for dozens upon dozens of hours.”

“Rune Factory in general was the brilliant outcome of mashing two genres in a beautiful harmony that worked together wonderfully with Rune Factory 4 being the current pinnacle of the series.”