Rune Factory 5 Reviews
Most of Rune Factory 5 is fine. There are minor issues with everything from the story to the graphics to the gameplay, but only a few of these issues will negatively impact the experience in a meaningful way. The bigger problem is simply that so little about Rune Factory 5 stands out. So many of the minor issues present here could have been overlooked if the core experience was exceptional and really moved the series forward, but instead, the development team spent nine years making a new Rune Factory, only to put out a game that feels like a minor step forward at best and in some ways feels like a step back. If you’re a massive fan of the series and need more of it, you’ll have a fun enough time with Rune Factory 5, but everyone else should proceed with caution.
"A sword in one hand, a hoe in the other."
Review in Finnish | Read full review
Although somewhat fun when not disturbed by the problems described above, Rune Factory 5 is the first fully 3D title in the franchise and a step in the right direction for the saga (if sequels exist after the developers' bankruptcy). The already traditional Rune Factory systems such as combat, farming, and the famous interpersonal relationships are intact to some extent, but it is sad to see that the visuals come across as too simplistic for such a large-scale transition. With the controls making life difficult for players, I recommend first acquiring Rune Factory 4 Special and, if you like it, moving on to this fifth iteration.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Rune Factory 5 marks the first new chapter of the simulation RPG series after a long hiatus and this new arrival on the Nintendo Switch brings very appealing characters, a good combat system and some interesting gameplay mechanics. Unfortunately its biggest weaknesses are difficult to overlook, namely when it comes to its performance and poor graphics, as well as to repetitive spaces to explore. While it is possible to get used to these shortcomings, they remain impossible to understand and in several cases make the experience less enjoyable than it should be.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
I have a love-hate relationship with Rune Factory 5. I love the relaxing atmosphere and simple daily life activities, straightforward combat, and the Rigbarth citizens. My experience was unfortunately muddied by questionable enemy design, an absurd difficulty spike, and numerous issues and bugs that found their way into the final product. I think if you’re a longtime Rune Factory fan you might find something to like. However, if you’re a newcomer, I cannot recommend buying the game at its $59.99 retail price until they fix some of the issues I mentioned earlier. If the game is on sale, and the game is updated, I say knock yourself out. The best way to play the game is on PC, and I guarantee you’ll at least love the characters and simple farming life.
If you need a farming-and-fighting fix, Rune Factory 5 is an option. It just isn’t the best one out there. It’s living in the shadow of its far superior siblings. Even if patches fix all of the technical issues, it would still feel uneven.
Rune Factory 5 manages to deliver a lot of content, offering a barrage of classic elements, but delivering them along with a collection of mistakes and oversights. Performance issues, structural game design flaws and lack of politeness end up ruining the potential of this long-awaited continuation of the classic franchise.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
The Rune Factory is back. But much quicker than it should.
Review in Greek | Read full review
While not wholly deviod of quality, that Marvelous released Rune Factory 5 in it's current state, is pretty shameful.
The change to 3D and other changes introduced in Rune Factory 5 are well intentioned but poorly executed. Asides from some new quality of life features, I’d only recommend this game if you’re a fan who’s already exhausted all the content of Rune Factory 4 and just wants more Rune Factory, and if you haven’t played the fourth one already then you definitely should.
The occasionally enjoyable combat cannot make up for the unreliable farming controls, repetitive music, poor performance, ugly visuals, and lifeless world. One or two of these shortcomings could have been forgiven if Rigbarth was a world worth soaking in, but it's simply not. The mountain of issues amounts to Rune Factory 5 being lesser than the sum of its faults and one of the year's biggest disappointments so far.
This is a good entry in the Rune Factory series and I’m sure the fans will welcome it. Expect much of what made Rune Factory 4 great. Good new gameplay features are added with the Spell Seal, being a Ranger with special duties and benefits and the addition of the Farming Dragons. Rune Factory 5 has a good storyline and nice side stories with interesting characters in town. There’s a deep stats and skill system, and it’s fun trying on different costumes and accessories. At the start of this review I asked: was it worth is to wait 10 years for Rune Factory 5? Honestly, I love my time in the game, but I am disappointed too. Compared to other current-day games it really doesn’t deliver in graphics, attention to detail in the world of Rigbarth just isn’t there. Even comparing it to the lovely looking world in Rune Factory 4 Special, it falls short. My final verdict is still positive, but a lot more was needed for it to get our highest recommendation. A must for the fans, but if you are new to the series, Rune Factory 4 Special on the Switch feels like an entry point at half the price that is preferable.
There are some sizable issues and oddities present in Rune Factory 5 that make it difficult to appreciate all the genuinely good things it has to offer.
