Rune Factory 4 Special Reviews

Rune Factory 4 Special is ranked in the 86th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
May 7, 2020

All in all I really love Rune Factory 4 Special. I had a blast playing it, and would highly recommend it to just about anyone. I’ve been playing this game for about 70 hours now, and I don’t feel like a single minute of that was wasted. It’s only about $39.99 on the Nintendo Switch, and since this is the re-release, it’s got a ton of new content, including a post-marriage scenario and a new difficulty. Definitely pick this up, it’s a must have.

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9 / 10.0
Feb 25, 2020

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.

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Feb 25, 2020

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.

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9 / 10
Feb 27, 2020

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.

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9 / 10
Feb 25, 2020

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

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9 / 10.0
May 30, 2020

Rune Factory 4 Special is a good introduction to those new to the franchise. This is especially true since as of now it’s the only title available on the Nintendo Switch. The characters are charismatic and enjoyable, the combat is fun albeit a bit shallow, but the crafting and farming are deep enough to compensate.

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Feb 25, 2020

Rune Factory 4 is an abundant RPG, full of fun characters, things to do, and a compelling network of interlocking systems.

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Cubed3
Top Critic
9 / 10
Feb 26, 2020

Rune Factory 4 Special is a near perfect farming and RPG title. The frustrating elements are outweighed by the gorgeous styled graphics, the immersiveness of the plot, and the sheer joy that comes from playing this remastered game. It raises high hopes for the upcoming fifth instalment in the series, and it can perhaps be considered a masterpiece.

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Feb 25, 2020

Rune Factory 4 is a delight. It's one of those heartfelt, earnest, and wholesome games that remind you that not everything needs to be dour, competitive, excessively violent, or deep.

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9 / 10
Feb 25, 2020

If you have NOT played the original Rune Factory 4 however, I highly recommend picking this up. The writing is charming, the gameplay is a wonderful blend of pleasant and exciting, and all the interconnected systems mean even if you’re not directly working on your favorite aspect, you’re still working towards what you love.

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9 / 10.0
Feb 25, 2020

So overall? Rune Factory 4 Special is basically a must from me and already has a place on my 2020 Games of the Year list. Being made Royalty by proxy has never been this good and while you technically “have” to do the farming and “have” to do exploration, it never feels like you do and the ease of entry just creates a relaxing experience that is fun to play for hours on end as you choose to either befriend or romance the people of the town that you are now in charge of. Don’t want to do either? That’s why there’s exploration and combat for those moments that you just need to get away from it all!

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4.5 / 5.0
Feb 26, 2020

Whether you’ve lived in Selphia for a long time, or have yet to make the journey, Rune Factory 4 Special is absolutely worth picking up.

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9 / 10.0
Feb 26, 2020

Rune Factory 4 Special makes the jump to 2020 in amazing fashion by delivering the same amount of charm and great content in the original in a nicely upgraded package.

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8.8 / 10.0
Dec 7, 2021

Rune Factory 4 Special is fascinating in that it has numerous systems that on their own are pleasant if not terribly deep. Where the title shines however is in how these various systems interact with one another. They create a cumulative experience above and beyond its individual parts, and there is a ton of content to be enjoyed overall.

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RPG Fan
Top Critic
86%
Feb 25, 2020

Rune Factory 4 Special is a delightful and charming farming sim, even in a post-Stardew Valley world.

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GamingTrend
A Kay Purcell
Top Critic
85 / 100
Feb 25, 2020

Rune Factory 4 Special proves just how charming and well-written the Rune Factory games can be. The Switch remaster is just as addictive as charming as the original release was fourteen years ago, and looks even better, thanks to an HD makeover. New content and difficulty modes provide no shortage of replay value, making this a great time sink for newcomers as well as anyone itching to revisit the friendships forged in the town of Selphia.

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85 / 100
Mar 7, 2020

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

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9 / 10
Dec 6, 2021

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.

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85%
Feb 15, 2022

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

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8.5 / 10.0
Feb 25, 2020

Rune Factory 4 Special feels like a game where you always have something to do, offering so many different systems to play around with

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