Rune Factory 5 Director Discusses New Features, Dungeons, And Inclusion of Same-Sex Marriage

The Rune Factory series, a spin-off of Story of Seasons, combines action/RPG combat with its sibling’s farming and social elements. Now, almost a decade after Rune Factory 4’s debut on 3DS, a new Rune Factory game is just around the corner as a Switch exclusive on March 22. We chatted with director Shiro Maekawa to give you an idea of what you can expect, from the fun festivals to powering up Link Attacks with other town members.  

It’s been a long road to Rune Factory 5. Many fans were worried about the series’ future, especially with Neverland closing. What is the process to bring this much-anticipated entry to the screen?

Maekawa: After finishing Rune Factory 4, we drafted many plans for Rune Factory 5 that we couldn’t bring to fruition, but various factors came together in a way that let us finally release this title. When Rune Factory 4 Special was released, we were inspired by the number of Rune Factory fans who still desired new Rune Factory titles. 

What lessons did Rune Factory 4 Special teach the team about Rune Factory 5’s Rune Factory 5 Special?

I’d say the fans’ love for its characters. We learned that shining a spotlight on all the town’s charming residents is crucial.

Was the Rune Factory formula used by the team to create this entry?

Rune Factory Frontier, Rune Factory Oceans and Rune Factory Frontier were both in 3D. But this game is the first to be fully in 3D. The game allows players to seamlessly transition between Rigbarth’s life and the adventure in other lands. We wanted to let players feel like they’re part of the in-game world more than ever before.

Are there any new features you feel fans would particularly like?

With the townfolk you have many options: fish, smith and ride around monsters. You also can perform Link Attacks while in battle. You can spend more time with the characters you love thanks to these features.

What are certain elements that you consider essential to the series’ identity, and how do you ensure those remain entertaining for fans while remaining familiar?

The three elements we’ve included since the very first Rune Factory game are love, farming, and adventuring. Although these elements appear to be independent of one another at first, the crafting system links them together and creates a new level of enjoyment.

Which festivals are we likely to be able to observe in this entry? Do you know of any others?

While you can still expect to find traditional monster-fighting contests like harvest festivals or fishing contests as well as the Buddy Battle (monster-fighting battle), there are newer ones too!

How can the amnesiac staple be kept exciting while still allowing each player to discover a new mystery?

You’d think our fans would exclaim, “Amnesia again?!,” but this important feature lets the player experience a brand-new world alongside the protagonist. As in previous titles, Rune Factory 5 explains what caused the protagonist’s amnesia and how it’s related to the game’s major mysteries. 

How are you ensuring there’s enough dungeon variety? Can you give some examples of the types of dungeons we’ll see?

In addition to the familiar fire and ice dungeons, you’ll have a chance to visit many locations, including vast prairies, a bandit hideout, and an abandoned town swallowed by darkness.

Can you discuss Link Attacks, and how they’ll differ depending on the character?

Rather than the characters themselves, a character’s preferred weapon affects the Link Attacks. These attacks also gain more power depending on the strength of a character’s relationship with the player.

It is the first time that the series has included same-sex marital relationships. What was the importance of this game?

Same-sex marriage in Rune Factory 4 was technically possible, but it wasn’t actually implemented. This choice was made to allow players to have as much freedom as they wanted. Rune Factory 5 marked its inclusion and we are happy to invite more players. It is a feature I believe we need to continue including in Rune Factory titles.

Do you have any tips for Rune Factory 5 fans?

You can do whatever you want in the game. You can fish from dawn to dusk, invite someone on an adventure or a date—play it any way you like. There’s nothing you must do. So I hope you’ll settle down in Rigbarth and live your ideal laidback life there!