Rune Factory 4 Special

An oldie but a goodie returns for another spin

- By Malindy Hetfeld

Ever wanted more of a JRPG feel to your farming sim? Former long-time Nintendo exclusive Rune Factory 4 Special could be for you. A spin-off of the expansive Story Of Seasons series (the international rebrand of the original Harvest Moon games), RF4 offers all the activities of small-town living, such as fishing, raising animals, and attending festivals, but adds dragons, goblins, and monstrous trees for an extra layer of crafting and adventure.

Because this isn’t (entirely) your average farming sim, RF4S begins with your character falling off an airship and into the town of Selphie, where they are declared prince or princess, and responsible for the town and its farm. Never mind the specifics, for many hours Rune Factory 4 Special plays just like most other farming sims: you clear a patch of land of debris, you till the soil, you grow some turnip seeds… (Why is it