A world of dance awaits in Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma, launching this May – Digitally Downloaded

A world of dance awaits in Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma, launching this May

Journey to an Eastern territory.

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4 mins read
The key art for Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma.

Described as a bold reimagining of the iconic Rune Factory franchise, Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma brings the action RPG/farming sim to the East for the first time. The protagonists (players choose one of two) use the power of dance to interact with their world, which has profound meaning in many parts of our world. In early 2024, Marvelous teased the game with a trailer about protagonists Sabaru and Kaguya; in August’s Nintendo Partner Showcase, Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma was officially announced. The game is set to hit its launch target of (Northern) Spring 2025 when it is released at the end of May.

I will admit that DDNet’s Editor-in-Chief Matt covered this news in the catch-up he wrote a couple of weeks ago when I was too feverish to even remember my home address. I vaguely recall the release date reveal, though it got lost in the haze (for me) and in the excitement of the Nintendo Switch 2 announcement (for many others). But I adore the Rune Factory series, and was excited when Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma was officially announced last August, so darned if I’m not going to write about it now anyway!

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Azuma has been ravaged by the effects of the Celestial Collapse, causing the power provided by runes to stop. The Eastern land is a shadow of what it once was, weakened by corruptive forces. The gods of nature retreated, causing crumbling mountains and withering fields. As the people of Azuma seek help, you are the hero who enters into a contract with a dragon: “Accept the might of the Earth Dancer. Use this power to save the land.” The choice of protagonists is between male and female, though they can befriend or romance any of the eligible candidates — gods and mortals alike.

Marvelous states that Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma presents unique twists on familiar gameplay elements from the Rune Factory franchise. As an Earth Dancer, you farm gracefully, restore and build villages, and use new weapons in battle (including the Bow and Talismans). Each village has a seasonal theme, and locals to build relationships with. These newfound bonds can lead to recruiting them to be with you in battle or help manage the villages. Purify the land by wielding sacred treasures of the gods and the Earth Dancer’s power of dance, hopefully restoring Azuma to what it once was.

Here is the trailer that reveals the Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma’s release date; it focuses on Rune the game’s action combat, relationship system, and seasonal village life:

Pre-orders are now open for Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma’s physical Limited Edition. The collection comes in a custom outer box that includes a physical copy of the game, an original soundtrack CD, an art book, an Azuma-inspired folding fan, the Seasons of Love DLC bundle, additional DLC costumes for your protagonists and their sidekick Woolby, and a plush Woolby keychain. There is also a standard edition available for pre-order. Information on digital editions will be revealed in time.

Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma is developed by Marvelous; it is published by Marvelous Europe in Europe and Australia, Marvelous USA in North America, and Marvelous in Japan. It will be released on May 30 for PC via Steam and Nintendo Switch.

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Lindsay picked up an NES controller for the first time at the age of 6 and instantly fell in love. She began reviewing GBA games 20 years ago and quickly branched out from her Nintendo comfort zone. She has has developed a great love of life sims and FMV titles. For her, accessibility is one of the most important parts of any game (but she also really appreciates good UI).

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