Rune Factory Series Grows Larger with Rune Factory 3 Special and a New Installment
The Nintendo Switch seems to be the system of choice for Marvelous's Rune Factory series as the console will get two more games in the series.
During today's Nintendo Direct, Marvelous and Nintendo announced that a remaster of Rune Factory 3, titled Rune Factory 3 Special, will release on the Switch in 2023.
In addition, a new game in the Rune Factory series was also announced, with more details on it to come out in the future.
The Rune Factory series revolves around a mysterious protagonist that enters a new town and is given a farm to take care of. Much like its sister series, Story of Seasons, taking care of your farm by planting crops raising animals (or in Rune Factory's case, monsters), and eventually finding a spouse to settle down and have a family with are the main draws of the franchise. The series differs from other farming sims by having dungeon exploration and combat, as well as a more involved story. Playing through the game, the protagonist discovers who they really are and will need to deal with the consequences of their background.
A short 40-second trailer showed off the Rune Factory 3 Special's new graphical enhancements and additions, including a Newlywed Mode mode that will also be added to the game. While it is uncertain, this may be similar to Rune Factory 4 Special's Newlywed Mode, where a separate option on the main menu allowed players to experience a short hour or so segment with their spouse while using Live2D technology to bring the moments to life. Additional features that Marvelous listed on their website for Rune Factory 3 Special will include an "Another Episode" mode, "fully-voiced picture stories narrated by those same [bachelor] characters" and a "Hell" difficulty mode.
The only hard details shared about the new Rune Factory game was that it was referred to as a "new series". This seems to imply that this next game will be different from other games in the franchise in some way. We will just have to wait for new details on it probably sometime next year.
Rune Factory 3 initially launched on the Nintendo DS in October 2009 in Japan, November 2010 in North America, and September 2011 in Europe.
XSEED Games, the independent-minded publishing brand of Marvelous USA, Inc., announced on today’s Nintendo Direct that Rune Factory 3 Special, a remastered and expanded version of the classic RPG/life sim title released in North America in 2010, is coming to North America exclusively on the Nintendo Switch™ system in 2023. Rune Factory 3 Special brings improved visuals for a new generation along with plenty of new features.
Rune Factory 3 Special returns after more than a decade following its original release on Nintendo DS, featuring HD graphics and redesigned 3D character models that breathe new life into a beloved entry in the Rune Factory series. Whether adventuring in dungeons, working the farm, or finding romance, experience the fantasy life you’ve always wanted.
In Rune Factory 3 Special players take on the role of Micah, a young man with the power to turn into a golden sheep-like monster known as a wooly. Rescued by a young woman after falling headfirst into the provincial town of Sharance, Micah awakens with no memories of his past and soon finds himself embroiled in a longstanding conflict between humans and monsters. Micah must work to build bridges between the races to restore peace, all while uncovering a shocking secret of his own.
Key Features
- Restore the Balance Between Two Worlds ‒ Step into the shoes of Micah, a young man with amnesia and the mysterious ability to transform into a wooly, as he searches for a way for humans and monsters to coexist.
- Time-tested RPG Action and Adventure Await ‒ Master swords, spears, hammers, and even magic to take on powerful monsters. Recruit townsfolk and monsters alike to explore treacherous dungeons.
- Sow the Seeds of Your New Life ‒ Take a break from adventuring with activities like farming, fishing, and more. Discover the many varieties of Magic Seeds, which grow into strange crops that aid in Micah’s adventure in exciting ways!
- Find a Beauty for the Beast ‒ Meet 11 lovely bachelorettes, the most in series history! Learn more about them through daily interactions, fall in love, then pop the question and get married. Before Micah knows it, he’ll have a wonderful family to join in on his adventures.
Published in North America by XSEED Games, Rune Factory 3 Special is scheduled for release on the Nintendo Switch™ in 2023. The game will also be published in Europe by Marvelous Europe.
