Uploaded January 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago

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In the Rune Factory Channel ~ #RyuuFaku: Special Program for Pre-Order Launch, Marvelous revealed several new features from Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma. After previously discussing the combat system, this time we’ll dive into the farming mechanics and how to build your own village in this spin-off title. As a spin-off, the farming system in Guardians of Azuma is simpler compared to the main Rune Factory*series. Curious about the changes? Let’s go over the key points from the 10-minute demo:

- The initial field area will be filled with various contaminated plants, debris, and ruins, so before you can plant or even build structures, you’ll need to clear the area first.
- If the player is poisoned, there’s no need to use antidotes, as the poison will naturally wear off over time.
- The farming and village-building system will be assisted by a grid layout for easy placement.
- To plant crops, you’ll need not only seeds but also a field item to serve as the planting medium.
- Just like the system in Natsume's *Harvest Moon*, to water crops, there’s no need to switch tools to a watering can or fill it with water. Simply approach the seeded field and press A to water one plot (this method doesn’t use RP points).
- However, if you wish to water more crops at once, you can use the Sacred Parasol, a weapon with the water element, but this will consume RP points.
- A new system for rice cultivation (paddy fields) allows you to plant crops like rice.
- The paddy field requires supporting items like irrigation channels to supply water.
- These irrigation channels can be connected to form a complete irrigation system.
- In build mode, the camera can be zoomed out to better manage your farming land and village construction.
- Every building that can be placed has bonus effects when positioned correctly. For example, a Waterwheel placed near irrigation in Spring Village grants a passive effect, Agriculture Boost Lv.1, to speed up crop growth.
- In addition to passive effects, some buildings can boost player stats like HP, RP, STR, and MND.
- You can move or destroy planted fields or buildings without any punishment in terms of material loss. However, if a crop is forcibly removed, its progress will reset to a seed.
- Each village has multiple places where fields or buildings can be constructed, and more spaces will open as the village level progresses.
- Basic items like fields and paths can be purchased from Woolby.
- Various buildings can be constructed in the village, including pharmacies, general stores, and baths.
- There is no limit to how many of the same building can be placed in a village, so you can even build baths along the roads.
- Villagers will be needed to maintain the buildings and will be paid a daily wage based on their productivity.
- Even though you build the structures yourself, you’ll still need to pay to use their services, including the bath.
- Due to this system, you can’t enter buildings. Structures like the bath will only trigger a description dialog followed by a black screen without a scene inside.
- Building placement can be rotated to face any of the four directions by pressing the L/R buttons.

What do you think? With this simplified farming system, you’ll have more time to explore the vast world of Azuma compared to previous titles without worrying too much about time management. Based on the demo's displayed time, 24 in-game hours will take around 36 minutes of real-life time. Considering this short time frame, minus the character's sleep breaks, time management will play a crucial role in maximizing your gameplay in Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma.

Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma
Nintendo Switch & PC (Steam)
May 30, 2025

#RuneFactory #RF #RFGoA #GuardiansOfAzuma #Switch #Steam