Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma now has an official release date for Nintendo Switch and PC. The next entry in the popular role-playing farming sim franchise launches May 30. Guardians of Azuma was revealed during a Nintendo Direct last August, and preorders went live shortly following the debut trailer. Like previous entries in the series, there are two physical editions for Nintendo Switch. Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma’s Earth Dancer Limited Edition sold out initially, but it’s back in stock now at Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy. The Earth Dancer Edition comes with numerous extras, but there’s also a standard edition for $60 for those who simply want the game.
$100
The $100 Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma – Earth Dancer Limited Edition includes the physical edition for Nintendo Switch and the following extras:
- Woolby character plush keychain
- Art book
- Official soundtrack on CD
- Traditional Japanese folding fan
- Seasons of Love DLC bundle with extra downloadable Woolby Costumes
- Custom box with unique cover art
Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma – Earth Dancer Limited Edition Preorders are available now at Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy.
Note: Collector’s editions for multiple other Rune Factory games for Switch, including Rune Factory 5 and Rune Factory 4 Special, aren’t always easy to find for reasonable prices these days. If you want all the bonus goodies above, you’ll probably want to secure a preorder before the Earth Dancer Edition is gone.
$60
If you only want a physical copy of the base game, you can preorder the Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma for $60 at Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy. Digital preorders are also available on Switch, and on PC via Steam.
Based on the reveal trailer and early information about the game, Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma looks to be an evolution of the established RPG-meets-farming-sim formula of previous Rune Factory games. The game is set in Azuma–a fantasy world inspired by Japanese folklore, where players take the role of a magical martial artist known as an “Earth Dancer” on a quest to restore the land by building farms, repairing villages, and taking on RPG-style quests and boss battles.
More Rune Factory games on Switch
If you’re interested in Guardians of Azuma and haven’t played all of the previous entries in the franchise, you’re in luck, because there are three great Rune Factory games on Nintendo Switch already. Rune Factory 5 is the most recent new entry in the franchise, but remastered versions of Rune Factory 3 and 4 are also worth checking out. Rune Factory 3 originally released on Nintendo DS in 2010, while Rune Factory 4 first appeared on 3DS in 2013. You can get all three for cheap at Amazon. You can even still get Rune Factory 3’s Golden Memories Limited Edition for less than retail price.
Another RPG farming sim hybrid to check out while you wait for Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma is Square Enix’s Harvestella, which is also exclusive to Nintendo Switch and PC.