The Rune Factory series has truly come into its own with its most recent releases. Once a spin-off of the Harvest Moon series, the Rune Manufactory games are a bizarre combination of life sim and activeness RPG, which sounds like information technology shouldn't work but remarkably does. When not tending to crops or bonding with villagers, the player is off experiencing the overarching story as they cut through dungeons filled with beautiful and scary monsters akin.

The series is ever-evolving. Each iteration adds new mechanics and quality of life improvements that ensure the serial is always taking at least 1 stride forward, even when one or two games may have a step dorsum.

Rune Factory gaming ranked installments

Rune Factory: Tides of Destiny changes quite a bit of the series' established formula. The farming system was completely revamped, putting most of the piece of work on the player'southward tamed monsters instead of the player, pregnant what crops are planted and how well they grow rests on the shoulders of the monsters; the player simply plants seeds and harvests the crops. Mining was besides given a like change, where the types of ore the player can mine are determined past the monsters living in their barn.

This change ultimately harmed the game's reception, as many long-time fans were disappointed by the lack of proper farming. Meanwhile, the lack of proper farming pushed the game's combat to the forefront, which is something newcomers to the series found equally underwhelming.

7 Rune Factory five Was A Rough But Appreciated Return For The Series (68)

Rune Factory 5: How to Increase Rare Item Drops

Rune Factory 5 was the series' triumphant return after years without a truly new installment. Unfortunately, the game received mixed fanfare upon its release. The well-nigh mutual trouble gamers had with the game was its functioning issues, which have improved since the game'southward release but are still nowadays nonetheless.

Beyond the performance issues, many institute the small-scale town of Rigbarth non small-scale enough, while others had issues controlling the camera. The game's graphics were also a sore spot for some players. Even so, despite its many flaws, players had fun with Rune Factory 5, so the serial' charm wasn't lost with its newest outing.

6 Rune Manufactory 2: A Fantasy Harvest Moon Is A Long Game And Perhaps Too Long For Its Own Skillful (77)

The official box art for Rune Factory 2

The 2nd game of the series, Rune Factory 2, tried to practice things differently from the first installment. The biggest of these changes came in making the story a generational one, where the player takes on the roles of father and child in the game'due south two-story arcs. Unfortunately, the implementation of the ii generations isn't handled in the best way. The kickoff generation of the game is incredibly wearisome equally players aren't able to access the dungeons or find more about the story until generation two.

Even later the generations alter and the chief story fully kicks into gear, the numerous dungeons are littered with historic period-erstwhile tactics to artificially pad the game and brand it longer than it is. While Rune Factory 2 has many good ideas, they generally miss the mark in execution.

5 Rune Mill 3: A Fantasy Harvestmoon Is A Classic Example Of 'If It Ain't Broke, Don't Gear up It' (77)

The box art of Rune Factory 3

Despite its name, Rune Mill 3 is actually the fourth game in the series, and in existence number iv comes with the looming threat of a serial condign dried. Yet, seemingly despite this, Rune Mill iii is generally well-received. Many praised its modest quality of life improvements and declared that the serial' formula shines bright in this installment.

Many others have also praised the combat system for condign more dynamic and interesting, likely thanks to a new ability that allows the player to transform into a monster. On top of all that, the many villagers have been given more amuse and personality, rounding out a successful and familiar game.

4 Rune Mill: A Fantasy Harvest Moon Was A Surprising Hit For Its Day (78)

The box art for the first Rune Factory game

The game that started information technology all, Rune Manufacturing plant: A Fantasy Harvest Moon was a unique outing both for the programmer, Neverland, and for the Nintendo DS itself. Many praised the different management the game took from the principal series of Harvest Moon games.

Despite the novelty of the game for its fourth dimension, the series has evolved beyond what its foundational installment can provide, and many find that newer players to the series will find the first Rune Mill a jarring and somewhat clunky feel without the many quality of life changes fabricated in subsequently installments. The missing improvements are also quite noticeable, every bit this is easily one of the more difficult games in the serial, though not necessarily for the right reasons.

3 Rune Factory four Is A Step Above Its Predecessors (78)

The art used for Rune Factory 4's soundtrack CD

For the longest time, Rune Factory 4 was the newest game in the series until Rune Factory v was released. In addition to numerous quality of life improvements, Rune Factory 4 improved the villagers by making them more dynamic. Information technology added depth to the crafting mechanics, included town events, and even placed the player in charge of the entire town of Selphia.

With several other improvements too these, many found Rune Factory 4 the best in the series. Despite the many improvements to the life sim mechanics and a more refined story, Rune Factory iv's one sticking betoken was how it didn't practise much to update the combat.

2 Rune Manufacturing plant Borderland Added Manageable Complexity And Depth (79)

The box art for Rune Factory Frontier

Released for the Wii shortly afterwards Rune Factory two, Rune Factory: Borderland is the only game in the serial that's a direct sequel to a previous game. Picking up one yr after the commencement Rune Factory, this installment is largely praised for increasing the level of complexity and depth over its ii predecessors, simply in a way that was manageable for players and immune them to adventure at their ain pace. Information technology's also praised for avoiding the padding pitfalls of Rune Manufactory two, making the gameplay of Frontier more meaningful.

The but matter that holds Frontier dorsum is an infamous system fans have dubbed "the Runey system." Runeys are tiny nature spirits that give life to farms and fields, and while they appear in every Rune Factory game, Borderland integrates them into the bodily gameplay. Players have to preserve the Runeys in their fields, and if all the Runeys dice out, crops volition barely grow, if at all. While it sounds interesting, the Runeys died far likewise quickly, making the procedure frustrating.

1 Rune Factory four Special Takes The Almost Successful Game And Adds A Ruddy On Pinnacle (81)

Official art released for Rune Factory 4 Special

A special edition rerelease for the Nintendo Switch and the holder of the highest Metacritic score in the series, Rune Factory iv Special takes everything great about the previous version and adds to information technology. The game's graphics were given a noticeable improvement with the bound from the 3DS to the Switch, and two new game modes were added that presented side stories for the player to experience.

While Rune Factory 4 Special didn't receive any major changes or overhauls, many felt it didn't need them because what was added to the game was more than enough to improve its already splendid quality.