Summary
- Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma differentiates itself with fantasy Japanese aesthetic and RPG elements.
- The game features 16 romantic prospects with unique designs, backstories, and abilities.
- Players can engage in same-sex courtship in addition to traditional opposite-gender romances.
Developer Marvelous has revealed the latest two trailers for its upcoming fantasy farming RPG Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma, showing off players’ potential romantic prospects. A fantasy spin-off of the Story of Seasons series, Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma is the latest installment of the series, and will launch on Nintendo Switch and PC on May 30, 2025.
Once a niche genre, farming sims have exploded into broader consciousness thanks to the runaway popularity of Stardew Valley. Now the rise of the farming life game is giving classic cozy games like Harvest Moon, Story of Seasons, and the fantasy-themed Rune Factory subseries (which predate Stardew Valley) a new chance to break through to larger audiences with their approach to farming, social life, and romance.
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Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma also represents a fresh angle on the genre thanks to its unique, fantasy Japanese aesthetic and incorporation of RPG-style combat and progression mechanics. The latest trailers emphasize the game’s cast of characters, particularly the eligible romantic prospects of Guardians of Azuma. As with other Rune Factory titles, players will be able to meet and court members of the community, choosing to befriend and romance them over time. Guardians of Azuma will boast a total of 16 characters to romance, each with a unique design, backstory, and in some cases, combat abilities.
Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma Details Its 16 Bachelors and Bachelorettes
Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma Male Romances
- Subaru: Wandering Hero
- Murasame: A Swordsman Seeking Greatness
- Mauro: An Adventurer Who Sails the Skies
- Fubuki: The Half-Beast God of Winter and Water
- Ikaruga: Mystic Leader of the Jingasa Corps
- Kurama: Astute God of Autumn and Wind
- Kai: Oni God of the Underworld
- Cuilang: The Soft-Spoken Puppet Master (DLC only)
Of the 16 eligible romances in Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma, eight are male and eight are female. Two are exclusive to the game’s “Seasons of Love” DLC bundle, leaving a total of 14 in the base game. The male partners cover a wide range of different appeals, from Murasame, a samurai who strives to become the world’s greatest swordsman, to Mauro, a treasure hunter with a sentimental bent. One of the potential partners is actually the male player avatar, Subaru. Unlike other games with customizable protagonists, Guardians of Azuma makes the other avatar appear in-game as a separate, distinct character who can be courted. The male character Cuilang is exclusive to the Seasons of Love DLC bundle.
Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma Female Romances
- Kaguya: Wandering Hero
- Iroha: The Cheerful Teahouse Proprietreess
- Ulalaka: The Peaceful Goddess of Spring and Mirth
- Kanata: The Prestigious God of Light and the Heavens
- Clarice: The Deadly Beauty
- Matsuri: The Boisterous Goddess of Summer and Swords
- Hina: The Mysterious Archeologist
- Pilika: The Huntress Who Honors All Life (DLC Only)
Meanwhile, the female romances of Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma cover their own spectrum of design sensibilities. Iroha runs the local teahouse and dresses in a waitress-style kimono, while Clarice is a tough soldier who’s even portrayed as an enemy in several trailers. Several of the girls are gods, like Ulalaka, Matsuri, and Kanata. Players who choose a male avatar will encounter Kaguya, the game’s female avatar, as a romanceable character. The female character Pilika is exclusive to the Seasons of Love DLC bundle.
Though the trailers feature characters interacting with romantic prospects of the opposite gender, it should be noted that Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma will support same-sex courtship, building on the progress made by Rune Factory 5 and other games that support inclusive romance. Players will have plenty of options to choose from when Guardians of Azuma debuts.
- Released
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May 30, 2025
- Developer(s)
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Marvelous