Rune Factory 5 falls squarely within a neglected subgenre at the intersection of farming simulators and JRPGs. Xseed Games’ latest installment of the “fantasy Harvest Moon” series leaves much to be desired compared to revolutionary farming sims and cozy games like Stardew Valley, but it entertains fans with a complex combat and crafting system. While Rune Factory 5 will never compete directly with something like Animal Crossing: New Horizons or Stardew, it does do one thing far better than its competition.
