The Japanese version of the Nintendo Direct Mini published on October 28 had Marvelous announcing May 20, 2021 as the Japan release date for Rune Factory 5 on Switch. Both the physical and digital version will be priced 7678 Yen tax included. The previous ND Mini Partner Showcase in September showed some gameplay for the first time. This time we've got a release date, more gameplay and details on the Japan limited edition.

The new Rune Factory 5 trailer, included below, introduced Seed, the peacekeeping ranger organization the protagonists are part of, protecting the rural town of Rigbart. Overall, Rune Factory 5 keeps the staples of the series we explained in our intro guide to the Rune Factory franchise, with farming, romance, dungeon exploration, and monster capture and raising. We can spot nearly all these game systems in the trailer. Alongside brand new elements like the duo combination attacks.

Moreover, Marvelous also revealed Rune Factory 4 Special will be free for Nintendo Switch Online subscribers in Japan, from November 2, 1200 JST, to November 8 , 1759 JST. Plus, if you decide to get the game, the Japan digital version is on a 50% off sale from November 2 midnight, to November 24, 2359. If you play the free version, you'll be able to transfer your save to the full game. Don't forget you'll unlock two guest characters in Rune Factory 5 if you have a Rune Factory 4 Special save as well.

Last but not least, we have details on the Japanese Limited Edition, titled the Rune Factory 5 Premium Box. It includes an artbook, and an OST CD with newly arranged versions of multiple tracks of the Rune Factory series.

Note that profiles and screenshots for the main characters of Rune Factory 5 were published alongside the Japan release date. We'll be translating all these details about the characters in a separate article. Stay tuned.

Rune Factory 5 Japanese Release Date Trailer

XSeed Games and Marvelous America are handling the American release of Rune Factory 5. The Europe release is handled by Marvelous Europe. Details on both of these releases will probably be coming in mid 2021 or so. We'll keep an eye out for it.