JustWatch
Advertisement
Rune Factory 3 Special
Marvelous have absolutely succeeded in making Rune Factory 3 Special endearing to newer fans despite some obvious differences compared with the newer Rune Factory titles. It remains a great blend of RPG farming and fighting, the latter can be focused on for farming aficionados, holding off main story progression until it is desired. The comprehensive post-game content that is not conditional on various requirements only adds to the experience. Let's hope Rune Factory 1 and 2 receive similar treatments in the future!
A well-anticipated, charming remaster of a 2009 classic.
We're not sure if this is the best Rune Factory game available on Switch, but what we're definitely sure of is that the changes to the DS version are all for the better and that the game is still as enjoyable and relaxing as it was some 14 years ago.
1
Phuz
Wow, I want some of whatever people are smoking to rate this above RF5. RF5 might have major optimisation issues but it destroys this. Had more fun in one day of playing RF5 than I've had in a week of this. So it looks great. The actual farm looks awful but the rest has plenty of charm. The sound is a mixed bag. The music is kind of good but also a bit annoying. Definitely OK overall though, nothing making me want to turn the sound off. Gameplay. This is where it falls short. It's just boring. The controls aren't clunky at all but they're also not very tight. Days are just far too short. Obviously cozy games like this are repetitive by nature but this really feels like groundhog day. By the time you've done a tiny bit of farming, the day is gone and so is your stamina and you're off to bed. Again on the topic of stamina, the moment you go over, your health just gets wied out. A couple of accidental extra swings of the axe then you wake up with a fee. There's just nothing much to do, not a lot of fun to be had. Nothing special about the characters. Outside of lovely character art and a rather cheerful vibe, there's just no substance to this. I'm an old school gamer. I can make allowance for older games but people most have some seriously strong nostalgia glasses on to play this. It is the only farming game I have disliked and I've played quite a few and played thousands of hours. To name some of the better ones - **** Valley, Coral Island, Story of Seasons, RF Azuma, literally any other farming game I've played, including cheapo eshop £2 jobbies have been better. Very little to like sith RF3. So bored with it.
7
CozyGamerin
Ich mag das Spiel wirklich total gerne! Aber es stört mich, dass man immer SO VIELE Spielstunden reinstecken muss, damit man mal in der Story vorwärts kommt. Am Ende habe ich es abgebrochen. Davor habe ich es aber sehr genossen
8
SmashGenesis
A fun game with a compelling gameplay loop. Slight quality of life issues aside, there are a lot of different elements and systems here, many of which are pretty simple, but they all gel together to make a whole greater than the sum of its parts. The story is pretty simple, but the characters are wacky and lovable, even if the lack of an option for a non-male protagonist and same-sex romances drags the experience down a bit.

Rune Factory 3 Special

Released On: 
Sep 5, 2023
Metascore
Generally Favorable
76
User score
Generally Favorable
7.6
My Score
Drag or tap to give a rating
Hover and click to give a rating

Where to Buy

Advertisement
Metascore
Generally Favorable
76
48% Positive
10 Reviews
52% Mixed
11 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews
Apr 30, 2024
90
Cubed3
Marvelous have absolutely succeeded in making Rune Factory 3 Special endearing to newer fans despite some obvious differences compared with the newer Rune Factory titles. It remains a great blend of RPG farming and fighting, the latter can be focused on for farming aficionados, holding off main story progression until it is desired. The comprehensive post-game content that is not conditional on various requirements only adds to the experience. Let's hope Rune Factory 1 and 2 receive similar treatments in the future!
Sep 7, 2023
80
Nintenderos
Although its graphics are not very modern and some of its mechanics feel a bit outdated, Rune Factory 3 Special's playable cycle is very addictive, and its charming characters are wonderful. It is also the first time that a game in the series has been translated into languages such as Spanish, which opens it up to new audiences and makes it more accessible.
User score
Generally Favorable
7.6
69% Positive
18 Ratings
19% Mixed
5 Ratings
12% Negative
3 Ratings
  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews
Nov 11, 2023
10
Zanzoltan
I love Rune Factory games. Especially this one, that was the beginning of the great 4th game. It had the mechanics and the ideas that made this a great game. I played it with gusto, and never thought it was too pricy, for the 150 hours I put into this game. Shame it only has one ending, not like the 4th, but it was still a great game. And I loved the new opening for this game. If you can get it on a sale, give it a shot, if you like having to farm, and get new magic, new equipment, get married, kill a boss and keep farming :D
Nov 22, 2023
8
SmashGenesis
A fun game with a compelling gameplay loop. Slight quality of life issues aside, there are a lot of different elements and systems here, many of which are pretty simple, but they all gel together to make a whole greater than the sum of its parts. The story is pretty simple, but the characters are wacky and lovable, even if the lack of an option for a non-male protagonist and same-sex romances drags the experience down a bit.
Sep 5, 2023
80
NintendoWorldReport
Rune Factory 3 Special isn’t going to be for every farming game fan and won’t dethrone Stardew Valley as the most popular farming game, but its charming characters and setting make for a very enjoyable experience. I was surprisingly pleased at the quality of the writing and the depth of some of the crafting systems, and those propelled Rune Factory 3 Special forward to make it both relaxing and engaging. This is a worthy addition to the Switch library, and one I might return to in the future, if only to spend some time with some of my new favorite characters.
Sep 5, 2023
74
Video Chums
Rune Factory 3 Special is an attractive upgrade to the DS original and I had fun exploring its dungeons, upgrading my tools, farming, and wooing my future wife. However, its issues with inventory management, lack of gender and marriage options, and a rather limited set of dungeons make it a middling (but still good) Rune Factory game overall.
Mar 25, 2024
70
Movies Games and Tech
A well-anticipated, charming remaster of a 2009 classic.
Sep 5, 2023
70
But Why Tho?
Rune Factory 3 Special is a well-done remaster that gives new life to an older game. While nothing sticks out as entirely revolutionary, that doesn’t stop the experience from being an enjoyable one.
Sep 5, 2023
70
Screen Rant
The original Rune Factory 3 was widely considered a critical success, and it still holds on to the elements that made it beloved in this new release, but when judged as a remake the game does very little to improve upon anything except for its visuals. The Newlywed Mode and new Hell difficulty are nice additions, but they barely impact the main storyline or player experience in the way refreshed controls or female protagonist would - it's essentially the same game reskinned. However, Rune Factory 3 Special is still worthwhile for fans of the series, even if it doesn't quite match up with its franchise cohorts.
See All 21 Critic Reviews
Aug 20, 2024
7
CozyGamerin
Ich mag das Spiel wirklich total gerne! Aber es stört mich, dass man immer SO VIELE Spielstunden reinstecken muss, damit man mal in der Story vorwärts kommt. Am Ende habe ich es abgebrochen. Davor habe ich es aber sehr genossen
Oct 21, 2023
2
wonokoshoko
It's such a good game but there's 1 issue that brings it from a 9 to a 2. The issue you wouldn't think wouldaffect you but it **** up you're whole feild evrytime you get enough money to start farming agian. The issue in question is tornados they keep messing up my farm everytime I rebuild it.
Jul 9, 2025
1
Phuz
Wow, I want some of whatever people are smoking to rate this above RF5. RF5 might have major optimisation issues but it destroys this. Had more fun in one day of playing RF5 than I've had in a week of this. So it looks great. The actual farm looks awful but the rest has plenty of charm. The sound is a mixed bag. The music is kind of good but also a bit annoying. Definitely OK overall though, nothing making me want to turn the sound off. Gameplay. This is where it falls short. It's just boring. The controls aren't clunky at all but they're also not very tight. Days are just far too short. Obviously cozy games like this are repetitive by nature but this really feels like groundhog day. By the time you've done a tiny bit of farming, the day is gone and so is your stamina and you're off to bed. Again on the topic of stamina, the moment you go over, your health just gets wied out. A couple of accidental extra swings of the axe then you wake up with a fee. There's just nothing much to do, not a lot of fun to be had. Nothing special about the characters. Outside of lovely character art and a rather cheerful vibe, there's just no substance to this. I'm an old school gamer. I can make allowance for older games but people most have some seriously strong nostalgia glasses on to play this. It is the only farming game I have disliked and I've played quite a few and played thousands of hours. To name some of the better ones - **** Valley, Coral Island, Story of Seasons, RF Azuma, literally any other farming game I've played, including cheapo eshop £2 jobbies have been better. Very little to like sith RF3. So bored with it.
See All 26 User Reviews
Advertisement
SummarySettle down in an idyllic fantasy town as a young adventurer with a monstrous secret in Rune Factory 3, remastered for a new generation on Nintendo Switch. Features brand new to Rune Factory 3 Special include Newlywed Mode, standalone adventures unlocked after marriage to each of the game's 11 eligible bachelorettes; Another Episode, fu... Read More
Rated Tfor Teen
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
Sep 5, 2023
Advertisement
Advertisement
Related Content: ijumpman | fishie fishie | lucha libre aaa heroes del ring | disgaea 4 a promise unforgotten medic | disgaea 4 a promise unforgotten pirohiko ichimonji | four in a row 2010 | zombie square | super sniper hd | the will of dr frankenstein | chuck e cheeseand39s party games alley roller