Farnia Village: Rune Factory 4 Director Launches New Farming Simulation Game
Fans of the popular hybrid genre blending farming simulation with action RPG elements have a new title to look forward to. Shinichi Manabe, the director of the beloved Rune Factory 4, along with writer Takanori Tsuji (who also penned Rune Factory 3 and 4), have unveiled their new game: Farnia Village. The project is currently securing funding via a Kickstarter campaign, having already surpassed its initial goal.
A New Life in Farnia Village
Farnia Village is positioned as a return to the classic life simulation formula that both developers are renowned for. The game promises a mix of familiar and beloved mechanics within a charming fantasy setting.
- Plot and Amnesia: The main character begins the game with no memory, receiving a small home and a plot of land in a peaceful village. This memory loss premise is a staple of the genre, setting the stage for a new life of self-discovery and community building.
- Core Gameplay Loop: Players will engage in the expected activities of a fantasy life sim:
- Farming: Tending to fields and harvesting crops.
- Socializing and Romance: Building relationships with unique villagers through requests and seasonal festivals, eventually leading to dating and marriage.
- Adventure: Exploring the world, with the game’s genre listed as including Action, Adventure, and RPG elements.
- Unique Element: A key emotional element of the story involves teaching a mysterious girl what it means to “enjoy” a meal.
Development and Platform Goals
The development team, ManaGames, is small but dedicated. They launched the Kickstarter to secure the necessary funds to realize their vision.
- Successful Funding: The project quickly exceeded its initial funding target of 8,000,000 yen (approximately $32,883 USD), demonstrating strong fan support across the globe. Stretch goals are currently in place to add extra characters, new dungeons, more crops, and additional music tracks.
- Target Platforms: The game is currently aiming for a launch on PC via Steam.
- Console Ambition: Manabe has expressed a strong desire to bring Farnia Village to home consoles in the future. He confirmed that the game is being optimized to run comfortably on hardware comparable to the Nintendo Switch. This suggests that while a console version is not guaranteed, the technical foundation for a seamless port is a priority.
The current launch window for Farnia Village is broad, ranging from September 2027 to September 2028, reflecting the realistic timelines of a small development team working on a complex simulation title.
Visit the Kickstarter fundraising page: Click
Period: Today – November 27 at 8:14 p.m.
Our Take: The Heirloom of Fantasy Farming
When the director and the main writer of Rune Factory 4—a game many consider the holy grail of fantasy farming sims—reunite for a new project, you don’t just back it; you build a shrine to the Kickstarter page. Farnia Village sounds like a love letter to the exact blend of cozy farm life and sword-swinging adventure we’ve been craving. Honestly, given the pedigree, the farming should be magical, the villagers should be adorable, and the amnesia should be utterly charming. The fact that they’re already optimizing it for a console like the Switch means we might soon be able to till virtual soil while actually sitting outside in the sun. This game needs to happen, and we are ready to throw money at the prospect of finally teaching a mysterious girl the profound joy of a virtual roasted potato.
