Related: Monster Hunter Rise: What We Know About the New Game Hidden Secrets Different spouses come with unique perks, such as store discounts, help around the player's workshop and additional Gols, which makes each feel distinct. There are 28 marriage candidates (18 bachelors and 10 bachelorettes), with almost all NPCs who are not children, elderly or already married able to be romanced by the player regardless of gender. Plus, for those who enjoy Rune Factory and similar games for their romance options, there are loads of characters for players to date and marry. The ability to make friends (and enemies) combined with the fact that these affect how others in the world see you makes it really feel like the builder is a part of a living community. For example, befriending Petra from the Research Center will earn you points with her mentor and friend Merlin, but it'll also negatively impact your relationship with Church of the Light minister Lee and missionary Nora, as the two organizations are often at odds with one another. While not everyone is connected to everyone else (most characters only have one or two connections), this does provide realistic consequences for befriending one character whose work or beliefs conflict with another's.
![rune factory 5 rune factory 5](https://gamerbraves.sgp1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/2020/09/rune-factory-5.jpg)
However, in My Time at Portia, characters belong to different relationship networks based on their family and friends. In most games like it, players can usually befriend everyone if they want to with no consequences regardless of what different NPCs canonically think about each other. The city of Portia and the surrounding areas are filled with people for players to get to know, and perhaps the most interesting aspect of the game is how dynamic character relationships are. Related: Nintendo Switch Online May Be the Switch's Biggest Disappointment Dynamic Relationships This is where the game most directly resembles Rune Factory, though My Time at Portia's combat is much more limited and not the focus of the game. Gathering resources also means traveling into dungeons and mines, wielding tools and weapons to find resources and take down monsters. The player will also have to compete with in-game rivals who have already established themselves within the trade. In addition to main missions, which are often time-sensitive and result in unlocking and developing areas of the world, players can also take on smaller requests to improve their workshop rank and earn relationship points. Instead of mainly planting and harvesting crops (though that is an option), players have to gather resources to use in various crafting recipes with the goal of becoming the best builder in town. Just as Rune Factory trades a farming focus for action-RPG elements, My Time at Portia has players go through the game as a builder. Related: Stardew Valley: What We Know About Version 1.5 Not Another Farming Sim However, My Time at Portia and Rune Factory both feature unique spins on the true-and-true formula.
![rune factory 5 rune factory 5](https://www.gematsu.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/RF5_09-23-21-320x180.jpg)
Like other games in its genre, My Time at Portia features open-ended gameplay with a storyline to follow at your own pace, resource gathering and management, and relationship building elements that allow players to befriend, date and marry NPCs. However, one that stands out is last year's My Time at Portia. There's no shortage of casual simulation games that involve farming for fans anxiously awaiting the next Rune Factory game to play in the meantime. The game combines the farming and simulation elements of beloved games like Harvest Moon and Stardew Valley with an emphasis on the dungeon crawling and combat that those games have but downplay.
![rune factory 5 rune factory 5](https://static1.thegamerimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Rune-Factory-5-Preorder-Bonuses.jpg)
After initially being teased during a Nintendo Direct last year, Rune Factory 5 finally received a trailer and a tentative 2021 release date during September's Partner Showcase.