The best games like Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma are Rune Factory 4 Special (the series favorite, with dungeons and a castle town), Fantasy Life i (a bright JRPG with many jobs) and Tales of Seikyu (farm life with yokai from Japanese folklore). For more farming and less fighting, try Fields of Mistria or Stardew Valley. Below are 10 picks, grouped by what you loved most.
At a glance
| Game | Best for | Length | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rune Factory 4 Special | Players who want more Rune Factory | About 38 hours for the main story (HowLongToBeat) | PC, Switch |
| FANTASY LIFE i: The Girl Who Steals Time | Players who want a bright JRPG with many jobs | About 20 to 30 hours for the main story (player estimates) | PC, Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X |
| Tales of Seikyu | Players who loved the old Japan setting | Not on HowLongToBeat yet | PC |
| Moonlight Peaks | Players who want a farm sim with a spooky twist | About 67 hours (HowLongToBeat) | PC, Switch, Switch 2, Google Play Games |
| Sun Haven | Players who want magic, dragons and a big story with their farm | About 44 hours for the main story (HowLongToBeat) | PC, Mac, Switch |
| Fae Farm | Players who want a magical farm and dungeons with friends | Varies | PC, Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox |
| Stardew Valley | Anyone who wants the classic farm life sim | About 53 hours for the main goals (HowLongToBeat) | PC, Mac, Linux |
| Fields of Mistria | Players who want a village to rebuild with an anime look | About 55 hours (HowLongToBeat) | PC, Linux |
| My Time at Sandrock | Players who liked rebuilding villages most | About 92.5 hours for the main story (HowLongToBeat) | PC, Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox |
| A Short Sail | Players who want a gentle island life after a long action RPG | Not shared yet | PC (Windows), Mac, Web, Steam Deck |
What makes Guardians of Azuma special
Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma is a farm life RPG from Marvelous. You lose your memory, find you can call on the gods’ power, and set out to heal a land inspired by old Japan. You farm, build up villages, make friends, find romance and fight monsters in real time. On Steam its top tags are RPG, Action, Adventure, Romance and JRPG, with crafting and story close behind.
So a game like it needs some of these: a farm, real fights, a village to grow, and people to befriend or marry. We grouped the picks by the part you loved most.
Our picks
- Closest overall: Rune Factory 4 Special
- Most jobs: Fantasy Life i
- Japanese folklore: Tales of Seikyu
- Spookiest romance: Moonlight Peaks
- Best with friends: Fae Farm
- Less fighting, more farm: Fields of Mistria
- Our own game: A Short Sail (gentler: no fighting on foot, no farm)
How we picked
Each pick shares a big part of Guardians of Azuma: farming, real fights, a village to grow, or romance. We took platforms, Steam Deck ratings and Steam links from each game’s Steam page, and lengths from HowLongToBeat, checked in October 2026. We make one game on this list, A Short Sail.
If you loved farming and fighting
Rune Factory 4 Special
Who it is for: players who want more Rune Factory.
You arrive in a castle town, farm, craft weapons and tools, cook, and head into dungeons to fight monsters. You can befriend and marry the townsfolk. Many fans call it the best of the series. It came to PC in 2021.
It is an older game, and it shows in its looks. The early hours are slow.
Developer: Marvelous Inc. | Year: 2021 on Steam (first on Switch) | Platforms: PC, Switch | Length: about 38 hours for the main story (HowLongToBeat) | Steam Deck: Playable | Steam page
FANTASY LIFE i: The Girl Who Steals Time
Who it is for: players who want a bright JRPG with many jobs.
You pick from a long list of Lives (jobs), from fighting jobs to angler, cook and carpenter, and switch between them as you like. You gather, craft, fight and build up an island town, and the story sends you between the present and the past. Up to four players can play together.
There is no farm to speak of, and it has no romance. Doing every Life takes a very long time. More picks are in games like Fantasy Life i.
Developer: Level-5 | Year: 2025 | Platforms: PC, Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S | Length: about 20 to 30 hours for the main story (player estimates) | Steam: Very Positive | Steam page
Sun Haven
Who it is for: players who want magic, dragons and a big story with their farm.
You farm, fish and craft across several fantasy towns, and you can romance the townsfolk. The store page promises “a calendar full of events to celebrate,” with seasonal festivals and holidays. You can also play with friends online.
It has many systems, and the fights are simple.
Developer: Pixel Sprout Studios | Year: 2023 | Platforms: PC, Mac, Switch | Length: about 44 hours for the main story (HowLongToBeat) | Steam Deck: Playable | Steam page
Fae Farm
Who it is for: players who want a magical farm and dungeons with friends.
You wash up on the island of Azoria and build a magical farm. You can play with up to three friends. The dungeons have creatures to fight, but potions can make you invisible.
The fights are much lighter than in Rune Factory, and some players find the late game thin.
Developer: Phoenix Labs | Year: 2023 | Platforms: PC, Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox | Steam page
If you loved the folklore and the romance
Tales of Seikyu
Who it is for: players who loved the old Japan setting.
You farm on the island of Seikyu, restore your family home, befriend villagers and shapeshift into spirit forms to explore. The island is full of yokai from Japanese folklore. It reached 1.0 on June 11, 2026, after a year in early access, with marriage, new villagers and the end of the main story.
It is PC only, and it is not on HowLongToBeat yet.
Developer: ACE Entertainment | Year: 2026 (1.0 on June 11) | Platforms: PC | Length: not on HowLongToBeat yet | Steam: Very Positive (84% of 1,509) | Steam Deck: Verified | Steam page
Moonlight Peaks
Who it is for: players who want a farm sim with a spooky twist.
You are a young vampire starting a new life in a magical town. You grow mystical crops, learn spells and potions, and befriend or romance werewolves, witches and mermaids.
It is long, and the romance and magic matter more than the fights.
Developer: Little Chicken Game Company | Year: 2026 (July) | Platforms: PC, Switch, Switch 2, Google Play Games | Length: about 67 hours (HowLongToBeat) | Steam: Very Positive (88% of 1,923) | Steam Deck: Verified | Steam page
If you want more farm and less fighting
Stardew Valley
Who it is for: anyone who wants the classic farm life sim.
You inherit your grandfather’s old farm in Pelican Town. You grow crops, raise animals, fish, mine and get to know the town through four seasons of festivals. You can date and marry a villager. The mines have monsters, but the fights are simple.
The pixel art is small, and the early days can feel short.
Developer: ConcernedApe | Year: 2016 | Platforms: PC, Mac, Linux | Length: about 53 hours for the main goals (HowLongToBeat) | Steam: Overwhelmingly Positive | Steam page
Fields of Mistria
Who it is for: players who want a village to rebuild with an anime look.
You move to the village of Mistria after an earthquake and help rebuild it. You farm, fish, mine, cook, learn magic and get to know a big, warm cast. The pixel art has a 90s anime look. It reached 1.0 in 2026 with marriage and children.
The mines have light combat, but nothing like Rune Factory’s fights.
Developer: NPC Studio | Year: 2026 (1.0 on August 5) | Platforms: PC, Linux | Length: about 55 hours (HowLongToBeat) | Steam Deck: Verified | Steam page
My Time at Sandrock
Who it is for: players who liked rebuilding villages most.
You are the new builder in a desert town. You gather, craft and build machines and town projects, and you get to know a big cast of neighbors, some of whom you can date. There are fights in its ruins and caves.
It is very long, and the crafting trees can be heavy.
Developer: Pathea Games | Year: 2023 | Platforms: PC, Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox | Length: about 92.5 hours for the main story (HowLongToBeat) | Steam Deck: Verified | Steam page
A Short Sail
Who it is for: players who want a gentle island life after a long action RPG.
It is not a farming game, and it is not an RPG. You are a little tabby cat with a sailboat, and your job is the island post. You pick up letters and parcels, pack them into your hold, and sail them out to the little islands. You fish by day and by night, help the islanders with their requests, and they become your friends. A weekly calendar brings a fishing contest, a regatta, a lantern festival and a night market.
There is no fighting on foot, only gentle sea battles against storms and living waves, and there is no romance or dating for the player. You can play alone or online with friends. The full game comes to Steam and itch.io in Q1 2027, and a free demo plays in your browser now.
Developer: Yos Riady | Platforms: PC (Windows), Mac, Web, Steam Deck | Length: not shared yet | Free demo at play.ashortsail.com | Play the demo
Related guides
- Games like Fantasy Life i: many jobs, crafting and island towns.
- Games like Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar: farms, towns and market days.
- Games like Stardew Valley: farm life sims compared by combat and co-op.
- Cozy games without romance: friends, no dating.
- Cozy games with festivals: calendars full of events.
Questions
What is the closest game to Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma?
Rune Factory 4 Special. It is the same series from Marvelous: you farm, craft, cook, make friends and fight in real-time dungeons, and you can marry a villager. It is older and less pretty, but many fans call it the best Rune Factory.
Is there a game like Rune Factory set in Japan?
Tales of Seikyu is the closest. You farm on an island full of yokai from Japanese folklore, restore your family home and can shapeshift into spirit forms. It reached 1.0 in June 2026 after a year in early access.
What games like Rune Factory have romance?
Rune Factory 4 Special, Tales of Seikyu, Moonlight Peaks, Sun Haven, Stardew Valley and Fields of Mistria all let you date and marry. A Short Sail, our own game, has no romance or dating for the player.
What is a game like Rune Factory with less combat?
Stardew Valley and Fields of Mistria keep fights to their mines, and you can mostly skip them. A Short Sail, which we make, has no fighting on foot, only gentle sea battles against storms and living waves.
Is Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma on Steam Deck?
Yes. Valve rates Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma as Verified on Steam Deck. It is also on Switch, Switch 2, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.
What is a game like Rune Factory with more jobs?
Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time. You switch between many Lives, from fighting jobs to angler, cook and carpenter, and build up an island town. My Time at Sandrock is another pick if you like crafting jobs for a town.
