Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma’s Earth Dancer Edition is back in stock on launch day at Best Buy and GameStop. Though the standard edition released on June 5 for Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 as originally planned, production issues caused the Earth Dancer Edition to be delayed by two weeks to June 20. The $100 edition has been sold out everywhere for more than a month, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see Best Buy and GameStop sell out of copies again. Nintendo Switch 2 players who buy the Earth Dancer Edition can buy a $10 upgrade from the eShop.
Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma – Earth Dancer Limited Edition:
Updated on June 20
$100 | Restocked on June 20
The $100 Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma – Earth Dancer Limited Edition includes the physical edition for Nintendo Switch–the full game is on the card–and the following extras:
- Woolby character plush keychain
- 140-plus page art book
- Official soundtrack on CD
- Traditional Japanese folding fan
- Seasons of Love DLC bundle with extra downloadable Woolby Costumes
- Custom box with unique cover art
- In-game content as DLC:
- Festive Attire & Dark Woolby Bundle
- Seasons of Love Bundle
- Rune Factory 4 Outfit Bundle
- Useful Item Bundle
The Earth Dancer Edition isn’t available for Switch 2, but you can pay a $10 fee on the eShop to upgrade to the Nintendo Switch 2 version.
The production/shipping issues for the Earth Dancer Edition caused it to sell out at all major retailers well before Guardians of Azuma’s launch. As mentioned, Best Buy and GameStop are the only major retailers with copies available on launch day (June 20). It remains sold out at Amazon, Walmart, and Target.
$60
If you only want a physical copy of the base game, the Switch version of Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma is in stock for $60 at Amazon, Walmart, Target, and Best Buy.
$69
The Nintendo Switch 2 physical edition of Guardians of Azuma is available for $69 at Amazon, Walmart and Target. Unlike many third-party releases on Switch 2, Guardians of Azuma is a true physical edition–the game is fully stored on the cartridge.
Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma has been a hit with both critics and fans. It currently holds a Metascore of 81 on review aggregator Metacritic (a GameSpot sister site). Guardians of Azuma has a user review average of 80, and the PC version currently sits at “Very Positive” based on more than 1,400 customer reviews.
The new entry takes the RPG-meets-farming-sim formula to new heights. Set in Azuma–a fantasy world inspired by Japanese folklore–the game places players in the role of a magical martial artist known as an Earth Dancer. You embark on a journey to restore the land by building farms, repairing villages, and completing RPG-style quests where you’ll square off against bosses with magical swords imbued with elements.
More Rune Factory games on Switch
If you’re interested in Guardians of Azuma and haven’t played all of the previous entries in the franchise, you’re in luck, because there are three great Rune Factory games on Nintendo Switch already. Rune Factory 5 is the most recent numbered game in the franchise, but remastered versions of Rune Factory 3 and 4 are also worth checking out. Rune Factory 3 originally released on Nintendo DS in 2010, while Rune Factory 4 first appeared on 3DS in 2013. You can get all three for cheap at Amazon. You can even still get Rune Factory 3’s Golden Memories Limited Edition for less than retail price.
