Like buying coke but it tastes like pepsi because someone wrapped a coke label on a pepsi bottle. Neither is bad but if I wanted pepsi I'll buy pepsi?

It clearly wants a piece of that 3D anime open world marketshare, but has nothing to offer the genre except the 'runefactory' brand. It has everything from a runefactory game but not in the way you'd expect it to be.

You can call it a 'spinoff', just make sure you add 'without its runefactory soul' to it. Mechanics are streamlined, so you can focus on the combat and relationships. Unfortunately, those are also streamlined. If you like that, this is for you.

Otherwise, you may have better luck elsewhere. Here's hoping Runefactory 6 is just Runefactory 4 but MORE and BETTER.

Pick up at a 70% sale, or don't. You're not gonna miss out.

I really love this game, what an upgrade from RF5!

As a big fan of the Rune Factory (RF) series, I think this is a great installment and I'm excited about the direction it's headed in. I find the story in this spinoff more interesting than the one in RF5. I couldn't even bother to finish the final part of the story in RF5.
Compared to other RF games, this one has less focus on the farming aspect and substitutes it with a village management system which I quite like. If you like decorating and small city-builder mechanics, it might be a welcome reprieve from the repetition of other farm cozy games. Combat is also not too bad, but easy.
I'm also impressed with the character models! I do miss the inclusion of 2D portraits but I'm more than happy with the look and animations in comparison to 5. The characters are just so charming and, as always, the voice cast is stunning.

Definitely worth picking up whether you're new to the series or a returning fan! (preferably on sale so you can pick up the DLC with 2 extra marriage candidates).