Rune Factory is spin-off of the Harvest Moon series, part of a re-invention of the franchise for its 10th anniversary. Described by producer Yoshifumi Hashimoto as Harvest Moon where you wield a sword, the game has being developed with the idea of creating a fantasy world in which the player exists, rather than the standard type of RPG where you play the role of a hero and work your way through a storyline. You are able to capture monsters, raise them on your farm, and add them to your adventuring party.