Sci-fi and fantasy game Runa has exceeded expectations, meeting both its initial goal and its first stretch goal just 24 hours after launching on Kickstarter.
Rune was created by Fennec Studios using classic JRPG games as inspiration. It is set in the world of Akasha, which has elements of both science fiction and fantasy and has a somewhat nostalgic turn-based combat system.
Its environments are varied and include ancient ruins, open fields, and brightly colored cities. Rune has a day and night cycle and weather system, allowing players to experience the environment in all kinds of different conditions. I’m a big fan of urban environments as they are a nice mix of retro and futuristic.
I found the basic mechanics particularly exciting. As you recruit more characters and complete missions, you’ll be able to add new buildings and rooms to the base. Some of these areas, like the Farm, come with their own mini-games. This makes building a base a good mix of fun and functionality.
However, it also seems to be a good place to talk to the NPCs you’ve recruited! This segment of the trailer appears to have been taken from the area beneath the base, judging by the hanging sign and lanterns.
In addition to the basic mechanics, we also get a glimpse of what romantic relationships could be like in Runa. There are over 15 romantic NPCs, including Alya, who watches the sunset. New dialogue and scenes are unlocked between the player and any NPC as the relationship progresses. The most important thing is that you can date any of the romantic characters regardless of your character’s gender!
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How you can support Runa
If you want to support Runa and its developers, one of the easiest ways is to follow them on social networks. They release updates on both Kickstarter and the game itself. the official Runa X account (previously known as Twitter). Runa can also receive financial support through donations to its Kick starter. They have already reached their funding goals, but still have backer rewards available for anyone who wants to donate. In addition, they have two new ambitious goals for which additional funding will be used.
Benefits for Runa Kickstarter backers
Currently, Runa has eight different rewards still available to backers. All rewards will include early access to the game later, so you’ll be among the first to try it out! Six of these eight rewards are limited in supply, so I recommend checking them out quickly before they’re gone forever.
| Reward name | Price (AMERICAN DOLLAR) |
Reward benefits | Quantity Available |
|---|---|---|---|
| [Early] Elemental Adept (II) | $22 | – Early Access Game Key – Discord Sponsor Title – Set of digital wallpapers |
Limit: 300 |
| Elemental Adept | $27 | – Early Access Game Key – Discord Sponsor Title – Set of digital wallpapers |
Unlimited |
| Demo access | $48 | – Early Access Game Key – Private Demo – PC Access – Exclusive access to the Discord demo – Set of digital wallpapers – Digital art book – Digital soundtrack – Discord Sponsor Title In-game rewards |
Unlimited |
| Mount and Pet Package | $101 | – Early Access Game Key – Private Demo – PC Access – Exclusive access to the Discord demo – Set of digital wallpapers – Digital art book – Digital soundtrack – Discord Super Sponsor Title In-game rewards |
Limit: 1200 |
| tribute statue | $117 | – Early Access Game Key – Private Demo – PC Access – Exclusive access to the Discord demo – Set of digital wallpapers – Digital art book – Digital soundtrack – Discord Super Sponsor Title In-game rewards |
Limit: 1,050 |
| Hero’s Mausoleum | $144 | – Early Access Game Key – Private Demo – PC Access – Exclusive access to the Discord demo – Set of digital wallpapers – Digital art book – Digital soundtrack – Discord Main Sponsor Title In-game rewards |
Limit: 450 |
| Elemental Beast Designer | $1,382 | – Early Access Game Key – Private Demo – PC Access – Exclusive access to the Discord demo – Set of digital wallpapers – Digital art book – Digital soundtrack – Discord Runa Designer Title – Discord Main Sponsor Title In-game rewards |
Limit: 7 |
| Recruitable NPC Designer | $2,445 | – Early Access Game Key – Private Demo – PC Access – Exclusive access to the Discord demo – Set of digital wallpapers – Digital art book – Digital soundtrack – Discord Runa Designer Title – Discord Main Sponsor Title In-game rewards |
Limit: 5 |
The Kickstarter offers a glimpse of what some of these rewards will look like in-game. If your reward includes a tomb, statue, or mausoleum, they will look like the images below.
Additionally, the special backup pet is a blue Fennec that can transform into a larger mount for you to ride.
Runa Kickstarter Ambitious Goals
Currently there two ambitious goals Runa’s Kickstarter will be the financing. The developers of Runa have stated that regardless of whether or not the stretch goals are met, they will complete the game “in accordance with their full vision.” This means that important systems won’t be removed if goals aren’t met, and stretch goals won’t be added for features that don’t improve players’ gaming experience.
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fishing target
The first of these is its fishing mini-game, with the ambitious goal of about 63,927 US dollars. Even if the stretch goal is not met, the minigame is intended to be in the final version of the game. However, reaching the goal will allow the development team to improve the fishing minigame and have it ready in time for the early access version of Runa. This ambitious goal was already met at 12:17 pm CST on April 17, 2024.
Character Expanded Goal
The next stretch goal, which will be achieved with a total donation of $101,217.75, will unlock two new romance characters. The first of these characters is a spear-wielding Void Adept named Angelo. The second is a masked Aether Adept named Meithen, who appears to be an assassin-type character.
The Rune developers have hinted at more ambitious goals if these two are completed. These future stretch goals would potentially include more mini-games, romance characters, and even a backer-only physical copy of the game!
Looking for more JRPGs while you wait for Runa? Check out our All Unicorn Overlord achievements and trophies here in Pro Gaming Guides.