Rune Factory 4 Special is a fantasy adventure based on farming. The player finds himself in the unusual region of Selphia, which is led by the powerful dragon Vetuswill and the main character. It all starts with the protagonist falling from the sky and landing on the back of a friendly dragon. He invites the guest to live in the local castle and become the new appointed ruler. Life in the city begins anew, and success depends on the decisions of the current ruler.

The gameplay features a variety of activities and an open world. The user can do different things in a non-linear manner, devoting most of the time to the mechanics they like. Before you begin, you will need to create a hero, select appearance, gender and other parameters. After this, you will need to manage the city and develop the central character. Gradually, the gamer obtains new items and equipment, upgrades the player’s talents and opens up more lands.

The user can grow crops and collect ingredients, breed monsters for protection, catch fish and cook delicious dishes. Found materials are needed to create equipment items and improve things. The character goes beyond the city gates, where he explores deadly dungeons. Monsters and bosses live in the dungeons, and as you progress, you can get artifacts, rare swords, spears, staves and magic scrolls.