Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles 2

The Hinokami Chronicles 2 is two games in one box. Story Mode is a guided, cinematic campaign; VS Mode is an arena fighter you can sink months into. Both lean on the same fast sword combat, flashy special moves and anime-accurate character models that CyberConnect2 builds from its in-game 3D assets.

Story Mode is the place to learn. You play as Tanjiro through the Entertainment District, Swordsmith Village and Hashira Training arcs, fighting alongside allies and taking on Upper Rank demons in big boss battles. It doubles as a tutorial for how each fighter moves before you take them online.

VS Mode is where the roster lives: over 40 characters, including the nine Hashira, the highest-ranking swordsmen of the Demon Slayer Corps. The sequel adds two new systems on top of the first game's formula. Dual Ultimates bring a new kind of finisher to matches, and Gear adds a layer of customisation to how you set up for a fight. Mastery comes from learning a handful of characters inside out and using those systems at the right moment.

You can fight the CPU, a friend in local split screen, or opponents online, with leaderboards tracking results. Save data from the first Hinokami Chronicles or Sweep the Board! unlocks bonus characters from the start. A gamepad is recommended, though a keyboard-only option exists.

Story Mode follows Tanjiro Kamado through three consecutive arcs of the Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba anime: the Entertainment District Arc, the Swordsmith Village Arc and the Hashira Training Arc. SEGA's pitch for the campaign is destroying demons through the power of forged bonds, and you rarely fight alone; allies from the Demon Slayer Corps join Tanjiro for the biggest battles.

The main threats are the Upper Rank demons, the strongest demons in the campaign, and each arc builds toward a showdown with them. The Hashira, the Corps' elite swordsmen, step into the spotlight as the story moves on.

The campaign retells the anime rather than inventing a new plot, so fans get to play through fights they already know, while newcomers get a condensed tour of the series' middle chapters.

The Hinokami Chronicles 2 is out now on Windows PC through Steam at US$39.99. Steam prices it at RM133 in Malaysia, S$52.90 in Singapore, ₱1,599 in the Philippines, ฿1,190 in Thailand, Rp 466,000 in Indonesia and 638.000₫ in Vietnam. Text comes in English, Japanese, French, Italian, German, Spanish and both Chinese scripts, with Korean subtitles only for copies bought in Korea; there is no Southeast Asian language. The minimum PC is tiny: a GT 640 with 6 GB of RAM targets 720p at 30 fps. Full controller support covers DualShock and DualSense, and online play needs the latest patch.