Demon Slayer (or Kimetsu no Yaiba if you prefer its Japanese title) is a shōnen anime that’s all about super-powered swordplay, and considering its immense popularity both in Japan and all over the world, it was only a matter of time that Tanjiro and the gang would appear in a video game.
Last year, publisher Aniplex announced two games in development with the Demon Slayer IP: a mobile game titled Kimetsu no Yaiba: Keppuu Kengeki Royale, and a console game titled Kimetsu no Yaiba: Hinokami Keppuutan. The mobile game, which has yet to be released in Japan, is unlikely to release overseas considering the history of high-profile IP mobile games being Japan-exclusive (see: the Yakuza mobile game and the Re:Zero mobile game). What we can be hopeful about though is the console game, which according to its official website is coming out in 2021 in Japan for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC via Steam.
After teasers for Hinokami Keppuutan were released early last year, fans didn’t see much footage of the game up until earlier this month, when the anime’s voice actors were able to play a demo of the game during a livestream celebrating the anime’s 2nd anniversary. The demo included five playable characters confirmed for the game: the Kamado siblings Tanjiro and Nezuko, Zenitsu, Inosuke, and Giyu.
While the game is still in its early stages of development, the footage showed plenty of features previously undisclosed in prior teaser trailers. Hinokami Keppuutan will feature 3D third-person combat that allows players to switch between characters in a team of two. You’ll be able to use all the cool techniques of the game’s iconic characters as you hack, slash, and breathe your way through your enemies. Their ultimate moves are also spectacularly done as you can see in the video linked below (my personal favorite is Zenitsu’s):
If you watched the gameplay demo and thought to yourself, “Wow, this feels just like the Naruto video games,” then you’re right to think so. Hinokami Keppuutan is being developed by the anime game experts over at CyberConnect2, who are known for making the Naruto: Ultimate Ninja games as well as Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Eyes of Heaven, and numerous .hack// video games (which includes the G.U. Trilogy, an underrated masterpiece).
CyberConnect2’s video game adaptations of anime series are known for sticking closely to their source material and faithfully recreating each character’s special abilities as in-game mechanics. Their games meticulously factor in each character’s speed, strength, and techniques to give players the exact feeling of being in a certain character’s shoes. Playing as Neji or Rock Lee in Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm makes you feel like an ultra fast and formidable melee fighter, while playing as Jotaro or Dio in Eyes of Heaven grants you the ability to literally stop time (ZA WARUDO!).
With their previous works perfectly capturing the feeling of JoJo’s Stands and the various jutsu found in Naruto, there’s no better studio to handle a Demon Slayer game than CyberConnect 2. We can’t wait to see how more of each character’s powers will appear in-game as either special moves or mechanics.
While there isn’t any news yet of an international release date for Kimetsu no Yaiba: Hinokami Keppuutan, you can rest easy knowing that it’s highly likely to receive an international release. Nearly all of CyberConnect2’s anime-adapted games were released internationally some time after their local Japan releases. One does not simply enlist the talents of CC2 and not give the whole world a chance to play their game.
Which characters do you want to see in Kimetsu no Yaiba: Hinokami Keppuutan? And do you have a favorite CyberConnect 2 game? Share your thoughts with us in the comments! And for more news and updates on all the latest upcoming games, be sure to stay tuned to our website and Facebook page.