Since its debut in 2019, the Demon Slayer franchise has been one of the most successful animes, boasting a dedicated fanbase and attracting non-anime fans. Adapted from the manga series that debuted in 2016, the anime went for 63 episodes over 4 seasons, with various feature films as well. In 2021, a video game adaptation titled Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles was released, an arena fighting-adventure game published by Aniplex and SEGA and developed by CyberConnect2.

The game focused on the earlier story arcs from the anime and was well received by fans, allowing them to relive their favourite moments. Now in 2025, a sequel titled Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles 2 is about to be unleashed on PlayStation 4|5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

Just like the anime and previous game, the main story centres around Tanjiro Kamado, who must destroy demons with the power of forged bonds. The second game focuses on three arcs adapted from the animes. Fans will be able to relive and partake in the Entertainment District Arc, Swordsmith Village Arc, and Hashira Training Arc from the anime.

The story has various chapters that can take over 10 hours to complete. Many of the big moments throughout the featured story arcs are featured, and some are even playable. Players will explore various locations to solve mysteries, find items, interact with other characters and NPCs, and even participate in various minigames related to specific and fan favourite events in the anime.

The story mode has RPG elements, but overall is linear, which isn’t a bad thing since it closely follows the same story from the anime without rewriting it. Throughout the story, there will, of course, be various battles related to the anime, and fans can get right in the action themselves.

The main feature of this game is the story mode, but the overall genre is an arena fighter. The anime is famous for its stylised, exciting, and intense action scenes, which translate very well into the gameplay. The battles can have up to two characters aside, utilising a tag feature, and they take place in large open areas in various familiar locations.

Players will be able to perform a wide variety of moves with opportunities to land big combos and devastating Ultimate Arts, which are this game’s version of super combos. The tag feature allows players to summon their second character to jump in to either land attacks or rescue their partner from danger. Many of the moves featured are taken straight from the anime, which will no doubt please longtime fans.

There are more than 40 characters to choose from, many of whom need to be unlocked first by simply playing through story mode. Many favourites are included, such as Tanjiro, Nezuko, Zenitsu, Inosuke, and Tengen, just to name a few. There are some repeats of certain characters in different outfits and have different movesets, but this still offers a nice variety of different fighting styles. For those who have a save file from the previous game or even the tabletop-themed game, Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- Sweep the Board! will unlock extra characters as well.

Like many arena fighters based on animes, it’s not the most balanced for a fighting game, but it’s also not trying to be. It’s focused on style more than substance, and that works in its favour. Fans can recreate their favourite battles or create dream matches between characters who have never fought. It’s clear to see a lot of work was put into the animations for every character during gameplay, bringing them to life, and seeing four characters on screen at once creates some breathtaking moments.

Aside from the story mode, there is also VS, Online Match, The Path of a Demon Slayer, and Training paths. VS allows players to play against a friend for some Demon Slayer fun or against the CPU. They can also jump into practice to perfect their combos or try their luck in Endurance Match, where they can try to survive as many battles as possible or defeat a number of opponents within a time limit.

Online Match is where you take on opponents online in Ranked, Casual, or join or create lobbies. Unfortunately, because I played this game during the review period, I wasn’t able to match up with anyone and test how the online play holds up. There are currently only two names listed on the ranking board, so the chances of matching up with someone were slim. The previous game mostly had smooth online play, so the second game will likely be just as good. Sadly, there is no crossplay included, so players will be restricted to matching up with opponents on the same console.

The Path of a Demon Slayer allows players to play just the battles from story mode and fast-tracks through most of the cutscenes, and gets you straight into the action. Training paths will have you select a Hashira to train under and face a series of opponents in tournament brackets, some with different victory conditions, which will keep players on their toes. Many collectables, such as actual scenes from the anime, can be found throughout the game and can be used to customise your player profile.

The game uses cel-shaded graphics to recreate the same art style as the anime. The characters all look like they were straight from the anime as they hack, slash, and perform all their signature moves.

The environments aren’t cel-shaded and don’t look quite as good as the characters, feeling more like something from an early 2000s game. Even if the environments appear outdated by today’s standards, they still look good for what they are and provide familiar locations and settings from the anime.

Many character models and assets seem to be reused from the previous game, which isn’t a bad thing, as this helps prevent the game from being delayed and gets it in the hands of fans. Overall, the graphics do a fantastic job of bringing out the best in every character and recreating some of the most epic cutscenes in story mode.

The soundtrack features various music from the anime that was composed by Yuki Kajiura and Go Shiina, as well as new tracks exclusive to the game. Since a lot of the tracks are licensed songs, there is an option to replace them with copyright-free tunes for those who wish to stream the game or upload footage to YouTube and social media and avoid copyright strikes. The voice actors in both Japanese and English all reprise their roles in the game and can be heard during gameplay, story mode, and more.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles was already an epic game made for the fans of the Demon Slayer franchise. The sequel continues the story, focusing on the next three arcs from the anime, allowing diehard fans to relive their favourite moments. Anime fans often like to rewatch their favourite shows, and this game provides a great alternative, getting them involved in the action themselves. A 3rd game is likely on the way to retell more arcs from the anime, but for now, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles 2 is another solid entry in the series ready to sink your blade into.

Written by: Sammy Hanson