Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles 2 scratches an itch I have not felt in years. As someone who was once obsessed with the Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm series, also developed by CyberConnect2, I am glad to have found a new set of games in a similar style. In many ways, The Hinokami Chronicles feels like a spiritual successor, borrowing the same cinematic flair and gameplay approach. It shifts the focus to a new IP, but for anyone who played the Ninja Storm games, there is a sense of familiarity here that has been missing for quite some time.
CyberConnect2 has proven once again that they are the go-to studio for cinematic anime action games. To give them credit, their engine is both powerful and flexible, able to adapt to different art styles and scenarios. They have translated the look and feel of Demon Slayer into a game with striking accuracy, capturing its vibrant anime visuals with stunning detail. The gameplay may feel reminiscent of Ultimate Ninja Storm, but it still holds its own with flashy attacks, smooth animations, and over-the-top special moves that hit with real impact. CyberConnect2 seems to have mastered the formula for turning anime into games that preserve the essence of the source material. For some players, though, the heavy reliance on cinematic cutscenes may create a sense of déjà vu, as if the same formula is being repeated yet again.
Demon Slayer: The Hinokami Chronicles 2 is clearly designed with fans of the anime in mind. The story directly continues from the series, covering events from season two through season four. As expected, the prologue opens with a cinematic battle that doubles as a tutorial. The controls are simple and accessible—these games do not demand precise inputs, and button mashing often works just fine. That said, I have not spent much time with the online battles, so I cannot speak to the game’s competitive depth.
The main draw is the single-player story mode, complemented by a versus mode for those who want quick fights. Performance is solid across platforms, running at 60 FPS in most cases. I was particularly impressed with how well it performed on the Steam Deck, hitting 60 FPS right out of the box without the need for tweaking, and staying stable for most of the experience. The only drawback is that cinematic sequences sometimes switch to 30 FPS, even mid-battle, which can be distracting. On PC, the port is excellent, including all the options and settings expected from a proper PC release.
The majority of the gameplay in Demon Slayer: The Hinokami Chronicles 2 revolves around an arena-based brawler system. The controls are straightforward and very reminiscent of the Ultimate Ninja Storm series. You have a dodge button, a block button, and the ability to chain together normal attacks with special moves. As you fight, gauges fill up, allowing you to unleash flashy special attacks. Major battles are often broken up with flashbacks or QTE sequences that trigger cinematic cutscenes, something that has long been a staple of CyberConnect2’s games. Personally, I never found these events dull, so I was glad to see them return in this sequel.
When it comes to the story mode, progression remains one of the weaker aspects. The campaign is split into linear levels where you move from one point of the map to another, usually while collecting random items along the way. These collectibles never felt meaningful to me—at best, they provide minor battle boosts that are not essential to enjoy the game normally. They mostly come across as filler content meant to pad out the experience. The game also includes a character progression system where the more you use a fighter, the more experience points they earn, unlocking extras such as costumes and other rewards. While it adds some incentive to replay battles, it does little to shake up the core formula.
The playable roster in Demon Slayer: The Hinokami Chronicles 2 is one of its strongest points. With nearly 40 characters available, each offering unique perks and playstyles, there is plenty of variety to keep battles engaging. The developers also plan to expand the roster further by adding characters and story content from the ongoing Infinity Castle arc, which should keep the game relevant for some time.
The main drawback of the story mode is that it assumes familiarity with the anime or at least the first game, which ended at the Mugen Train arc. Tanjiro does provide some narration to fill in the gaps, but newcomers may still struggle to follow along with the events. A recap of the first game’s story is included, but it is a condensed version with several major fights missing. You can play through it if you want a refresher, but the bulk of the experience is found in the new story mode, which adapts multiple seasons of the anime.
On the production side, CyberConnect2 once again delivers impressive work. The cutscenes are carefully recreated within the game engine, remaining faithful to the anime’s style and presentation. Story progression is strictly linear, so there is not much to do outside the main objectives. However, replay value comes from optional collectibles and side objectives that offer rewards when completed, as well as a ranking system that grades your performance in each mission.
This time around, CyberConnect2 has expanded the content beyond the main story mode. Along with versus battles and a recap of the first game’s story, there is now a Training Path mode, which takes the form of a roguelike. You guide a team across a board, facing different conditions and restrictions during battles. Thanks to its roguelike setup, it adds meaningful replay value. Most of the rewards from this mode come in the form of character experience or unlockable content for the Archives.
Overall, Demon Slayer: The Hinokami Chronicles 2 feels like a well-crafted sequel that continues to cement the franchise’s presence not only in anime but also in gaming. Personally, I am just glad to see CyberConnect2 once again delivering their signature blend of stylish gameplay and stunning visuals, even though I am not a huge fan of the Demon Slayer universe itself. Fans of the IP will certainly get more out of it, but as a game, it still leans heavily on the tried-and-true Ninja Storm formula. Moving forward, I would love to see CyberConnect2 experiment with new ideas, such as semi-open locations, missions, and sidequests, rather than sticking to the same linear design.
Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles 2 Game Information
- Price: $59.99
- Publisher: SEGA
- Developer: Cyber Connect 2
- Platform: PC (Reviewed)
- Disclaimer: A review code was given by the publisher
