Azur Lane

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"Azur Lane is a 2017 side-scrolling shoot 'em up game with warfare themes, featuring moe anthropomorphic characters based on World War II warships. Its multiplayer and single-player modes offer engaging shooter gameplay, along with elements of customization and character relationships. Critics and players alike have praised its original gameplay system, contributing to its popularity in Japan and other regions."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

88%

Audience ScoreBased on 16,056 reviews

gameplay1,161 positive mentions

grinding714 negative mentions

gameplay
2,167 mentions
54 % positive mentions
40 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Azur Lane is generally described as simple and engaging, featuring a mix of bullet-hell mechanics and gacha elements that allow for both casual play and deeper strategic planning. While many players appreciate the ease of understanding and the fun of collecting shipgirls, some find the gameplay repetitive and lacking in depth over time, often relying on auto-battle features. Overall, the game is praised for its generous gacha system, beautiful art, and the ability to enjoy it without significant financial investment, making it appealing to both casual and dedicated players.
- “Gameplay is side scrolling with option to manually control your ship girls or auto works pretty well.”
- “The gameplay combines strategy and action perfectly, with frequent events keeping things exciting.”
- “Gameplay is fun and pretty unique, constant updates, rewards.”
- “Unfortunately, the gameplay itself gets super repetitive and boring quickly, seeing as it's mostly just assembling doomstack fleets and auto-battling to victory unless it's a boss battle (and even then you can auto-battle those most of the time too!) there are armor types and aa but again, just bring the right ships/equipment, auto-battle and win.”
- “The gameplay is getting boring though.”
- “The gameplay is very simple, easy to play and there's auto mode if you feel too lazy to do it.”
story
1,314 mentions
42 % positive mentions
54 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The story in "Azur Lane" is a mixed bag, with many players appreciating its engaging character backstories and event-driven narratives, particularly those tied to historical contexts. However, some find the main storyline lacking depth and coherence, often feeling fragmented due to its reliance on limited-time events, which can confuse newer players. Overall, while the game offers a rich tapestry of lore and character interactions, it struggles with consistency and clarity in its overarching plot.
- “The illustrations, story-telling and combat system are the highlights of the game, not to mention the in-depth interactions with the characters and their informative background relating to their respective historical origins.”
- “The story, gameplay and art is some of the best and it's extremely easy to be free to play with no ads.”
- “The story is really well done, and the ability to get to know your ships on a personal level adds further draw.”
- “The only critic I have to say for this game is that the story in this game is pretty much nonexistent.”
- “The story is almost nonexistent.”
- “The main story is unfinished, left hanging after a few chapters.”
graphics
1,010 mentions
74 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The graphics in Azur Lane are widely praised for their stunning artwork and character designs, with many players highlighting the beautiful 2D visuals and the appealing anime-style aesthetics. The game features a variety of unique shipgirl characters, each with distinct artwork, and the overall presentation is considered top-notch for a mobile game. However, some users have reported occasional performance issues, such as lag during battles, particularly with high graphics settings, suggesting a need for better optimization options.
- “The stunning visuals, rich storyline, and unique shipgirl characters make it incredibly engaging.”
- “The graphics are polished and it is obvious that the developers place a lot of effort and love into the game.”
- “Beautiful character design and high quality graphics make it impossible not to want to collect all the different ship girls.”
- “The gacha system is on point, graphics are mediocre, gameplay is nice, controls are ok and the story is all right.”
- “Very big game for really simple and laggy 2D graphics.”
- “Lag lag and still lag, it's very impossible to clear new world with these lag even 60fps mode can't help.. is it really hard to add graphics setting or to use the old sea graphic option?”
grinding
730 mentions
1 % positive mentions
1 % neutral mentions
98 % negative mentions
The game is characterized by a significant amount of grinding, particularly for higher-tier ships and event rewards, which can become tedious over time. While many players appreciate the generous gacha rates and the ability to obtain characters through grinding, some find the repetitive nature of the gameplay and the lack of efficient farming options frustrating. However, the inclusion of auto-battle features helps alleviate some of the grind, making it more manageable for those who enjoy a casual gaming experience.
- “The gameplay is really fun, it's not very grindy, and there is tons of content.”
- “Gameplay is relaxed if not grindy, but they constantly update with quality of life improvements to reduce even that.”
- “Wonderful character designs, not too grindy, the gacha system is forgiving unlike other gacha games, so you'll likely get your favorite girl in no time.”
- “Main problem is that some events and Operation Siren, the main reasons to play, feel boring and grindy after doing them for so long.”
- “I have loved this game since starting to play but after a year of grinding, I feel burnt out by the amount of stuff to do and little to no progression.”
- “The game quickly becomes an auto-battle grind since the drop rates and exp gain is abysmal so you'll be basing your teams around efficient or fast farming with as little input as possible for thousands of runs of the same stage.”
monetization
411 mentions
21 % positive mentions
23 % neutral mentions
55 % negative mentions
The monetization model of the game is generally praised for being fair and non-intrusive, with most in-app purchases focused on cosmetic items like skins rather than pay-to-win mechanics. Players appreciate the absence of ads and the generous gacha system, which allows for significant progress without spending money, making it one of the best free-to-play experiences in the mobile gaming market. However, there are concerns about misleading advertisements that do not accurately represent the game's content, which some players find frustrating.
- “The best game on the Google Play Store by far, no pushy microtransactions and to be honest I couldn't even find a way to buy my way through the game, even if I wanted to.”
- “In terms of microtransactions, there aren't really any pay-to-win mechanics; you can pay to get resources needed for the gacha, but if you're patient and play regularly you can just get them on your own.”
- “Microtransactions are there; however, I do not feel that they are shoved in your face at all, you do not need to spend a single dime to enjoy the hell out of this game.”
- “The only downside is that you'll need to do in-app purchases to expand your dock.”
- “Microtransactions are getting the better of this game, with more and more generic advertisements forcing people to consider buying skins with gems.”
- “The ads are misleading.”
character development
244 mentions
72 % positive mentions
27 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is highly praised, with reviewers highlighting the exceptional character designs, unique personalities, and engaging lore that enhance the overall experience. The art and voice acting are noted as outstanding, contributing to a diverse and captivating storyline that keeps players invested. Many players appreciate the variety in character aesthetics and the depth of interactions, making the collection and leveling aspects enjoyable and rewarding.
- “The character design is beautiful and unique for every 'ship' (there's a lot) and collecting and leveling is part of the fun.”
- “Godly character design, exquisite lore, charming relationship progress with the girls, funny and challenging battles.”
- “The character designs are very well done and there is a massive variety, so no matter your preference there's likely more than one to fit your style, also the voice actors are all great.”
- “The character designs are all unique and attractive in their own way, but the battle mechanics are quite addictive, and I would like to see a more interactive multiplayer feature and please do something about the squad system since it's just wasted potential.”
- “The character design is questionable with every character having at least one lewd outfit.”
- “The character designs are okay, but you have to play hours and hours of farming the same stage that you'll lose interest in keeping playing.”
music
147 mentions
70 % positive mentions
27 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives a generally positive reception, with many players praising the soundtrack as superb, relaxing, and enjoyable, often highlighting specific event songs as standout moments. However, some users note issues with repetitiveness and a lack of volume adjustment options, which can detract from the overall experience. Overall, the combination of great music, voice acting, and art contributes significantly to the game's appeal.
- “The characters are cute and diverse and the music is superb.”
- “I absolutely love this game from the music, gameplay, waifus, and the spectacular art. I love everything about this game.”
- “The soundtrack is amazing along with the voice acting.”
- “Biggest issue is the sound/music, it's too repetitive and there aren't many options to adjust it.”
- “Battle music gets annoying really quick but the boss music is pretty cool.”
- “I don't know how this game has such a big rating... combat is boring after the second fight, music is terrible, voiceovers are horrendous!”
optimization
113 mentions
30 % positive mentions
60 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
Overall, players express significant concerns regarding the game's optimization, citing issues such as lag, freezing, and excessive file size that hampers performance, especially on lower-end devices. While some updates have improved stability, many users still feel that the game requires further optimization to enhance gameplay experience and reduce storage demands. Despite these challenges, the game's engaging content and graphics are appreciated, leading to a mixed but hopeful sentiment for future improvements.
- “It's been almost 3.5 years since I played this game for the first time, and somehow the game is still keeping me entertained with all its new content and in-game optimizations.”
- “Well optimized on mobile (doesn't heat up my phone) and not that sensitive when having poor connection.”
- “Optimized even for lower-end phones.”
- “After the 3D dorm update, performance issues started showing up like freezing, black screens, and force closes. I guess it's not really worth having a new feature if it costs overall game performance.”
- “I love the game, but it needs to be optimized badly. I just had to install it on a new phone, and besides the 2GB of the base game, it needed to download 7GB more of data to update, not including the voice pack.”
- “The game is great, but the problem is that after more new updates, this game has become so laggy. I think the devs need to make some adjustments to performance for those who have lower-end phones.”
stability
73 mentions
3 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
97 % negative mentions
The game's stability has been significantly impacted by recent updates, with many users reporting frequent freezes, crashes, and glitches that disrupt gameplay. While some players experience only minor issues, the overall consensus indicates that the game is currently plagued by bugs, particularly during battles and loading screens. Despite these problems, customer support is noted to be responsive and helpful in addressing technical issues.
- “Runs great now.”
- “Best gacha game with nice quality. I would give 5 stars if the gacha rates weren't buggy on every big patch.”
- “This has happened to me twice now by mistake, and it freezes my phone in a dark screen state, forcing me to force restart it.”
- “I can not get through the intro to the game; it goes into a loading screen and freezes at the same spot every time, making me unable to pass the first sea. I have attempted this at least 30 times.”
- “Love the game but after the latest update, the app freezes my phone when I quit, and force closing the app brings up an error window.”
humor
64 mentions
98 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely appreciated, with players highlighting the funny character interactions, quirky community posts, and amusing historical references. Many find the character designs and animations charmingly humorous, contributing to an overall entertaining experience despite some gameplay criticisms. The developers are also noted for their friendly and responsive nature, adding to the game's lighthearted atmosphere.
- “The characters are funny, and I'm getting a little bit of history on the main campaign storyline.”
- “Godly character design, exquisite lore, charming relationship progress with the girls, funny and challenging battles.”
- “I love the game and have been coming back to it again and again, even if the gameplay is basically nonexistent, what keeps the game actually fun are the interactions with the characters and the occasional funny events and side gameplay that comes with the events.”
- “The game keeps crashing, and before this, it tried to log me into the Washington server. I'm on the Sandy server. If this is your idea of an April Fool's joke, it's not funny, Yostar.”
emotional
36 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its wholesome community and engaging storytelling, which fosters a sense of connection among players. Many users appreciate the game's fair monetization model, allowing them to enjoy the experience without feeling pressured to spend, while the affection and interactions with characters provide a comforting and emotionally satisfying journey. Overall, players find the game to be a source of joy and support during challenging times, making it one of the most wholesome gacha experiences available.
- “Helps me emotionally when I'm going through some tough times.”
- “An emotional journey with your army of real girlfriends who fall for you at first sight with an assortment of naval-based weaponry meant to combat the forces of an outside force known only as the dark void of communism.”
- “For real, though, everybody's here for the ship waifus and wholesome memories.”
atmosphere
7 mentions
29 % positive mentions
29 % neutral mentions
43 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is described as chill and charming, with beautifully designed characters that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the cute character work and the comfortable ambiance, making it a standout feature of the game.
- “The charming atmosphere and beautifully designed characters keep me hooked.”
- “Let the language be truly neutral, and the atmosphere, in the way of not calling me 'big brother,' for example.”
- “This game has a very chill atmosphere around it, and it's one of my favorite things about it.”
- “I love the cute character work and the comfy atmosphere the game offers.”
replayability
6 mentions
0 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The game boasts exceptional replayability, with players praising its straightforward mechanics and frequent updates that keep the experience fresh. Many reviewers rate its replay value highly, often citing it as superior to other mobile games, making it a standout choice for fans of the genre.
- “It is straightforward, has a lot of replay value, and is better than most mobile games I've played at least.”
- “Visuals are top notch for a Touhou-like shooter game, updates keep the game fresh and replayable.”
- “(1*-10*:) artwork 10* mechanics 9* replayability 10* learning curve 10* collectability 10* stuff to do 10* character growth 10* overall content 10* overall happiness 10* developer progression 10* love of game 10*+ f2p 9* worthy of anyone p2w 9* spend if you want notes: big game, use a new device if possible!”