Fate/Samurai Remnant

It might not be an actual Holy Grail War, Fate/Samurai Remnant's Waxing Moon Ritual delivers a bombastic, action-packed musou game with a narrative that gripped me for dozens of hours.

92%Game Brain Score

story, gameplay

grinding, stability

92% User Score Based on 2,252 reviews

Critic Score 76%Based on 30 reviews

Platforms

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About

In "Fate/Samurai Remnant," players are transported to Edo Japan for a Holy Grail War, where they can choose and control a unique heroic spirit samurai. A dark, dramatic story unfolds as they battle rival spirits and seek to grant their own cherished wish. Utilizing strategic combat and customization systems, players must navigate the historical yet mystical world of feudal Japan in this thrilling action RPG. The famous phrase “Your wish shall perish..." sets the tone for an intense and suspenseful journey.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

92%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,292 reviews

story269 positive mentions

grinding28 negative mentions

Engaging story with well-developed characters, making it a great entry point for newcomers to the Fate series.
Satisfying combat mechanics that blend action RPG elements with musou-style gameplay, allowing for diverse strategies and character progression.
Beautiful visuals and high-quality cutscenes that enhance the overall experience.

Repetitive combat against damage sponge enemies, particularly in boss fights, can lead to tedious gameplay.
Some characters and plot points feel underdeveloped or rushed, leaving loose ends in the story.
The game requires multiple playthroughs to fully experience all endings and character arcs, which may be frustrating for some players.

story
658 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
54%
5%
The story of *Fate/Samurai Remnant* has received mixed reviews, with many praising its engaging narrative and character development, particularly for fans of the Fate franchise. While some players found the plot to be repetitive and overly reliant on familiar tropes, others appreciated the depth and emotional weight of the characters' arcs, as well as the unique setting in Edo-period Japan. Overall, the game is seen as a solid entry in the Fate series, offering a blend of action and storytelling that appeals to both newcomers and long-time fans, though it may require multiple playthroughs to fully appreciate its depth.
- “The story is really good with a tone that switches from super serious to goofy in an instant and is very replayable with multiple routes and endings (including an exclusive ng+ one).”
- “Fate/samurai remnant is an exhilarating addition to the fate franchise, seamlessly blending the series’ trademark rich storytelling with a captivating historical setting.”
- “The story focuses on Miyamoto Iori, who is the adopted son of Miyamoto Musashi. The game offers a long, detailed and complete story, a quality that lives up to the standards of the fate franchise.”
- “The pacing of the story feels slow and the plot seems to just repeat itself over and over.”
- “The story quickly becomes incredibly boring.”
- “The game itself is very repetitive and relies heavily on copy-pasting and retreading through the story, which is a hallmark for both Fate and Musou games.”
gameplay
286 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
59%
7%
The gameplay of *Fate/Samurai Remnant* has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its satisfying combat mechanics reminiscent of musou games, yet often feeling repetitive and lacking depth. While some appreciate the blend of action and RPG elements, others criticize the limited variety in enemy encounters and the reliance on a single character for most of the game. Overall, it seems to cater primarily to fans of the Fate series, offering enjoyable moments but also significant flaws that may deter newcomers.
- “Fate/Samurai Remnant is a standout entry in the Fate franchise, successfully marrying rich storytelling with engaging gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is very fun and gets much deeper as you go.”
- “The combat is surprisingly deep for a musou-type game and has some super difficult bosses that will catch you by surprise if you don't learn the mechanics.”
- “Gameplay is rather underwhelming and lacks difficulty, with towns being small and mildly empty-feeling, but that's fairly par for the course in the company of most JRPGs.”
- “The gameplay loop is very basic; you can spam X for most of the game and spam phantasms the moment you get them.”
- “The gameplay gets tedious after a while and never really gets more interesting, on top of enemies being huge damage sponges.”
graphics
117 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
55%
3%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the art style and character designs while noting that the overall visuals can feel dated, particularly in regular gameplay. Cutscenes and certain animations are highlighted as impressive, but some players feel that the textures and environments lack detail, especially for a game priced at €70. Overall, while the graphics are generally considered decent and stylized, they do not reach the high standards set by other contemporary titles.
- “The character designs are stunning, reflecting the distinct aesthetics of the period while incorporating the fantastical elements of the Fate series.”
- “Graphically, it's a treat; animations are just wonderful, art is brilliant, and the visual effects are just on point.”
- “The game welcomes you with striking visuals and immersive background music that sets the tone of the game right from the start.”
- “I am usually not someone who judges games by their graphics, but I think that for €70, the textures and environment should be more detailed and fleshed out.”
- “The graphics during regular gameplay are very, very, very dated.”
- “The character models, however, look really dated. I am typically not a graphics person, but the models look really off even by last-gen standards, which is strange because the environments look really, really good.”
music
86 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
45%
5%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising its ability to enhance the atmosphere and emotional depth of the story, particularly during combat and exploration. While some players find the soundtrack memorable and fitting for the game's setting, others describe it as forgettable or mediocre, with a few expressing disappointment over the in-game accessibility of the soundtrack and artbook. Overall, the music is generally regarded as a strong aspect of the game, contributing positively to the overall experience.
- “The music complements the emotional beats of the story and ramps up the intensity during battles.”
- “The game welcomes you with striking visuals and immersive background music that sets the tone of the game right from the start.”
- “The soundtrack is a banger, which you'd come to expect before even booting up the game if you've been around anything Fate for a good while.”
- “The soundtrack is forgettable; the places you visit feel stale because the atmosphere barely changes, and the repeated boss fights against rogue servants are very irritating.”
- “The soundtrack is complete forgettable garbage.”
- “Music was unremarkable.”
grinding
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
3%
93%
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and draining, especially during second and subsequent playthroughs. Many reviews highlight the repetitive nature of battles, the scarcity of item drops, and the lengthy requirements for upgrades, which can lead to frustration. While some players appreciate the skill trees and the initial ease of gameplay, the overall sentiment leans towards grinding being a significant detractor from the experience.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Upgrades require a lot of grinding the same maps over and over; lots of mobs are not farmable and item drops are really scarce even with 200 bonus drops.”
- “The gameplay gets tedious after a while and never really gets more interesting on top of enemies being huge damage sponges.”
- “It is just unfortunate that this combat is stuck with some incredibly repetitive and tedious mission design.”
optimization
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
50%
14%
Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while many players report stable performance and smooth gameplay, particularly in performance mode, there are notable inconsistencies such as frame rate drops during intense battles and issues with the dodge and counter system. Graphics are considered outdated by some, yet the game runs well on high settings for most users, with a few experiencing jittering or performance issues on specific hardware configurations. Despite these drawbacks, the game remains enjoyable, with many praising its overall performance and visual appeal.
- “Graphics are a bit outdated, but the performance stays consistent throughout the game.”
- “Solid story, enjoyable combat, good optimization and pretty visuals.”
- “People have been saying about bugs and all, but so far I encountered none of it; performance-wise, it goes butter smooth.”
- “The dodge and counter system is chance/stat based, resulting in inconsistent performance that ends up ruining any attempt at learning a crucial aspect of the combat system.”
- “Performance-wise, it seems to jitter a bit on my RTX 3070 and i5 9600K, although it could be due to it being on my HDD.”
- “Only complaint so far is that the game’s locked at 60 fps for best graphic quality; granted, you can use performance mode for 120 fps, but in some specific cutscenes, characters look noticeably pixelated.”
replayability
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
29%
21%
The game offers significant replayability, featuring multiple routes, endings, and a New Game Plus mode that introduces additional bosses and elements. Players can explore various story paths and unlock exclusive content, enhancing the overall experience. With a nostalgic feel reminiscent of PS2-era games, many reviewers rate its replayability highly, often giving it a perfect score.
- “The story is really good with a tone that switches from super serious to goofy in an instant (why am I a pig?) and is very replayable with multiple routes and endings (including an exclusive new game plus one).”
- “The new game plus adds additional bosses and elements to the game that give it high replay value.”
- “As it also has multiple routes and new game plus (which also unlocks more digressions not available on your first playthrough), replayability is great.”
- “Fate/Samurai Remnant offers substantial replay value.”
- “It has multiple endings, so the replayability is there.”
- “And while 70€ is pretty steep, it took me almost 30 hours for one playthrough (and the game offers new game plus with alternate endings, so there's a lot of replay value).”
character development
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
36%
21%
Character development in the game is generally praised for its strong integration with stunning character designs and art direction, reflecting the aesthetics of 17th century Japan and the Fate series. However, some reviews note that certain character arcs feel rushed or lack depth, particularly the main character, which slightly detracts from the overall experience. Despite these critiques, the game's visual presentation and voice acting are highlighted as top-tier, enhancing the character development aspect.
- “The character development is another strong point.”
- “The character designs are stunning, reflecting the distinct aesthetics of the period while incorporating the fantastical elements of the Fate series.”
- “The story is mostly great with a couple of caveats, namely a weak main character and some character developments that felt rushed and out of left field.”
- “Can't say much about character development yet.”
- “It is a Fate game, so expect a heavy dose of story and character development with some gameplay sprinkled on top.”
emotional
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highly praised, with players noting that the music enhances the storytelling and intensifies battle scenes, often leading to genuine tears during key moments. The character development and heartfelt interactions create a rich narrative experience, particularly highlighted in the impactful chapters and DLCs. While some reviews mention a lack of overall emotional engagement, many still appreciate the poignant moments and beautiful cut-scenes that contribute to the game's emotional depth.
- “Made me cry like 3 times.”
- “Every chapter is incredible, the characters are all a treat and joy to get to know and watch evolve. I cried genuine tears at the end of chapter 4 and once more during one of the DLCs.”
- “There are also some genuinely emotional moments in the game, such as the tragedy that happens near the end of chapter III.”
stability
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
88%
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing significant bugs and glitches that hinder gameplay, leading to frustration and requests for refunds. Others report a relatively smooth experience, particularly on specific platforms like the Steam Deck, though they acknowledge sporadic graphical issues. Overall, the game appears to have been released in a buggy state, with ongoing troubleshooting needed to address these concerns.
- “I play this on my Steam Deck and it runs great.”
- “The game has been incredibly stable, with no crashes or bugs.”
- “I've experienced smooth gameplay throughout, which really enhances the overall experience.”
- “I tried every basic troubleshooting I could possibly do, but none led me to finding the source of the issue. What's worse is when I asked support for help, none of their suggestions worked, and the only alternative was to ask for a refund, which is simply impossible at this point. I feel robbed and betrayed; this is the first game that I purchased with my own money from Koei Tecmo, and this is what I get. I am so upset that I wish I had simply downloaded a pirated copy of this game.”
- “Just don't go for completion, because the last achievement is a buggy mess with no indication of what you're missing out of the hundred or so entries.”
- “The game was released in a buggy state.”
atmosphere
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
25%
38%
The atmosphere of the game is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the dynamic soundtrack that enhances the experience and the immersive sound design, others find the environments stale and repetitive, particularly during boss fights. Overall, the game's ability to evoke a sense of participation in the holy grail war is noted as a highlight, despite some criticisms regarding the soundtrack's memorability.
- “The sound design is equally impressive, with a soundtrack that enhances the overall atmosphere.”
- “The game also has a dynamic soundtrack that fits the atmosphere; from ambient background music of various towns to intense background music as the tension heightens during combat scenarios.”
- “What charmed me about it was the whole atmosphere and the possibility of taking part in the war for the Holy Grail, because until now there were anime and manga, but there was no such game where you actually play like a master.”
- “The soundtrack is forgettable, the places you visit feel stale because the atmosphere barely changes, and the repeated boss fights against rogue servants are very irritating.”
- “The atmosphere of the entire game feels lacking and uninspired.”
- “Like this one time where the town atmosphere was nailed down, but overall it feels inconsistent.”
humor
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by a mix of absurdity and clever character interactions, particularly highlighting the protagonist's unexpected strength compared to the servants. Players find joy in the comedic elements surrounding the "way of the sword" and the quirky personalities of characters like Musashi and Jalter, which contribute to a lighthearted and entertaining experience. Overall, the humor is described as both funny and epic, enhancing the game's appeal.
- “This interplay between the characters led to some genuinely humorous moments.”
- “Funny and epic story.”
- “Musashi makes me feel very funny (in a good way).”
monetization
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization of the game has been criticized for resembling a cash grab, with players feeling misled by advertisements that showcase various characters while the gameplay primarily revolves around a single character, Iori. This has led to frustration among fans who expect a more authentic representation of the series rather than a focus on profit-driven design.
- “Save your money and don't encourage them to keep going for cheap cash grabs like this.”
- “Fate is my favorite series and that is all the more why it is so infuriating to see cheap anime fan cash grabs rather than a game that does the series justice.”
- “Of note, do keep in mind that while the advertising of this game largely features gameplay from a lot of the different servants, the reality is that for the most part, you will be playing as Iori instead.”