Guilty Gear Xrd: Sign

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Guilty Gear Xrd: Sign is a single player and multiplayer arcade fighting game. It was developed by Arc System Works and was released on December 9, 2015. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

"Guilty Gear Xrd: Sign" is the latest entry in the Guilty Gear series, now on Steam with updated 3D graphics and hand-drawn anime aesthetics. The battle system has been revamped with a focus on the "Roman Cancel" system, allowing for strategic gameplay. The game features a roster of 17 characters, including both returning and new faces. *Sin, Elphelt, and Leo can be unlocked through gameplay.

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92%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,292 reviews

story74 positive mentions

grinding6 negative mentions

Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN- features stunning visuals that blend 3D models with a 2D aesthetic, creating a unique and beautiful art style.
The game has a deep and rewarding combat system, with a variety of characters that each offer unique playstyles and mechanics.
The tutorial and training modes are highly praised for their effectiveness in teaching both beginners and veterans the game's mechanics.

The online community is sparse, making it difficult to find matches, especially for new players.
The game has a smaller character roster compared to previous entries in the series, which may disappoint long-time fans.
Some players have reported technical issues, including input lag and problems with controller recognition.

story
309 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
73%
3%
The story mode of "Guilty Gear Xrd -Sign-" is presented as a cinematic experience, resembling a long animated film rather than traditional gameplay, which some players find engaging while others feel it lacks interactivity. While the narrative expands the lore of the series and features well-developed characters, it can be confusing for newcomers and is often described as convoluted or overly complex. Overall, the story is appreciated for its depth and emotional moments, but many recommend watching it on platforms like YouTube instead of playing the game solely for the story.
- “The story mode takes a cinematic approach, offering a fully animated narrative rather than traditional fights with cutscenes.”
- “Rather than following the traditional arcade narrative structure, the game presents its story as a fully animated cinematic experience, complete with voice acting and visual novel-style presentation.”
- “The story mode is another highlight, featuring a captivating narrative that expands the lore of the Guilty Gear universe.”
- “It's meant to be played after arcade mode and is essentially a visual novel that finishes the story after the arcade mode playthrough.”
- “The story mode really is just talking the whole time with not an ounce of gameplay in it and the animation for such lovely 3D models doesn't do much justice; it's like seeing static visual novel portraits in 3D and this really shows as an issue when you see fights in story mode look like they're played through Microsoft PowerPoint.”
- “One more thing, unlike in other Arc System fighting games in the past (at least when GG and BB are concerned), the story mode in this game is more of a visual novel than anything else; you literally will not fight in its entirety, but rather be a spectator... so if you are going in expecting anything more, you will be disappointed.”
gameplay
250 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
58%
2%
The gameplay of "Guilty Gear Xrd -Sign-" is praised for its depth and complexity, featuring a variety of mechanics such as roman cancels, bursts, and faultless defense that cater to both newcomers and veterans. The game offers a high skill ceiling with unique character toolkits and a robust tutorial system that effectively teaches players the intricacies of its mechanics. While some players feel it may not surpass its predecessor in fun, the overall experience is enhanced by stunning visuals, fluid animations, and a captivating soundtrack, making it a standout title in the fighting game genre.
- “Its mechanics—roman cancels, burst, faultless defense, and character-specific systems—offer a high skill ceiling while maintaining clarity.”
- “The fast-paced, technical gameplay feels amazing, whether you're mastering combos or just going wild with flashy moves.”
- “The gameplay shines as an honored example of just how fighting games should function, with clean inputs, logical damage distribution, and a whole laundry list of combos that the player can mess around with.”
- “It's an interesting experiment—one that allows the lore and personalities of Guilty Gear's eccentric cast to shine—but its lack of interactivity may disappoint players expecting gameplay within the story.”
- “The gameplay has taken a few steps back, e.g. removing certain moves and systems, the cast is only half as big etc., and, as such, resembles XX2: Reloaded a lot more than its updated re-releases.”
- “While -sign-'s gameplay isn't as good as its sequel, -revelator-, the framework is all here, and it's easily the best-looking and one of the best-playing fighting games available on Steam.”
graphics
216 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
40%
2%
The graphics of "Guilty Gear Xrd -Sign-" are widely praised for their stunning 3D models that effectively mimic a high-end 2D anime aesthetic, creating a visually striking experience. Reviewers highlight the game's beautiful character designs, fluid animations, and vibrant environments, which contribute to an immersive atmosphere that enhances the gameplay. Overall, the art style is considered a significant achievement in the fighting game genre, setting a new standard for cel-shaded graphics.
- “The game uses 3D models rendered to look like high-end 2D animation, creating a distinct aesthetic that still holds up.”
- “The graphics are simply stunning, and the style remains faithful to previous entries in the series.”
- “The visuals are breathtakingly stunning, with beautiful graphics and great mechanics as usual.”
- “Even having all the system requirements and playing at lowest graphics, with my power settings at high performance, the FPS stays between 15 and 25 FPS, and I believe that many other players would have this same problem.”
- “The customization regarding graphics is quite limited.”
- “The UI is incredibly blurry and pixelated in places and generally clashes with the crisp clear visuals of the main fight.”
music
177 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
42%
3%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, particularly for its heavy metal and rock soundtracks that perfectly complement the fast-paced gameplay and vibrant visuals. Many reviewers highlight the exceptional quality of the original compositions by Daisuke Ishiwatari, noting that the soundtrack enhances the overall experience and is a significant draw for fans of the genre. While some players feel that the newer tracks may not be as memorable as those from previous entries, the majority agree that the music remains a standout feature, contributing to the game's addictive nature and immersive atmosphere.
- “From the moment the rock-infused soundtrack kicks in and the cel-shaded 3D characters explode onto the screen, the game declares itself as both a visual revolution and a reaffirmation of Arc System Works’ mastery of the genre.”
- “The rock soundtrack, a long-standing Guilty Gear hallmark, complements this perfectly—each track pounding with guitar riffs that match the adrenaline of the battles and reflect the rebellious tone of the series.”
- “The soundtrack is a masterpiece; I keep listening to it just like I would to any epic album from the top charts.”
- “My only gripe with the series is that it has a pretty forgettable soundtrack - only the menu music sticks for me.”
- “The music, especially the empty guitar riffs, do nothing for me.”
- “Many songs just have no progression and sound very similar to one another.”
optimization
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
70%
22%
8%
Overall, the game's optimization is generally praised, with many users reporting smooth performance even on mid-tier systems and older hardware. While there are minor issues such as occasional frame lag during online play and limited graphics settings, the game is considered well-optimized for PC, offering solid performance and good graphics. Some users noted that it runs well on various devices, including laptops, and the port from console to PC is seen as successful despite some initial launch issues.
- “Great optimization settings; works like a charm and doesn't even cause stress performance even on high optimization settings.”
- “I get a constant 60fps on quality settings, with under the minimum requirements, game is excellently optimized and ported.”
- “Well optimized and the netcode is solid.”
- “I personally feel like it then judges your performance too harshly as a result; it gives you little leeway, and expects too much, especially if you’re a beginner.”
- “Either way, changing the display/graphics options isn't very helpful, because you can actually just pick two options in-game: either performance or quality. You can change the resolution, and basically that's it. I enjoyed those 48 minutes, but playing a game that is poorly ported to PC and can't even run on it isn't fun. Even MKX or SF4 was ported better, and with those games, there were no problems whatsoever.”
- “Bug: the game client starts getting frame lag and sound stuttering after about half an hour of multiplayer.”
character development
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
27%
14%
Character development in the game is highly praised for its exceptional and diverse character designs, which are noted for their originality and stylishness. Players appreciate the depth of the combat system and the unique play styles associated with each character, enhancing the overall gameplay experience. While the tutorial offers some insights into character backstories, the multiplayer aspect has faced criticism, indicating a potential decline in community engagement.
- “I love the character design; it's so varied and original - so much fun to learn the different play styles.”
- “It's deep, funny, action-packed, and character development is pretty awesome.”
- “Arc System Works did an amazing job on character design; I honestly cannot say enough good things about it.”
- “Don't know much, but there is character development in the tutorial (and the Steam trading cards give backstory!), which is good.”
- “Guilty Gear is a game where there are a lot of system mechanics, along with some really unique character designs.”
- “Fighting game with Japanese character design, some story going on across the many installments and an emphasis on fabulousness.”
stability
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Overall, the game's stability is a mixed bag; while many players report solid performance with locked 60fps in most modes, there are notable issues such as bugs in lobbies, occasional freezes, and inconsistent button input displays. Some users experience significant drops in frame rates during story mode and cutscenes, alongside connectivity problems in multiplayer that can disrupt gameplay. Despite these issues, many still find the game enjoyable and playable.
- “The game runs great, solid locked 60fps except for when in story mode and when the prerendered cutscenes are going on, then it's 40fps, never higher.”
- “The game runs great maxed out on my system @ 1080p (fx 8350 @4.6 ghz, gtx 670, 5gb ram windows 7 64 bit) stable 60fps online and offline.”
- “The game runs great, looks great, sounds great, feels great.”
- “I love Strive, but this game is so buggy and won't even let me use 1080p.”
- “This game has two noteworthy problems: the icons for button inputs don't seem to know what you're using to input them, so they just flash back and forth constantly between that of a keyboard and an Xbox 360 controller, and there are some inexplicable freezes and/or crashes that occur from time to time.”
- “Player matches are very buggy at the moment; if a lot is going on in public lobbies, there seem to be many issues causing players to vanish, be fighting no opponent, or just get kicked out of the lobby.”
humor
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by its quirky characters and witty writing, with players enjoying the comedic expressions and interactions, particularly from the "funny doctor guy" and the absurdity of battles. The blend of stylish visuals, engaging combat, and humorous quotes keeps the experience entertaining, making it a memorable aspect of gameplay. Overall, the humor adds a lighthearted touch to the otherwise intense action, enhancing player enjoyment.
- “The writing is on point and often funny.”
- “Very stylish, the music kicks ass, the characters are all badass or hilarious.”
- “These characters fought with their hair... so the first character in GG Xrd I pick up is 'Millia'... funny.”
grinding
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while unlocking characters and content can be achieved relatively quickly through challenges, the process of grinding for money to purchase extra characters is seen as tedious and frustrating. Some users appreciate the faster pace of earning in-game currency, but others feel that certain modes, like "mom mode," are poorly executed and lead to excessive grinding with minimal rewards. Overall, the grind can feel rewarding for some, but tedious for others, especially when real money options are available.
- “Grinding for money to buy the 3 'extra' characters is a hassle.”
- “It eventually becomes such a tediously long grind that you end up wasting large amounts of time for little reward.”
- “Unlocking miscellaneous stuff, such as new characters, announcers, and color palettes, doesn't take too long, but you can just buy them with real money if it still feels too tedious.”
replayability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
The game offers significant replayability, especially for players who enjoy mastering complex controls and improving with each match. While the animations and gameplay are praised, some users express a desire for more playable characters and a deeper integration of story elements to enhance replay value. Overall, it remains a fun and engaging experience with plenty of opportunities for repeated play.
- “As of 2025, this game holds up and is still replayable as hell. If you have a short patience, you might not enjoy the complex controls, but if you have time or like a game where you feel like you improve with each match, then this is for you. Great animations, great ultimates, fluid as hell, feels great.”
- “Tons of replay value!”
- “I do kind of miss having the story be more ingrained in the gameplay and the various branching story paths, as they added more replay value and also presented some cool what-if scenarios.”
- “Really fun, I love this game to bits, but if you want more playable characters, you should probably play Xrd Rev 2.”
- “Could have had more playable characters, which I believe they are going to release more.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the emotional depth of the characters and their stories to significantly enhance the gaming experience, often leading to strong emotional reactions, such as tears during pivotal moments. While some users note inconsistencies in the story and interface, the overall emotional impact and engaging narrative are praised, contributing to a high overall rating for the game.
- “Players are encouraged to invest in the characters and their journeys, adding an emotional weight to the battles.”
- “As an old fan of Guilty Gear, I found some inconsistencies in the story and some trinkets in the user interface, but if the story mode made me cry, I am willing to forget the flaws.”
- “Wow, it's a great game! The graphics are amazing and the story is so emotional with deep thoughts. The fighting system is good, and there are no problems with the training mode for new players. For me, this game is perfect and deserves a 10/10. Good job and keep it up!”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by a blend of intense visuals and sound that enhance the cinematic experience of combat, making every action feel deliberate and rewarding. Players appreciate the unique atmosphere that complements the decent gameplay, contributing to a sense of stylish bravado.
- “Every punch, slash, and explosive overdrive move feels deliberate, rewarding, and cinematic, while the visuals and sound combine to create an atmosphere of raw intensity and stylish bravado.”
- “In short, decent gameplay with a unique atmosphere.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game is characterized by its high-paced, intense Japanese-style 2D combat, which is complemented by a significant depth of gameplay. However, specific details regarding monetization strategies, such as in-game purchases or advertisements, are not mentioned in the review.

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63%Critics’ scoreBased on 9 critic reviews

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20h Median play time

43h Average play time

10-100h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 3 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Guilty Gear Xrd: Sign is a arcade fighting game.

Guilty Gear Xrd: Sign is available on PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Steam Deck and others.

On average players spend around 43 hours playing Guilty Gear Xrd: Sign.

Guilty Gear Xrd: Sign was released on December 9, 2015.

Guilty Gear Xrd: Sign was developed by Arc System Works.

Guilty Gear Xrd: Sign has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its stability.

Guilty Gear Xrd: Sign is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include GUILTY GEAR Xrd REV 2, The King of Fighters XIV, BlazBlue Centralfiction, Granblue Fantasy: Versus, THE KING OF FIGHTERS XV and others.

Guilty Gear Xrd: Sign

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