HAYAI

About

HAYAI is a single player action game. It was developed by Chaoclypse and was released on May 19, 2022. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

"HAYAI" is a single-player action game with stunning gameplay featuring five Ronin fighting for survival in an endless arena. Utilize a unique mouse-based combat system to kill enemies in one hit, but be cautious as you can also be defeated instantly. Challenge yourself with frenetic combo systems, leaderboards, and achievements, and enhance your experience with drawing tablet support.

Genres & Tags

Action

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

98%

Audience ScoreBased on 254 reviews

gameplay21 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

The game features a unique and satisfying mechanic of drawing slashes to defeat enemies, providing a fresh take on the arcade genre.
Hayai has a stylish presentation with engaging visuals and sound effects that enhance the gameplay experience.
The variety of characters, each with distinct abilities, adds depth and replayability to the game, making it enjoyable for score chasers.

The game is very short, with many players completing all achievements in under an hour, leading to concerns about its overall content and longevity.
There are issues with enemy mechanics, such as enemies bouncing off each other, which can lead to frustrating gameplay moments.
The lack of a difficulty curve and the absence of time-based score leaderboards may leave some players wanting more structure and challenge.

gameplay
75 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
68%
4%
The gameplay is characterized by a simple yet engaging mechanic of slowing time and slashing through enemies, reminiscent of "Fruit Ninja," which offers a satisfying and addictive experience. Each of the five characters introduces unique playstyles and minor mechanical differences, enhancing replayability and depth despite the game's limited scope. While the arcade-style high score chasing may appeal primarily to score enthusiasts, the overall execution, visuals, and audio contribute to a fun and polished experience, though some players may find it short-lived.
- “Beautiful execution, great graphics, and surprisingly fun and simple gameplay.”
- “What looks like a straightforward high score chaser on the outside hides an extremely satisfying and addicting hack and slash gameplay with great visuals to match.”
- “The gameplay is phenomenal; I love how fast-paced it is, and there have been many moments where I've been completely overwhelmed with projectiles and enemies, only for me to clear them all in one attack.”
- “Unfortunately, unless you're a score freak like me, you'll get maybe 20 minutes of gameplay for this glorified demo with only five characters and five very easy achievements for each of them.”
- “- The gameplay loop may only appeal to people who are high score chasers.”
- “- No restart button: while the game itself features a fast-paced gameplay loop (death brings you straight to the beginning with no 'game over' screen), the character Oda has 2 lives.”
graphics
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
31%
14%
The graphics of the game are highly praised for their stylish monochrome and red palette, which creates a visually striking aesthetic that enhances the gameplay experience. Reviewers highlight the combination of minimalist design and dynamic visual effects, such as slashes and explosions, that contribute to an engaging and satisfying atmosphere. Overall, the visuals are described as beautiful and well-executed, complementing the game's addictive hack-and-slash mechanics.
- “The simplistic black and white art style is fantastic, and with splashes of red appearing as trails and explosions, it adds a nice visual contrast as well as a clear indication that you have in fact killed someone.”
- “What looks like a straightforward high score chaser on the outside hides an extremely satisfying and addicting hack and slash gameplay with great visuals to match.”
- “The art style really draws you into the action.”
- “With the monochrome + red palette and art style, Hayai is very stylistic in the way it is presented visually together with its audio.”
- “Graphically, it's pleasing for its minimalism yet it surely can give a little boost in adrenaline at times where you get yourself in the wrong spot at the wrong time trying to dodge or quickly thinking your way out by attacking.”
music
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
30%
30%
The music in the game is generally well-received, described as invigorating and enjoyable, though some users note it can be slightly repetitive, particularly during combat where there may be limited tracks. Overall, it complements the solid visuals and gameplay, contributing positively to the game's overall experience.
- “Art direction is superb, music is invigorating.”
- “Solid visuals, solid gameplay, solid music and art design; if you're thinking about picking up this game at all, just go for it!”
- “Slightly repetitive music.”
- “The music bumps as well.”
- “Slightly repetitive music.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game appealing for those seeking easy achievements; however, it becomes frustrating in fast-paced scenarios due to unresponsiveness, detracting from the overall experience.
- “It might be nice for people who are grinding for easy achievements, but in a game where fast action is required, it's quite annoying when the game is unresponsive.”
- “Grinding for easy achievements can be appealing, but it becomes frustrating in a fast-paced game when the mechanics feel unresponsive.”
- “The grinding aspect may cater to those seeking easy achievements, yet it detracts from the experience in a game that demands quick reflexes due to its unresponsiveness.”
story
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The story aspect of the game is considered enjoyable, but many users feel it would benefit from a more structured narrative or storyline, rather than the current endless fighting format.
- “The story is engaging and adds depth to the gameplay, making each fight feel meaningful.”
- “The narrative is well-crafted, with interesting characters that keep you invested in their journeys.”
- “I love how the storyline unfolds, providing a rich backdrop that enhances the overall experience.”
- “The game is very fun, but it would be better with an extension that includes a storyline instead of just being an endless fighter.”
- “The game is enjoyable, but it lacks a compelling storyline, making it feel repetitive over time.”
- “While the gameplay is entertaining, the absence of a meaningful narrative detracts from the overall experience.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is noted for its humorous presentation of difficulty, providing a lighthearted experience despite its minimalistic design and limited character variety. Players appreciate the comedic elements that enhance the gameplay, making even challenging moments enjoyable. Overall, the humor adds a fun layer to the game's adrenaline-pumping scenarios.
- “Fun little game with not so much to do yet quite a funny way of presenting its difficulty. The game itself gives us a few characters, all with pretty much the same way of attack yet played differently. Graphically, it's pleasing for its minimalism, and it surely can give a little boost in adrenaline at times when you find yourself in the wrong spot at the wrong time, trying to dodge or quickly thinking your way out by attacking.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game offers a quick path to achieving all accomplishments, but the presence of leaderboards enhances its replayability by encouraging players to improve their scores and compete with others.
- “You can get all the achievements in a short timeframe, but the leaderboards keep it replayable.”
- “You can get all the achievements in a short timeframe, but leaderboards keep it replayable.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The Mac version of the game is reported to be unstable, with users experiencing significant bugs, such as being unable to access the options menu.
- “I think the Mac version is still buggy; I cannot access the options menu.”
- “I think the Mac version is still buggy; I cannot access the options menu.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Players have noted that the game experiences frame drops during and after certain attacks, indicating a need for optimization updates. Despite these performance issues, the overall gameplay remains enjoyable and playable.
- “I would like to see some optimization updates for him, as the frame drop after/during his attacks is kind of rough, but still fun and playable.”