Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess

About

In "Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess" , you must purify a defilement-covered Japanese mountain during the day and protect a Maiden from assaults by the Seethe at night. The game features Japanese-inspired elements such as Kagura dance, masks, and music that enhance the unique world setting. Repeat this day-night cycle to cleanse the mountain and restore peace to the land. No information available on the release date or developer/publisher.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess screenshot

97%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,695 reviews

gameplay220 positive mentions

grinding42 negative mentions

The game features stunning visuals and a unique art style inspired by Japanese folklore, creating an immersive atmosphere.
Gameplay combines action and tower defense mechanics, offering a refreshing and engaging experience with strategic depth.
The game is a passion project from Capcom, showcasing creativity and innovation in a market saturated with sequels and remakes.

Some players find the gameplay repetitive, particularly the base-building mechanics and the need to replay levels for bonus objectives.
The difficulty can be inconsistent, with some levels being too easy while others present unexpected challenges.
Technical issues, such as crashes and performance problems, have been reported by some players, affecting the overall experience.

gameplay
599 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
60%
3%
The gameplay of "Kunitsu-gami: Path of the Goddess" is a unique blend of tower defense, hack-and-slash action, and real-time strategy, offering a captivating experience that combines strategic planning with engaging combat. Players appreciate the game's stunning visuals and the variety of mechanics introduced throughout, although some find the gameplay can become repetitive over time. Overall, the game is praised for its addictive gameplay loop and innovative design, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of the genre.
- “Who knew that blending tower defense with Capcom's signature tight hack-and-slash gameplay could create something so remarkable?”
- “The gameplay mixes tower defense, real-time strategy, and 3rd person action, creating a unique and engaging experience.”
- “The art style is stunning, and the gameplay loop masterfully blends tower defense with slasher mechanics, making for a super fun and addictive gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is not anything to run home about.”
- “All in all the gameplay is fairly basic, there's no open world exploration or anything more enticing that you may desire.”
- “Gameplay is only decent.”
story
375 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
78%
3%
The story of "Kunitsu-gami: Path of the Goddess" is minimalistic and primarily conveyed through non-verbal cues, cutscenes, and environmental storytelling, reflecting themes of nature and balance rooted in Japanese folklore. While some players appreciate the emotional depth and atmosphere created by this subtle approach, others find the narrative lacking in complexity and character development. Overall, the game offers a unique storytelling experience that complements its engaging gameplay, though it may not satisfy those seeking a more traditional, dialogue-driven narrative.
- “Over time, you develop a silent bond with her, piecing together her connection to Soh as the story unfolds.”
- “The story is mostly told via physical performance, environmental cues, and lore collected through ema plaques; there is almost no dialogue uttered in the entire game. It's an interesting stylistic choice, but I loved it for this type of story and this type of atmosphere; it's very quiet, it feels almost sacred, like an actual Shintoist ritual.”
- “Some of the game's strongest moments are hidden away and shown to the player in such a delicate, sensible way, becoming a show of confidence to the game's direction: this gentleness is not only part of the story itself but also how the game actually tells it.”
- “The basic plot is pretty straightforward, and characters lack any semblance of personality.”
- “While there is no real story, the gameplay it offers is enough to keep me entertained.”
- “The story is thin, but it is enough to get the gameplay going.”
graphics
329 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
45%
1%
The graphics of "Kunitsu-gami: Path of the Goddess" are widely praised for their stunning art style, which draws heavily from Japanese folklore and traditional aesthetics, creating a vibrant and immersive visual experience. Reviewers highlight the unique character designs, intricate details, and captivating environments that enhance the gameplay, although some note that the graphics may not push the boundaries of realism. Overall, the game's artistic direction is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to its charm and appeal.
- “The art style and direction are absolutely breathtaking, probably some of the best I have seen in any game, and hands down the best we got this year, the music is also supremely good.”
- “Stunning visuals: the game's art style is absolutely breathtaking, with vibrant colors and intricate details that bring the world to life.”
- “The art style, character design, music, color palette, and environments are crafted with a level of originality and love that you don't often see these days - really makes you feel immersed in Japanese folk tales.”
- “Repetitive level design: while the visuals are stunning, some levels can feel a bit repetitive, especially in the later stages.”
- “You need to mess with the graphics a bit to get an acceptable frame-rate though.”
- “Cons: definitely not a 50 euros game, its fair price would be around 30 euros, each stage has 3 hidden objectives that you only see after completing the level so expect to play each level 2 times, graphic options are a bit weird and players will struggle to make the game crisp clear and not blurry without losing too many fps.”
music
279 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
42%
1%
The music in the game is widely praised for its enchanting blend of traditional Japanese styles and modern influences, creating an immersive atmosphere that enhances gameplay and storytelling. While many players find the soundtrack captivating and fitting for the game's themes, some note a lack of variety, particularly in battle music, which can become repetitive. Overall, the music significantly contributes to the game's unique aesthetic and emotional depth, making it a standout feature.
- “The music is very energetic and draws from traditional Japanese music, it also ties with the lore since the act of purification is tied to the priestess and the villagers doing a purification dance, and not only do the characters dance to the beat but the very background itself and the demonic infestation being purified pulses with the beat of the music, you can't help but shake along with the music.”
- “The highlight is the traditional Japanese aesthetics, perfectly done ukiyo-e inspired art style packed with a superb soundtrack and awesome sound effects.”
- “The traditional Japanese soundtrack complements the visuals, creating an immersive experience that transports players to a world of ancient spirits and mythical battles.”
- “The scarce voice acting that the game has is barely audible, even maxing out the volume, and the soundtrack lacks variety; most of the tracks (especially the ones of the villages after the land is healed) are plain boring.”
- “Protip: play some of your favorite music instead of the in-game music if you want to prevent headaches and traumas.”
- “In ng+ the music changes but you may not notice.”
atmosphere
56 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
49%
5%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its enchanting art style, immersive music, and deep connection to Japanese folklore, creating a sacred and magical experience. Players appreciate the blend of calming and eerie elements, with distinct levels that evoke a range of emotions from tranquility to dread. Overall, the atmosphere is described as beautifully crafted, enhancing both the gameplay and storytelling, making it a standout feature of the game.
- “From beginning to end, I was enraptured, completely taken by the magical atmosphere of this masterpiece.”
- “The art style is reminiscent of classic titles like Okami, with beautifully executed graphics and effects that enhance the mystical atmosphere.”
- “They got the atmosphere just right, alternating between the super creepy monsters during fights to the calming moments when you're rebuilding villages.”
- “It uses the atmosphere and music really well and there are some levels where as the night grows closer and closer I start feeling actual dread and fear.”
- “Incredible setting and design creates an atmosphere of horror, and tense level design (especially near the end) compliments this.”
- “The first half of the game is a lot of fun, but as it gets near the end it becomes much more stressful, especially with the time limit and creepy atmosphere.”
replayability
54 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
63%
6%
The game offers significant replayability through its well-designed levels, manageable challenges, and various side objectives that encourage players to revisit stages for rewards and unlocks. While some players appreciate the depth and strategic options available, others feel that the linear nature and base-building mechanics can detract from the experience. Overall, the combination of engaging gameplay, artistic design, and a lack of microtransactions contributes to a high replay value, making it a worthwhile investment for players.
- “The additional challenges that offer substantial and meaningful rewards also make replayability great, and I was constantly thinking of new ways to manage my resources and plan to tackle a previously cleared level.”
- “Replayability is high with many varied ways to approach missions and the various bonus goals.”
- “As is tradition with Capcom titles, the game is big on being replayable with side objectives becoming unlocked after completion and the ability to farm up crystals and rations in easier missions if a more current one is giving you a hard time.”
- “My only wish is for more content—27 levels feels a bit short; yeah, sure it has replay value, but still.”
- “It forces replayability where unnecessary.”
- “Base building after finishing levels is tedious and another excuse for 'replayability' as the only way to make progress on the base building is to replay levels (sometimes multiple times).”
grinding
42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The grinding aspect of the game is often described as tedious, particularly in late-game scenarios where completionists may find themselves replaying levels multiple times for upgrades and base building. While some players appreciate the cathartic nature of revisiting stages and the peacefulness of certain tasks, many express frustration with the repetitive mechanics and cumbersome menus that detract from the overall enjoyment. Despite these criticisms, the gameplay loop remains engaging for many, with some arguing that the grind is not excessive and can enhance the experience.
- “My biggest dislike, frankly, are some of the bosses. While they all have impeccable presentation, actually fighting a certain number of them is tedious.”
- “Base building after finishing levels is tedious and another excuse for 'replayability' as the only way to make progress on the base building is to replay levels (sometimes multiple times).”
- “Additionally, the process is rather tedious, as you have to visit each base one by one with a loading screen between every base.”
optimization
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
56%
9%
Overall, the game's optimization is praised for its polish and performance, with many players reporting smooth gameplay and a wide range of graphical settings. However, some users have experienced performance issues on specific platforms, including crashes and disappointing performance on the Steam Deck. Despite these concerns, the control optimization and overall aesthetic contribute to a positive gaming experience.
- “Outstanding game with wonderful polish (wide range of graphical optimization settings to your PC's content) despite Denuvo out there to eat your PC for breakfast.”
- “The control optimization is spot-on, letting you dive into the hack and slash action while effortlessly commanding your villagers to assist you.”
- “Beautiful game and well optimized.”
- “Performance issues: some players have reported performance issues, particularly on certain platforms.”
- “I found performance to be sometimes disappointing on the Steam Deck.”
- “Hoping for some optimization down the line, but could just be my 2-year-old system starting to feel its age.”
monetization
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
40%
40%
Kunitsu-gami stands out for its complete absence of microtransactions, offering players a full game experience with significant replay value and a well-contained story. Unlike many contemporary titles that rely on live service models and monetization strategies, this game emphasizes fun and unique gameplay, reflecting a genuine passion from its developers. However, its lack of visibility in the market may hinder its recognition and success.
- “The game is free from microtransactions, boasts significant replay value, and delivers a well-contained story.”
- “They released it as a full game with no microtransactions, unlike a lot of games going towards the live service route.”
- “It seems every other game is the sequel to a game from 5 years ago: remastered, live service cash grab.”
- “Kunitsu-gami is a reminder that great games start with fun and unique experiences, not cosmetic skins and monetization loops disguised as gameplay.”
- “It's clearly a passion project of someone at Capcom, but I don't think the game is getting the advertisement it deserves; it seems to be disappointingly unnoticed.”
character development
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
80%
20%
The game excels in character development through its outstanding design and storytelling, effectively immersing players in a rich tapestry of medieval Japanese lore with minimal dialogue. The characters Soh and Yoshiro stand out, and the combination of action, strategy, and a well-paced narrative enhances the overall experience, making it both rewarding and engaging. The originality in art style and motion capture further elevates the characters, contributing to a captivating gameplay experience.
- “Soh and Yoshiro have outstanding character design, and the game does a great job of telling the story with almost no dialogue.”
- “Steeped in medieval Japanese lore, tons of unlocks, a surprisingly large reward and skill ceiling, in-game challenges, very good pacing, new game+ with unique add-ons, awesome character design... this game just kept surprising me.”
- “Great mix of action and strategy with a well-crafted story, amazing character design, and a surprising difficulty curve.”
emotional
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by the developers' genuine passion and meticulous attention to detail, which creates a heartwarming experience. Despite its simple premise, the game evokes deep feelings through its themes of nature and balance, reminiscent of Shinto beliefs, and features poignant storytelling that elicits empathy for characters and a bittersweet sense of resolution. Overall, players find the emotional core of the game resonates strongly throughout the gameplay, enhancing its unique and beautiful narrative.
- “Despite being an extremely simple story and premise, it still feels really emotional and deep, thanks to Yoshiro and the themes of nature and balance typical of Shinto.”
- “There's an emotional core that resonates through the gameplay.”
- “This is a game that made me feel pity for the bosses' backstories, a sense of relief when dawn approaches, and a bittersweet ending.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by quirky and amusing elements that engage players, with some reviewers drawing nostalgic comparisons to titles like Bujingai. Additionally, there are playful suggestions, such as the desire for an unlockable Gackt skin, highlighting the lighthearted and whimsical tone of the game.
- “There are also lots of quirky, funny little things to do.”
- “Also hilariously reminds me of Bujingai, and I wish for an unlockable Gackt skin.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players report that the game runs smoothly and remains stable during gameplay, with no issues noted in the initial hours of play.
- “The game runs great and stable in the 2 hours I've played it so far.”