SWORD ART ONLINE Fractured Daydream

While I wouldn't say Sword Art Online Fractured Daydream breaks the mold, it does a lot of cool things that are worth experiencing. The wide range of characters, coupled with a plethora of stats create an experience that encourages players to give it their all. This, coupled with thrilling modes like co-op quests makes it an experience that might not reinvent the wheel, but it is a lot of fun with plenty of room to grow.

78%Game Brain Score

story, gameplay

grinding, monetization

80% User Score Based on 1,076 reviews

Critic Score 73%Based on 2 reviews

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"SWORD ART ONLINE Fractured Daydream is a new entry in the series, offering a fresh start with the Galaxia system. This RPG allows players to reexperience past SAO games in a new way. The Deluxe and Premium Editions come with DLCs, early access, and bonus costume sets."

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SWORD ART ONLINE Fractured Daydream screenshot

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80%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,076 reviews

story150 positive mentions

grinding133 negative mentions

The game features a wide variety of characters, each with unique abilities and playstyles, making combat engaging and fun.
The multiplayer aspect allows for large-scale co-op raids with up to 20 players, creating a thrilling and dynamic gameplay experience.
The graphics and animations are visually appealing, bringing the world of Sword Art Online to life in a way that fans will appreciate.

The game suffers from repetitive gameplay, with limited mission variety and a grind-heavy structure that can lead to player burnout.
Combat mechanics can feel clunky and unresponsive, with issues related to targeting, camera control, and animation locks.
The presence of microtransactions and a battle pass system in a full-priced game raises concerns about its value and monetization strategy.

story
687 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
72%
6%
The story of "Sword Art Online: Fractured Daydream" has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its engaging plot and character interactions, especially for fans of the anime. While some find the narrative compelling and a significant improvement over previous titles, others criticize it for being repetitive and lacking depth, often feeling like a grind to unlock characters and content. Overall, the story serves as a decent framework for the gameplay, but its execution may not satisfy all players, particularly those seeking a rich narrative experience.
- “I have been wanting to play an SAO game that actually feels like part of the story. In this game, you get to play as people you know and love from the show, kill very recognizable mobs and bosses, and actually get to explore the beauty that is Sword Art Online.”
- “The story is compelling, full of twists and turns that made me emotionally invested in the characters and their fate.”
- “From the moment you step into the game, you're immersed in a beautifully crafted world filled with stunning visuals, epic battles, and a gripping story that keeps you hooked.”
- “The price you are paying is purely for the sake of multiplayer experience as the story dialogue and quests are quite bad.”
- “The story is incredibly mediocre, but the missions themselves are fine.”
- “Dragging story that bars the actual multiplayer content - even skipping every cut scene, the story mode drags on for hours and is just repeatedly fighting groups of the same 7-10 enemies from game start to game finish with the bosses being the only real unique experience of any mission.”
gameplay
199 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
55%
12%
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players enjoying the fun and engaging mechanics, particularly in co-op modes, while others criticize it for being clunky, repetitive, and lacking polish. Many noted issues with camera control, movement delays, and a grindy gameplay loop that can become tedious over time. Overall, while the game offers enjoyable elements for fans of the genre, it may not meet the expectations of those seeking a more refined experience.
- “First SAO game, and the gameplay is very enjoyable and entertaining that I didn't notice I played this amount of hours straight!”
- “The game expands on the series’ beloved themes of virtual reality and survival while introducing fresh mechanics and challenges that keep you on the edge of your seat.”
- “Super fun gameplay, highly recommended if you like GBF Relink and Monster Hunter games.”
- “The main issue with gameplay is the camera, lock on, and some of the skills locking you in animation.”
- “Gameplay is quite repetitive and you'll be most definitely rerunning maps and bosses if you care for the cosmetics that drop, or to grind ranks, weapons, and accessories (the grind never stops).”
- “Felt like playing some unfinished game demo, sloppy controls and horrible fighting mechanics.”
grinding
133 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is widely regarded as extremely grindy, with many players noting that progression relies heavily on repetitive tasks such as farming the same bosses and dungeons for gear and loot. While some enjoy the grind and find it engaging, others feel it becomes tedious and detracts from the overall experience, particularly in the later stages of the game. Players who appreciate grinding will likely find enjoyment, but those who prefer a more varied gameplay experience may want to approach with caution.
- “You’re constantly grinding to reach the next region, but the division by levels ruins the flow of the game, especially when you just want to explore freely with other players.”
- “Online play resets characters to level 1 each time, and the grind for equipment and loot drops is tedious.”
- “The game is also extremely grindy, which wouldn't be a problem if the game was fun.”
monetization
56 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
5%
49%
46%
The monetization strategy of the game has drawn mixed reactions, with many players labeling it a cash grab due to the presence of microtransactions for cosmetic items and a battle pass, despite these purchases being optional. While some appreciate that the microtransactions are not predatory and are reasonably priced, others feel that the full-price tag of the game combined with additional costs for cosmetics undermines its value. Overall, the sentiment leans towards disappointment, with players expressing frustration over the perceived exploitation and the game's reliance on monetization.
- “The microtransactions don't seem to be predatory as they are completely optional.”
- “I've seen people complain about microtransactions which blows my mind since they are purely cosmetic and cheaper than most games, being at $10.”
- “Plus, I've only seen microtransactions for in-game costumes so far, which is a nice change!”
- “While the transactions are only for cosmetic items, it still feels like a blatant cash grab after you’ve already spent your hard-earned money on a subpar game.”
- “If this was a free game I wouldn't mind as much because that's sadly the norm in video games, but for a full price game to have a store, battle pass, multiple currencies etc. is just a cash grab.”
- “An RNG system for perks adds further frustration, while a cash grab mentality with cosmetic microtransactions and a battle pass leaves players feeling exploited.”
graphics
55 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
46%
9%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the vibrant environments, detailed character models, and overall visual appeal, particularly for an anime title. However, some players criticize the graphics as outdated or bland, likening them to older console standards, and feel that they do not meet expectations for a premium-priced game. Overall, while the visuals are generally considered solid and immersive, there are notable concerns regarding their quality relative to current gaming standards.
- “From the moment you step into the game, you're immersed in a beautifully crafted world filled with stunning visuals, epic battles, and a gripping story that keeps you hooked.”
- “Incredible graphics: the environments are breathtaking, with detailed landscapes, vibrant towns, and fluid animations that bring the world of Aincrad and beyond to life.”
- “The visuals are stunning, with vibrant environments and beautifully detailed character models that bring the SAO universe to life in a way that fans of the series will truly appreciate.”
- “The graphics look like a 2010 PS2 game.”
- “Poor quality: the graphics, gameplay mechanics, and overall polish feel outdated or incomplete.”
- “Now I do have some complaints about this game. First, the graphics are on the low side for a 60-dollar game; however, when it comes to action animation, that's where their budget truly shined.”
music
39 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
72%
10%
The music in the game has received positive feedback for its seamless looping and effective blending of field and battle themes, reminiscent of the anime's soundtrack. While some tracks are praised, others are noted as hit or miss, with a desire for more variety and inclusion of specific songs from previous titles. Overall, the soundtrack enhances the gaming experience, though some players feel the additional cost for the artbook and soundtrack may not be justified.
- “Let me gush out on the music first as review opening: it goshdarn loops seamlessly, and field-to-battle themes blend & change very well without playing back to the beginning!”
- “The music itself is great all things considered.”
- “Music: it's pretty similar to the anime and fits well in most scenarios.”
- “They even reused some of the soundtrack from some of the older games.”
- “Why you made Yuna mute lmao, it's only just a few seconds; why not include a cut of her music?”
- “Music in general can be hit or miss; for instance, Lakeside Woods's BGM didn't initially catch me when I first heard it during the online test, so I was worried about the BGM quality at the time.”
optimization
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
67%
9%
The game's optimization is a mixed bag, with some players reporting smooth performance on lower settings (1080p) and older hardware, while others experience significant issues even on high-end PCs, particularly with effects and CPU usage. While minor bugs and occasional frame rate dips occur, developers are actively working on improvements. Overall, the game seems better suited for controller users, and performance can vary widely depending on the system and settings used.
- “Well optimized, runs great on my aging PC.”
- “Steam Deck runs this great, online works well, frame rates dip a little in a couple odd spots like one forest section, but otherwise even hectic 20-player boss fights don't see any noticeable performance drops.”
- “Occasional minor bugs and performance hiccups, but nothing game-breaking, and the developers seem committed to addressing these issues quickly with regular updates.”
- “The game is heavily unoptimized.”
- “It runs very poorly even on high-end PCs due to the optimization of the effects, rendering, and the game's CPU usage.”
- “Okay, first off I need to rant about how terrible the PC port of this game is, because the performance and gameplay issues are my biggest personal complaints.”
humor
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by the inclusion of quirky characters and their amusing interactions, such as the funny magic lady with big hair and the comedic dynamics between characters like Llenn, Eugeo, and Quinella. Players appreciate the lighthearted elements, including funny character designs and playful gameplay mechanics, though some find the overall story nonsensical. Despite some frustrations with gameplay mechanics, the humor remains a standout feature that adds charm to the experience.
- “I am able to play as a funny magic lady with big hair who can fly, shoots big lasers, drops a funny sword man on people, and is voiced by Maaya Sakamoto (Jalter and Dao my beloved).”
- “It's so funny they included Llenn in the story, and there's Eugeo and Quinella; all of their interactions are so interesting.”
- “The funny part is that they're not even a DPS character like a rogue or a mage; they're a support and a tank.”
stability
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
78%
Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while it is well-optimized and runs smoothly on various systems, significant issues arise from its reliance on a buggy multiplayer mode that restricts access to most content. Players report frustrating bugs, such as character freezing and input loss, particularly affecting those using mouse and keyboard controls. Additionally, the requirement for an online connection for certain modes and the loss of offline achievements contribute to a negative experience.
- “Well optimized, runs great on my aging PC.”
- “95% of content is locked behind a buggy and laggy multiplayer that the developers created. Only commons and uncommons drop in story mode, and there's a single-player tower mode after the story that requires an online connection for no reason. The developers sell coins for cosmetics, which I'm usually okay with, but not in a full-priced game. If you don't want to play the buggy 10fps multiplayer (and it's not my PC; I have a 4080 and 1 gig up and down internet), you are locked out of almost all content. If you create items while offline and somehow manage to get a legendary, it gets deleted because you weren't online. It's absolute trash!”
- “Sometimes, if you press the tab or ` key or while clicking the mouse on the screen, the character freezes and input control is completely lost for the game unless you alt-tab out to another monitor and then alt-tab back in. The game still recognizes mouse clicks when this happens but not keyboard input, so it knows it's an active screen for the mouse but not for the keyboard. I feel like this is a developer bug, not a setup issue, due to its inconsistency.”
- “If the combat is janky and buggy for people who feel more comfortable with mouse and keyboard, then obviously the relatively small issues are going to feel horrible when you've been dealing with them for the 90-100 hours it takes to unlock the highest level of content.”
emotional
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a strong emotional connection to the game, highlighting the nostalgia of revisiting beloved characters and the compelling, twist-filled story that deepens their investment in the characters' fates. The camaraderie experienced during gameplay, such as reviving teammates and celebrating victories, adds a wholesome layer to the emotional experience, despite some frustrations with repetitive tasks. Overall, the game successfully evokes a sense of nostalgia and emotional engagement.
- “Really made me feel like I was experiencing SAO for the first time all over again, seeing all the characters from Aincrad, ALO, GGO, OS, and the Underworld come together and fight evil.”
- “The story is compelling, full of twists and turns that made me emotionally invested in the characters and their fate.”
- “The feeling of spamming emotes after finishing a dungeon beside others who revived you because you carelessly stood in front of a 1-hit kill mechanic is wholesome.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The game offers a short but replayable campaign featuring 20 cooperative missions and a free roam mode, allowing players to engage in loot collection and combat against random bosses. However, the free roam experience lacks depth, providing limited activities beyond basic enemy encounters. Overall, while the cooperative elements enhance replayability, the content may feel repetitive over time.
- “The campaign is short but replayable, featuring 20 player co-op missions with 5 teams of 4 players. As teams get stronger, they combine for the final boss raids. The free roam mode is enjoyable, although there isn't much to do aside from looting chests and defeating random enemies or bosses. It's fun for what the mode offers.”
- “The campaign is short but replayable, featuring 20 player co-op missions with 5 teams of 4 players. As teams get stronger, they combine for the final boss raids. The free roam mode is enjoyable, although there isn't much to do aside from looting chests and defeating random enemies or bosses. It's fun for what the mode offers.”
- “The campaign is short and replayable, featuring 20 player co-op missions with 5 four-player parties that get stronger. However, once all teams are combined for the last boss, the experience feels limited. The free roam mode is decent, but there's not much to do aside from looting chests and defeating random enemies or bosses you encounter. It's fun for what it is, but lacks depth.”
- “The campaign is short and replayable, featuring 20 player co-op missions with 5 four-player parties that get stronger. However, once all teams are combined for the last boss, the experience feels limited. The free roam mode is decent, but there's not much to do aside from looting chests and defeating random enemies or bosses you encounter. It's fun for what it is, but lacks depth.”