Tekken 7
- November 22, 2021
- Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc.
- 21h median play time
Tekken 7 is a hallmark fighting game that's both accessible and highly technical, with great customization options.
TEKKEN 7 is a fighting game where players battle in various arenas using a variety of characters, each with unique moves and combos. The story mode follows the epic showdown and generational clash between the Mishima clan, while the versatile online features and robust customization options add to its replayability. Utilizing the Unreal Engine, the game boasts improved graphics and seamless fighting experiences.
Reviews
- story2,457 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The story of Tekken 7 has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its focus on the Mishima family saga and the cinematic presentation, while others criticize it for being short and lacking depth. The main storyline is engaging for long-time fans, but the character-specific episodes are often seen as underwhelming, consisting of a single fight and minimal narrative. Overall, while the game offers a decent story mode, it is primarily designed for multiplayer gameplay, and many players feel that the story could have been more substantial and better integrated with the character arcs.
“The story mode dives deep into the Mishima family feud, providing a gripping narrative that ties together decades of Tekken lore.”
“An outstanding fighting game experience that beautifully combines deep mechanics with stunning visuals and a rich storyline.”
“The story mode is engaging, providing insight into the long-standing rivalry between the Mishima family while also showcasing individual character arcs.”
“This game's story mode is disappointingly short and lacks depth.”
“The story mode is a complete mess in a myriad of ways and is about as content-filled as any game ever.”
“The story mode is very much like the recent Mortal Kombat games, even to include QTEs.”
- gameplay2,027 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
Tekken 7 delivers a polished and engaging gameplay experience, combining classic mechanics with new features like rage arts and power crushes that enhance strategic depth. The combat system is smooth and responsive, allowing for a wide range of character styles and combos, making it accessible for newcomers while still offering complexity for veterans. However, the lack of a comprehensive tutorial and some balance issues in online play can be challenging for new players, but overall, the gameplay remains a standout aspect of the series.
“Tekken 7 shines where it matters most: the gameplay.”
“The combat system is smooth, responsive, and rewarding, keeping the series’ legacy of deep mechanics intact.”
“With its deep and satisfying combat mechanics, diverse character roster, and breathtaking visuals, Tekken 7 offers a fighting experience that is both accessible to newcomers and rewarding to seasoned veterans.”
“The repetitive nature of battles and lack of innovation within this mode make it feel like a chore rather than an exciting part of the gameplay experience.”
“The lack of a tutorial or explanation of the game's mechanics makes it a very tough and somewhat frustrating newcomer experience, but this can be overcome, and I would be lying if I said the core gameplay wasn't great.”
“The mechanics themselves are pretty solid, albeit basic.”
- graphics1,214 mentions
- 59 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The graphics in Tekken 7 are widely praised for their stunning visuals, detailed character models, and vibrant stages, showcasing the capabilities of the Unreal Engine 4. Many players highlight the game's ability to run smoothly on various hardware configurations, even at high settings, while some note that certain character models appear dated compared to newer titles. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the immersive experience, making it a standout in the fighting game genre.
“The graphics are breathtaking, with detailed character models and vibrant stages that enhance the overall immersion.”
“An outstanding fighting game experience that beautifully combines deep mechanics with stunning visuals and a rich storyline.”
“Tekken 7 is a visual marvel with stunning graphics and immersive environments.”
“The main downgrade is going to be both the graphics and the current availability of matches due to its age.”
“Its a barren wasteland of content, terrible story mode besides the very cool final battle, art style is the worst in the series besides the PS1 games, was only so popular because it was the only Tekken on Steam, all the stages are just round boxes, very boring.”
“The graphics look outdated for the original characters especially, newer ones tend to be graphically much more polished since the dev team has learned to render more detailed models but nothing has been done to update the original character's models.”
- music583 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The music in Tekken 7 has received mixed reviews, with many praising its energetic and diverse soundtrack that complements the intense gameplay, while others criticize it for being repetitive or lacking the memorable quality of previous installments. Some players appreciate the inclusion of tracks from earlier games and the ability to create custom playlists, although this feature is limited on the PC version. Overall, while the soundtrack has standout tracks that enhance the fighting experience, it also has its share of detractors who find it less impressive compared to earlier titles in the series.
“The soundtrack pumps you up with a mix of electronic beats and hard-hitting tunes, perfectly complementing the intense action.”
“The music is an absolute banger and totally keeps you engaged with the hype of the fights.”
“The soundtrack is fantastic, online seems to have little to no issue finding a match with a good connection to your opponent, and there's plenty of things to collect for characters.”
“The soundtrack is weaker than what the series is known for, that's one firm downside compared to previous installments.”
“Most of the soundtrack is bad, but it’s not a game-breaking element.”
“The music is the worst of any Tekken game I've played.”
- optimization317 mentions
- 62 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
Overall, "Tekken 7" is praised for its strong optimization on PC, allowing it to run smoothly even on lower-end hardware, with many players reporting stable frame rates and impressive graphics. However, some users have experienced connectivity issues and occasional stuttering, particularly in online modes, which detracts from the overall experience. Despite these concerns, the game is generally regarded as one of the best-optimized fighting games available, making it accessible to a wide range of players.
“The game is so well optimized that I can even run the game at 60 fps on my UHD 620 integrated graphics laptop, granted at the lowest settings and 50% resolution scale, but still better than nothing.”
“It's ridiculously well optimized.”
“This game is immensely fun, I have been gaming since '93, and I can tell you, man this is a great game, it is very well optimized, the gameplay is fluid enough for a casual to pick it up easily and is also very deep to get into the pro scene.”
“This game is so poorly optimized.”
“Started playing this for an hour but mainly optimizing and lowering every setting just to stop the frequent stuttering and freezing, and nothing works!”
“The performance degraded with every update.”
- humor157 mentions
- 99 % positive mentions
- -1 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The humor in Tekken 7 is widely praised for its quirky characters, absurd customization options, and entertaining cutscenes, which often blend comedy with the game's serious undertones. Players enjoy the comedic elements brought by characters like the funny panda and sumo wrestler, as well as the ridiculous situations that arise during gameplay, making it a fun experience, especially in multiplayer settings. However, some critiques mention that the humor can sometimes feel forced or disrupt immersion, particularly in the story mode.
“Tekken 7, you've won me over with your hilarious charm and ridiculous fun.”
“The customization system just adds to this with hilarious costume options that'll have you and your friends joking around for hours.”
“I really love Tekken, the world of Tekken is funny and badass at the same time.”
“The character episodes are just utter nonsense, resembling a parody that fails to be funny.”
“The humor feels forced and often falls flat, making it hard to enjoy the game.”
“Many jokes miss the mark entirely, leaving me more confused than amused.”
- grinding99 mentions
- 3 % positive mentions
- 18 % neutral mentions
- 79 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being excessively tedious and time-consuming, often requiring players to invest countless hours to progress or unlock items. Many reviewers express frustration with the ranking system, which can negate hard-earned progress after a single loss, and the overwhelming need to learn intricate character matchups and combos. While some players appreciate the depth and challenge that grinding offers, the overall sentiment leans towards it being an unfun and exhausting experience that detracts from the enjoyment of the game.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“A bit grindy... sometimes.”
“One long, tedious grind.”
“Ranking system sucks because you could spend an entire day grinding and have it taken away for a single loss.”
“This kind of 'unfun grinding' makes the community very toxic, especially online.”
“The single player doesn't seem to have enough to keep the playability up unless you like grinding out customization items or just doing survival runs because the story mode is so lackluster.”
- stability93 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 2 % neutral mentions
- 54 % negative mentions
The stability of the game is a mixed bag, with many players reporting frequent glitches, crashes, and connection issues, particularly in online modes. While some users experience smooth gameplay and good performance on various hardware, others face significant problems like lag, freezing, and buggy matchmaking. Overall, the game shows potential for improvement with ongoing patches, but current stability remains a concern for many players.
“Game runs great on PC, which is a rarity for a fighting game.”
“The game runs great and I have had zero issues with online play.”
“Runs great, plays great, fantastic port, everything works as it should on day 1.”
“Players online can run lag switches, slowing the game to a crawl (<1 fps) until you disconnect or your game freezes/crashes, which gives you a penalty.”
“The game is horrendously buggy (i.e: crashes if you breathe the wrong way, or dare alt+tab out of the game).”
“You have an option to select best ping matchmaking but I don't know if it is because of other person's computer or not or maybe some kind of bug abuse... it is really annoying when it freezes every 2 seconds and because of this you lose the ranked match... worst competitive gameplay ever had.”
- replayability63 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
Overall, Tekken 7 is praised for its high replayability, driven by a diverse character roster, multiple game modes (including arcade and treasure battles), and robust online features. While some players miss traditional single-player content, the game's depth and customization options, along with user-generated content from Steam Workshop, contribute to its enduring appeal. Despite some criticisms regarding offline modes, many reviewers highlight the game's potential for endless enjoyment, particularly in competitive play.
“The character roster is diverse and each fighter feels unique, offering endless hours of replayability.”
“Steam workshop support allows players to access a wealth of user-generated content, from custom costumes to mods, enhancing replayability.”
“Its infinite replayability, unlimited skill ceiling, and tremendous roster of characters will have me playing for countless hours for years to come.”
“First Tekken game since 4 without decent replayable offline content, and that was a big part of the Tekken series in my opinion.”
“I demanded a refund after I realized there was no replayability in the single player, only to be turned down.”
“So I guess overall don't get it, replayability only goes so far when you are doing so little in the replay.”
- monetization49 mentions
- 6 % positive mentions
- 49 % neutral mentions
- 45 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising the absence of microtransactions and in-game purchases, while others criticize the presence of numerous paid DLCs and a perceived cash grab mentality. Many players express disappointment over the locking of content behind paywalls, contrasting it with previous titles that offered more unlockable content through gameplay. Overall, the sentiment leans towards frustration with the monetization practices, particularly in comparison to other fighting games.
“No microtransactions, no fight-pass, no heat system.”
“This is better than Tekken 8 for one reason and one reason only... there are no microtransactions.”
“All free, with no microtransactions to be had.”
“Where you buy the game and think you have a full game but find out everything is behind a paywall and you can't earn characters in-game unless you put on an advertisement suit or watch ads in between fights.”
“The monetization of this game is pretty egregious - locking valuable frame data and labbing certain characters behind a paywall.”
“I really want to recommend this game, but the amount of microtransactions, in-game purchases, and lack of single-player content this game has really turns me off.”
- emotional49 mentions
- 96 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its exploration of complex family dynamics, particularly within the Mishima clan, which evokes a range of feelings from heartwarming moments to deep sadness. While the main story is praised for its emotional depth, some side stories lack engagement, leading to a sense of detachment. Overall, players experience a rollercoaster of emotions, from joy and nostalgia to heartbreak, making it a unique entry in the fighting game genre.
“Dive into the Mishima family feud and experience the emotional rollercoaster of the characters.”
“I love playing games that make me want to cry.”
“The story is very emotional and serious; there is not even a drop of humor in it.”
“The most boring story I've ever played... hopefully the extra character chapters won't be as disappointing!”
“Practice, arcade, a quite boring story mode (both the main story and the character endings are abysmal), and maybe some snooze-fest of a Tekken Bowl mode DLC that gives you a title and hit effects?”
- character development39 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it underwhelming and lacking depth, which hinders emotional attachment to the characters. While the character designs are often praised for their uniqueness and aesthetic appeal, the overall narrative and development are seen as insufficient, leaving some players wanting more engaging lore and backstory. Despite these criticisms, the gameplay mechanics and character variety are highlighted as strong points, suggesting that while the characters may look good, their development does not match the quality of the gameplay experience.
“I know some might say 'it's a fighting game, who cares about the story', but to many the lore and character development is also important and adds to the overall experience.”
“Been a Tekken fan since the first series, I can say this game is evolving a lot, especially on the character development.”
“It is seriously a skill that you hone and learn but what's amazing about Tekken, is every character is so deep with their own preferred playstyle, moveset, and character design that you will spend hours learning a second character.”
“This lack of meaningful character development makes it challenging for players to form any real attachment to the fighters.”
“Fun was had by all, but if you take a moment to think about it honestly, the presentation was much better than the overall plot and the character development.”
“This iteration has lackluster offline modes and character development, so do not expect to play single-player that much.”
- atmosphere13 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in the game is praised for its engaging character designs, intense soundscapes, and immersive storytelling, contributing to a rich and dynamic experience. While some reviews note a decline in detail and creativity compared to earlier titles, the overall ambiance remains a strong point, enhancing both competitive and casual play. The combination of action, customization, and humor adds depth to the game's environment, making it memorable for players.
“Fighting, action, great soundtracks, 3D fighter, anime, beat 'em up, story rich, atmospheric.”
“Most of the scares aren't even jump scares; the intensity of the atmosphere mixed with the sound, the story, and the paranormal phenomena you witness all add up to one of the most intense fear-inducing pieces of media I've consumed.”
“You meet most of the characters and indulge in very short and often humor-filled mini-stories that are meant mostly to bring you even deeper into the Tekken atmosphere.”
“Customization, atmosphere, modes, character endings, character models, and general attention to detail have been reduced to nearly nothing.”
“The only thing that was keeping me from deleting the game was the atmosphere.”
“Most of the scares aren't even jump scares; the intensity of the atmosphere mixed with the sound, the story, and the paranormal phenomena that you witness all add up to one of the most intense fear-inducing pieces of media I've consumed.”
Critic Reviews
Tekken 7 Review - Jin Versus The Volcano
Bandai Namco isn't reinventing the wheel with Tekken 7, but it's been long enough that a solid entry in the franchise feels fresh. The new additions are small in scope but deliver in a big way, making this easily one of the best entries in the series.
90%Brawl in the family - Tekken 7 Review
Finally joining the fray for PlayStation 4, Tekken 7 is an excellent blend of action and detailed characters. With deep mechanics and fun gameplay, it’s a worthy installment to one of the most prolific fighting series in history.
85%Tekken 7 Review
At the end of day, Tekken 7 is a great fighting game, possibly one of the best, if you plan on playing with others. But as a game that leaves you to find joy on your own, while there is fun to be had, you’d have to fight through less than favorable situations to find it.
80%