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Touken Ranbu Warriors

Touken Ranbu Warriors has some great new ideas for the genre, but its lack of any challenge really lets it down.
Touken Ranbu Warriors Game Cover
72%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
character development, grinding
76% User Score Based on 78 reviews
Critic Score 65%Based on 2 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchPCSteam DeckWindows
Touken Ranbu Warriors Game Cover

About

Touken Ranbu Warriors is a single player hack and slash game. It was developed by KOEI TECMO GAMES CO., LTD. and was released on May 23, 2022. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.

Touken Ranbu Warriors is an action console game for Nintendo Switch and PC via DMM Game Player.

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76%
Audience ScoreBased on 78 reviews
story15 positive mentions
grinding3 negative mentions

  • The game features beautiful character designs and animations, appealing to fans of the Touken Ranbu series.
  • It serves as a good introduction to Musou games for newcomers, with simplified gameplay and accessible mechanics.
  • The story and character interactions are enjoyable, providing a charming experience for fans of the franchise.
  • The gameplay is overly simplistic and lacks depth compared to traditional Musou titles, with short missions and limited enemy variety.
  • The game is primarily targeted at Touken Ranbu fans, which may alienate players looking for a more robust Musou experience.
  • The price point is considered high for the amount of content and gameplay offered, leading many to recommend waiting for a sale.
  • story
    85 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of the game is generally well-received, with many players appreciating its charm and emotional depth, particularly for those familiar with the Touken Ranbu franchise. While some find the narrative simplistic and reliant on prior knowledge of the series, others enjoy the character interactions and the blend of lighthearted moments with more serious themes. However, the gameplay structure, including short missions and linear maps, has drawn criticism for limiting exploration and variety, which can detract from the overall storytelling experience.

    • “The story is well made and has a very sad ending, in my opinion.”
    • “The best thing about this game was the story.”
    • “I really enjoy how the story went along as it felt true to a classic Touken Ranbu story.”
    • “While I did manage to like some characters, the story doesn't really show them off that well.”
    • “The story is very simple and lacks depth, making it feel shallow overall.”
    • “The game starts extremely simplistic in both gameplay, level design, and story, but all of them get deeper after chapter 1.”
  • gameplay
    30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it overly simplistic and lacking the depth typical of traditional warriors titles. While some appreciate the variety introduced through stealth and investigation elements, others criticize the repetitive nature and limited enemy encounters, making it feel shallow. Overall, it may appeal to newcomers to the genre seeking casual fun, but veterans of the warriors series might find it unsatisfying.

    • “The game starts extremely simplistic in both gameplay, level design, and story, but all of them get deeper after chapter 1.”
    • “This game also features various sections with different gameplay such as stealth sections and investigations to break up the monotony.”
    • “All in all, the game is gorgeous and features really solid musou gameplay with 16 characters who all feel fairly unique.”
    • “If you're a fan of the Warriors titles, the gameplay is not for you, as many users have indicated.”
    • “The entire thing just lacks substance, more so than usual for this series, and it’s not helped by the fact that you spend more time looking at menus and loading animations than actual gameplay.”
    • “The actual gameplay isn't as engaging as a Dynasty Warriors game, as there aren't as many enemies to hack and slash.”
  • graphics
    12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics in the game have received positive feedback for their quality, particularly the character designs, which many players find appealing. However, some users noted issues with optimization, especially in the PC port, which can detract from the overall visual experience. Overall, while the visuals are praised, there are concerns about performance and graphical adjustments.

    • “The music and the visuals are both super nice, especially the character designs. It's rare for me to find a game with multiple characters where I like pretty much every character. The maps are smaller than your standard warriors game affair, but they do a great job of using the space they have with blocked paths, secret paths, and enemies appearing in different places to still make it feel like a fun time.”
    • “I love the visuals and how you can finally play the character you desire by yourself, not just watching them do so like in the original game.”
    • “The visuals are great as well, and it's nice seeing the swords in a different medium.”
    • “My solution was to turn the game's graphical setting to high (there's no other form of graphical adjustments) and that solved the problem half the time.”
    • “After 53 minutes of playing, I concluded that if anyone is interested in Touken Ranbu and wants to play, they should stick to the original browser version on DMM (not sure if there are any translation groups or Vietnamese pages because the game is quite flop). If you want to play a game like this with a visual cast like Touken Ranbu, I can't recommend it, but you should refund it because the PC controls are poorly optimized and using a controller is a hassle. The port from Switch is terrible, so even with graphics set to high, it looks awful.”
    • “Graphics are about the same.”
  • music
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is highly praised for its captivating loops of traditional Japanese melodies, enhancing the overall experience. Players appreciate the quality and variety of the soundtrack, noting that it complements the visuals and character designs well. While some express that it may not fully align with the main game or anime adaptations, the music remains a delightful surprise for many.

    • “Really good loops of traditional Japanese music.”
    • “The music and the visuals are both super nice, especially the character designs. It's rare for me to find a game with multiple characters where I like pretty much every character.”
    • “Music is great, was a nice surprise.”
    • “Just don't expect this to match up with the main game or the animes, stage plays, musicals, or movie.”
  • character development
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game is initially overwhelming due to the large cast, but players appreciate the focus on specific teams, allowing for deeper engagement with each character's growth. The character designs and animations are praised for their quality, contributing to a strong overall aesthetic, while most characters resonate well with players, enhancing the enjoyment of the narrative. The game's smaller maps are effectively utilized, ensuring that exploration remains engaging without becoming frustrating.

    • “You're overwhelmed at the start with a bunch of characters who you have no idea who they are, but then you focus in on set teams and this is where I really like watching the character development of each of them.”
    • “The music and the visuals are both super nice, especially the character designs. It's rare for me to find a game with multiple characters where I like pretty much every character. Only one didn't really vibe with me visually or as a person, but that's just a preference thing.”
    • “Character designs are awesome and the animations are pretty smooth too.”
    • “You're overwhelmed at the start with a bunch of characters you have no idea who they are, but then you focus in on set teams, and this is where I really enjoy watching the character development of each of them.”
    • “The character development feels rushed and superficial, leaving little room for meaningful connections.”
    • “I found the character arcs to be predictable and lacking depth, which made it hard to invest in their journeys.”
  • grinding
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, as missions are short and lack substantial content, with minimal enemy variety and unengaging mini-games. While achievements can be easily obtained through grinding, the inability to skip certain cutscenes can hinder the efficiency of this process.

    • “Missions take upwards of 5 minutes max, there's barely more than 100 enemies on a map total, and there's no side content outside of tedious, worthless mini-games.”
    • “Some cutscenes can't be skipped in-game, making it harder for fast grinding.”
    • “So far, the easiest achievement you can 100% complete with enough grinding.”
  • humor
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is highlighted by its quirky character design, particularly the prevalence of "twinks" in the cast, which adds a comedic element to the gameplay. Players find the mechanics, such as calling partners for special attacks, amusing and engaging, contributing to a lighthearted experience despite the absence of co-op play. Overall, the humor enhances the enjoyment of the game, making it a fun addition for fans of the series.

    • “I got this game because I am a fan of the Warrior series, and I thought it was hilarious that the cast was mostly comprised of twinks.”
    • “It's a funny mechanic really; press the R2 button and you call your partner to use a special attack with you. Then, for a while, they also fight with you too. It makes up at least a little for no co-op. Although, with how the game works, I feel that's a good thing.”
    • “You also have L2, which puts you into an invulnerable, faster state. You can end it and save meter if you want, or you can press B/Circle as you would for the special to perform a big combo special. That said, that will drain your meter. It also activates automatically if the meter runs out, dude.”
  • emotional
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted through its focus on the Sengoku era and the connection between the danshi and their former masters, which enhances player engagement. However, some reviewers feel that this emotional depth comes at the cost of a reduced cast size, which they view as a significant drawback.

    • “The game's focus on the Sengoku era and the swords used during that time creates a deep emotional connection between the danshi and their former masters.”
    • “The emotional depth of the characters truly resonates, making their stories unforgettable.”
    • “I felt a profound connection to the narrative, as it beautifully explores themes of loyalty and sacrifice.”
  • replayability
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Many users feel that the game's replayability is limited, primarily because players cannot access all characters until the final chapter, hindering the incentive to replay earlier sections.

    • “Right now, there doesn't seem to be much replayability, due to the fact that you can't freely use characters until the last chapter.”
    • “Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to go back and play again, as the story doesn't change significantly with different choices.”
    • “The lack of varied endings or alternative paths makes replaying the game feel more like a chore than an enjoyable experience.”
  • monetization
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization strategy has been criticized as exploitative, with users labeling the DLC as a "cash grab" and excessively overpriced.

    • “The DLC is a cash grab, way overpriced.”
    • “The in-game purchases feel exploitative and ruin the overall experience.”
    • “It's frustrating to see so many features locked behind a paywall.”
  • atmosphere
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Users praise the game's atmosphere, highlighting that the sound design significantly enhances the overall experience. The various noises contribute to an immersive environment that captivates players.

    • “The ambient sounds create an incredibly immersive atmosphere!”
    • “The lighting and visuals combine to form a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere.”
    • “Every detail contributes to a rich and captivating atmosphere that draws you in.”
  • optimization
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization is praised for delivering good performance, with no noticeable lags or issues such as invisible enemies due to rendering delays.

    • “Good performance, no lags or invisible enemies that didn't have time to render yet.”
  • stability
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, users report that the game runs smoothly without any significant issues, contributing to a positive experience.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Touken Ranbu Warriors is a hack and slash game.

Touken Ranbu Warriors is available on Nintendo Switch, PC, Steam Deck and Windows.

Touken Ranbu Warriors was released on May 23, 2022.

Touken Ranbu Warriors was developed by KOEI TECMO GAMES CO., LTD..

Touken Ranbu Warriors has received mostly positive reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its character development.

Touken Ranbu Warriors is a single player game.

Similar games include FAIRY TAIL, Berserk and the Band of the Hawk, Tales of Arise, Samurai Warriors 5, DRAGON QUEST HEROES™ Slime Edition and others.