With special permission to use the IP from rights holder Bandai Namco, CyberConnect2 is choosing to bring back The World, a fictional MMORPG that players engage with in .hack//Z.E.R.O. But while past titles from the franchise’s PS2 era focused more on events within the game, the reboot is setting its sights higher, incorporating the game’s real world into the mix. Expect to see more of the impact that The World has on its players, a facet of the experience that was previously relegated to lore drops.

With action and adventure woven into the franchise’s RPG trappings, .hack//Z.E.R.O focuses on bringing back the duality of its in-game universe while presenting a gameplay loop that’s sure to keep you as busy as the folks spending time in The World.

Developed by a team of franchise veterans and young blood alike, .hack//Z.E.R.O is sure to bring a blend of nostalgia and innovation to the table when it arrives. While a release date and platforms are currently unannounced, the trailer for the game, complete with a soundtrack from violinist Taro Hakase, is all kinds of awesome. Join us on the hype train and check out the first teaser below.

The post is a the latest iteration of the Xbox Excellence Awards, which was created last year to celebrate how players engaged with various releases on Xbox. The Store Rating category lists 2025 games with the best ratings on the Microsoft Store, with an added requirement of the title having at least 500 ratings. Player Engagements is about the average number of hours spent on a game by each player within the first six weeks of a game’s release. Daily Active Users celebrates titles, expansions or updates with the highest single-day active users throughout the year. And finally Units Sold is fairly self-explanatory.

Going down the lists, you’ll find many of the biggest releases of the year, from ARC Raiders and Battlefield 6, as well as award-winning RPG Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Indie titles have also been well-represented, with games like Crime Scene Cleaner and Satisfactory making it into the lists. There also doesn’t seem to have been a singular genre to dominate the lists, since everything from sports games like EA Sports Madden NFL 26, to fantasy adventure life sims like Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time, and even fighting games like Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics are well represented.

Curiously, none of the games was present in all four of the categories. At most, we got to see titles like Borderlands 4 being able to make it on to three of them: Player Engagement, Daily Active Users and Units Sold. Even ARC Raiders, which has seen quite a bit of success, is only on the Units Sold and Daily Active Users lists.

Microsoft has also emphasized that the lists represent a diverse collection of games developed by studios of varying sizes. All in all, it represents 48 unique developers based out of 13 countries, with 24 publishers having had a hand in their release. 19 of the games were self-published. “Taken as a whole, it’s an encapsulation of development on Xbox – we want gaming to reach you wherever you are, and for the teams making those games to find you from wherever they are,” wrote the company.

Full list of games:

Store Rating:

• Call of Duty: Black Ops 7
• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
• Crime Scene Cleaner
• Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles 2
• Digimon Story: Time Stranger
• Dreamcore
• Dynasty Warriors: Origins
• Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time
• Final Fantasy XVI
• Lies of P: Overture
• Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii
• Little Nightmares III
• Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics
• Minami Lane
• Mullet MadJack
• Poppy Playtime Chapter 4
• Satisfactory
• Silent Hill 2
• Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds
• The First Berserker: Khazan

Player Engagement:

• Borderlands 4
• Digimon Story: Time Stranger
• Dynasty Warriors: Origins
• EA Sports College Football 26
• EA Sports FC 26
• Elden Ring Nightreign
• Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time
• Farm Together 2
• Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles
• Helldivers 2
• Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road
• Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
• Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii
• MLB The Show 25
• Monster Hunter Wilds
• NBA 2K26
• NHL 26
• Rust
• Satisfactory
• The First Berserker: Khazan

Daily Active Users:

• Arc Raiders
• Avowed
• Battlefield 6
• Borderlands 4
• Call of Duty: Black Ops 7
• DOOM: The Dark Ages
• Elden Ring Nightreign
• Fortnite
• Forza Horizon 5
• Grand Theft Auto V
• Grounded 2
• Helldivers 2
• Marvel Rivals
• Minecraft
• NBA 2K26
• Rematch
• Roblox
• Rocket League
• The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered
• Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege

Units Sold:

• Arc Raiders
• Assassin’s Creed Shadows
• Battlefield 6
• Borderlands 4
• Call of Duty: Black Ops 7
• EA Sports Madden NFL 26
• EA Sports College Football 26
• EA Sports FC 26
• Elden Ring Nightreign
• Grand Theft Auto V
• Helldivers 2
• Hollow Knight: Silksong
• Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
• MLB The Show 25
• Monster Hunter Wilds
• NBA 2K26
• PGA Tour 2K25
• Ready or Not
• The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered
• WWE 2K25

The Hinokami Chronicles 2 is taking the exact same template and format that developers CyberConnect2 used the first time around. Where the first game followed the story of the source anime and manga series through to the Mugen Train arc, this one picks up the tale from there and continues it through the Entertainment District, all the way through to the end of the Hashira Training arc.

"The Hinokami Chronicles 2 is a great adaptation of the arcs it follows, and even if you have no familiarity with the anime or manga, you can follow along."

That new story is the primary reason for this game’s existence – it makes few changes to the winning formula of the first title other than some tweaks to the mechanics and some QoL additions otherwise. If you enjoy the Demon Slayer story, then this is a fairly good adaptation of it. That last thing cannot be overstated – where these Demon Slayer games win out over the cavalcade of anime based arena fighters that otherwise flood the market is how much effort goes into making sure they stand up to scrutiny as standalone products, even without needing familiarity with the source material.

Even people who have never read the manga or seen the anime can get a good feel for the world of Demon Slayer, its characters, stakes, conflicts, and its narrative, very well simply by playing through the story modes in these games – which is not something I can say for most other anime adaptations of this type.

That trend continues with this game as well. The Hinokami Chronicles 2 is a great adaptation of the arcs it follows, and even if you have no familiarity with the anime or manga, you can follow along. Younger audiences (which, after all, comprise a big portion of the Demon Slayer fanbase) playing this game may even get invested in the story – that’s how well told it is.

There are concessions here. Obviously, it’s a step down from the anime (which has breathtaking, eye catching visuals – this game looks very good, but ultimately it has to run on everything from a Nintendo Switch all the way up to a PS5 Pro, so those graphics have a limit to how good they can look), and the manga (where the writing is simply superior to what’s in here). On the other hand, where The Hinokami Chronicles 2 wins out over either of those is in letting its audience actually inhabit the world it depicts.

"Story chapters involve making your way through large open areas that can be explored for all sorts of collectibles."

This is another area where these Demon Slayer games are better than other similar anime adaptations. The world and lore of the Demon Slayer IP is rich and intricate, and rather than using it as a crutch to make up for any substantial storytelling and world building, The Hinokami Chronicles 2 uses it to make what it presents more compelling. The story mode has you follow the protagonist Tanjiro, as well as his friends Zenitsu and Inosuke through three arcs of the Demon Slayer story, and it lets the player have the time to truly soak in the world.

Story chapters involve making your way through large open areas that can be explored for all sorts of collectibles – a lot of these are straightforward arena fighter fare, such as customizations and unlocks for your profile and characters in the versus modes, it also offers a lot more: there are books, relics, and objects you can find in the world, which give the player more information about it, or the people and events within it; or they can trigger a recollection from the characters, usually recapping some event from the anime (using anime footage, which is where the difference in visual quality between it and the game is most pronounced), or simply bantering with one another.

Whichever one it is, it serves to flesh out the people, the events, and the characters, and make it all seem real and substantial in a way that most anime adaptations don’t matter. Most of them are far too content to make allusions and abrupt references to things from the source material to stand in for any actual legwork put in by them to depict their story and worlds.

"The part of the game that has seen the least amount of changes is the combat – and this makes sense, because the first game already got most of this pretty right the first time around."

New to The Hinokami Chronicles 2 is the addition of side quests. These end up working well with the new style of design for the maps that you explore in the story mode – no longer are they linear treks with obvious and often tedious branches, they are, instead, wide open but compact areas. Side quests involve the player finding them in the first place, and then finding the objective on the map, both of which would feel a lot more tedious if this game had retained the hyper-linear map style of the original game. These side quests, too, allow the world and its inhabitants to be fleshed out, and they also offer some rare unique material to the game that doesn’t really derive from either the anime or the manga.

The part of the game that has seen the least amount of changes is the combat – and this makes sense, because the first game already got most of this pretty right the first time around. Battle controls are as straightforward as they ever were – you have your regular attack mapped to one button, and your specials mapped to another. Specials can be modified by holding down either a direction on the analog stick, or the guard button.

Over time, you build up, and can use, Ultimate attacks, and can also switch in a partner fighter (oh yes, this is a 2v2 tag arena fighter). One of the new things in this game is the addition of tag team ultimate attacks (which is the game’s way of incentivizing you to play characters who already share a bond in the story), as well as some long overdue changes to how the controls are laid out (to prevent the possibility of you triggering a special attack on accident when all you were trying to do was dodge an incoming move).

The battles are great, and the game gives you a lot of ways to fight them at your behest; there’s a versus mode (which can be played solo against bots, locally against a human opponent, or online), a training mode, a mode that recaps the story of the first game in an incredibly truncated format (and still has you go through some fights), fights in the main story, and even many on one horde mode style fights that the campaign pulls on you every now and then. The bulk of the meat on this game comes from the combat, so it’s good to see it is as great as it is, and can be accessed in so many different formats and modes. There is still some jank and lack of balance inherent to the 3D arena fighting format, but this is as polished a take on that formula as we have seen.

"The battles are great, and the game gives you a lot of ways to fight them at your behest."

Speaking of jank, there is the matter of this ultimately being an anime style game, meaning its storytelling and aesthetic are both very distinctly anime. This isn’t meant as a criticism, anime is a massive medium now, and with good reason. But there are some issues that this game inherits as a result. To me, chief of these is the voice work, which involves a lot of screaming, grunting, and exaggerated emoting. The English VA doesn’t feel too convincing (though I am sure a lot of younger fans will be happy for the option), for example, and even if it doesn’t bother you, multi-minute long scenes with multiple characters screaming at and over each other might. Unfortunately, such is the lot of shonen battle anime storytelling.

Those caveats – which apply to even the source material – aside, it’s hard not to recommend Demon Slayer: The Hinokami Chronicles 2 to fans of the source material, or to fans of shonen anime in general. This game is a great adaptation of some of the best material the anime and manga have, and is as good for fans who wish to relive some of those glorious moments as it is for someone who has no idea what Demon Slayer is about and will be using this game as a gateway into the world.

While there are some issues the game has, such as its visuals feeling like a step down from the anime, or the voice acting feeling subpar, on the whole, this is a great continuation of the excellent first outing this franchise had in game form a few years ago. If you are a fan of Demon Slayer, or battle anime in general, you should look into this.

This game was reviewed on the PlayStation 5.

Based on the widely popular anime of the same name, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles 2 is all set to bring more of your favorite characters to the arena while making a few noteworthy changes that are sure to elevate an already solid experience.

With CyberConnect2 and SEGA returning to the helm, the sequel is primed to bring a frenetic, action-packed gameplay loop to the table for its players. To that end, here are a few things you need to know about the upcoming title before you pick up your copy.

1. Infinity Castle Character Pass Post-Launch Content

CyberConnect 2 is already planning to bring a ton of new post-launch content to its title with a Character Pass based on the anime’s Infinity Castle Arc on the way. While details are scant regarding what this pass contains, expect to see content from the show’s Infinity Castle Arc being front and center.

This could very well include Upper Rank Demons and perhaps a few skills for the game’s new additions to its roster of fighters. There could also be cosmetics and other goodies for you to grab once it drops later down the line.

2. The Story Continues

Hinokami Chronicles 2 picks up where the previous game left off, continuing Tanjiro’s story as he goes through the Entertainment District in search of a cure for his sister’s condition and his eventual power-up at the Swordsmith Village. The story is also set to bring the Hashira Training Arc to your screens, allowing you to relive the trials that Tanjiro faced in order to truly become a part of the Demon Slayers’ ranks.

There are a lot of exciting moments and nail-biting sequences filled with tension and horrifying encounters with demons for you to navigate. If you haven’t had the chance to catch up on the anime’s story, this could be a great way to do so!

3. The Hashira Join the Fray

Speaking of the Hashira Training Arc, the best of the best Demon Slayers are also joining the playable roster of characters in the game’s PvP mode, aside from their appearances in the main story.

Each of these elite hunters brings their own breathing techniques and a lot of raw firepower to the field for you to harness against your opponents. The Hashiras could very well be your go-to main characters, bringing skill, style, and finesse to every fight they are a part of.

4. Improved Mechanics and Faster Duels

CyberConnect2 is picking up the pace this time around, bringing new mechanics aimed at encouraging a more dynamic fighting experience. Early previews of the game suggest that its controls are a lot more responsive, while its new systems, which we’ll get to in a minute, add new layers of strategy to each battle.

Smoother dodge cancels, strategic attacking, and a lot of good balancing all around are all features that could make Hinokami Chronicles 2 even better than its predecessor in terms of its gameplay loop. That’s definitely a good thing considering how much fighting you’re going to be doing in its brilliant story.

5. New Breathing Techniques

It wouldn’t be a worthy sequel if there were no new Breathing Techniques for Tanjiro and the game to nail down. Considering its story and the addition of the Hashiras, the addition of new techniques for the Demon Slayers to master is kind of a no-brainer.

While details are scant about how these techniques are going to factor into the gameplay loop, they are certain to work well with other additions to make Hinokami Chronicles 2 a challenge to learn but very rewarding to master.

6. The Deluxe Edition Comes With a Few Goodies

Aside from the obvious benefit of Advance Access, which lets you play the game five days before its official launch, the Deluxe edition of Hinokami Chronicles 2 also nets you a few cool additions like character unlock keys, cosmetics, a set of avatars, a ton of in-game points, and a dynamic custom theme.

That’s quite the package and can set you up nicely for the official launch if you’re willing to spend that extra cash to grab it. You will need to preorder the Deluxe Edition before August 5 to be able to access all it has to offer, so head on over to your platform’s digital storefront as soon as you can. 

7. Muzan Kubitsuji Is Coming to Vs. Mode!

If you were wondering about why we hadn’t mentioned the Demon King after talking about Infinity Castle, you now have your answer. The man behind it all is making his way to Versus Mode in Hinokami Chronicles, and is sure to give even the Hajiras a tough time in the field.

With an intellect as deadly as the whips he wields in battle, along with a speed that’s almost too quick for a normal Demon Slayer to follow, it will be interesting to see how the character plays out in CyberConnect2’s effort to translate his terrifying presence into a more manageable, balanced take on the series’ main antagonist.

8. Maximize the Mayhem

Perhaps one way to take down the Demon King is to sync up with your team and unleash two of your Ultimate Abilities together. That’s a possibility in the new game, with CyberConnect2 building on the previous game’s most flashy moves by allowing two characters with compatible moves to team up and unleash an extra powerful attack to take the fight to their opponents.

Using these new attacks strategically is sure to let you snatch quite a few victories even from the jaws of defeat.

9. A New Gear System

It’s not just new Breathing Techniques and Ultimate Abilities that are new in the upcoming title. There’s also a Gear System that lets you equip up to three items to your character of choice, each of which grants a unique perk that gives them an edge in battle.

It’s a nifty little addition that could have a huge impact on how your favorite character’s abilities play out against an opponent who might be able to predict your next moves if they are familiar enough with your playstyle. Switching up your gear could shake things up, and have them on the backfoot if you manage your loadout with a bit of strategy.

10. Individual Character Mastery

If you’re the type to stick to your favorite characters when taking on a fighting game, Hinokami Chronicles 2 rewards your loyalty with a bunch of cosmetics to ensure you look your best when you take on formidable warriors or ominous demons.

We hope to see rewards that extend beyond customization, though. Perhaps a couple of new skills or techniques, once our mastery with a specific character goes high enough, could be part of the new system? We’ll just have to wait and see.

11. Train with the Hashira

In what is a pretty cool way to introduce new players to all of the game’s mechanics and offer veterans a chance to brush up on their skills, CyberConnect2 has taken the Hashiras’ presence in Hinokami Chronicles 2 beyond just the story and made them a part of a new Tournament Mode.

Here, you train with individual Hashiras, going up the ladder by achieving specific objectives that are designed to familiarize you with specific mechanics and systems. It’s the perfect way to blow off some steam while also improving your skills in the process.

12. System Requirements

If you’re playing Hinokami Chronicles 2 on PC, you might want to ensure that your system is able to run the game smoothly. CyberConnect2 recommends a minimum configuration of an Intel Core i5-3470 / AMD Ryzen 3 1200, 6 GB of RAM, a 2 GB GeForce GT 640 / 3 GB Radeon HD 7950 graphics card, 30 GB of hard drive space, and Windows 10 64-bit.

However, the recommended specs take things up a notch, requiring an Intel Core i5-4570 / Ryzen 5 1400, 8 GB RAM,  and a 2 GB GeForce GTX 760 / 4 GB Radeon RX 47030 GB alongside 30GB of space and Windows 10 64-bit.

While your mileage may vary based on your setup, these specs should give you an idea of what you need to have the game running smoothly, and perhaps let you know if you need to turn down a few settings to achieve optimum performance.

13. Keep Coming Back For More

While the story in this game could take you anywhere between 10-15 hours to beat, depending on your demon slaying skills, Hinokami Chronicles 2 is one of those titles that could have you playing it long after you’ve rolled the credits on its main campaign.

The multitude of modes on offer, along with the thrill of playing it either online or locally with friends, can make this fighter a constant presence in your library of games, and one that you keep revisiting from time to time when you feel like a bit of action-packed fun. 

And that wraps up everything you need to know before you pick up your copy of Hinokami Chronicles 2. We’re going to be diving back into the story for some fond memories of a great anime, and hope to see you there!

Developed by CyberConnect2, Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is the latest adaptation of the late Akira Toriyama’s iconic anime/manga. It follows Son Goku in his adult years, venturing through the Saiyan, Namek, Cell and Buu Sagas. Post-launch DLC covered other story arcs, from the Battle of Gods movie, which introduced Super Saiyan God form, to Goku’s Next Journey, which concluded the Dragon Ball Z storyline.

Neither Bandai Namco nor CyberConnect2 have confirmed what’s next. However, the former will host a Summer Showcase panel during Anime Expo on July 5th, which is “heavy with announcements, reveals, and first looks at anticipated anime games.” It could announce the next Season Pass, potentially including the Tournament of Power in Dragon Ball Super. Stay tuned for updates in the meantime.

Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is available for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC, and Nintendo Switch. Check out our review.

Over 8 millions of you have shown your support for DRAGON BALL Z: KAKAROT.

Thank you for helping us reach this great milestone – we hope you look forward to what’s coming next! #DBZK pic.twitter.com/c8TnMYbW0o

— Dragon Ball Games (@dragonballgames) July 4, 2024

The new trailer shows off Goku taking on characters like an older Goten, indicating that the game takes place close to the events that would mark the end of the Dragon Ball franchise. The trailer shows off a full fight between a level 114 Goku and level 114 Goten, with both characters showcasing their various abilities.

Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot – Goku’s Next Journey is the third and final DLC part of the game’s Season Pass 2. It follows the release of Bardock – Alone Against Fate, as well as 23rd World Tournament. The DLC doesn’t yet have a solid release date aside from a February 2024 window.

Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot and all of its DLCs are available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch.

Such was the issue that even voice actors who worked on the game were baffled. A Bandai Namco spokesperson has since confirmed to IGN that it’s working to fix said voiceovers and denied that AI was used to create them.

“Regarding the reports about several voiceover lines in Naruto X Boruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections, Bandai Namco Entertainment can confirm that the lines in question were not AI-generated, but the result of inconsistencies during the editing and mastering process. We regret that this raised a concern with Naruto fans and the voice-acting community.”

There’s no ETA for the patch outside of “the near future”, so stay tuned for more updates. Naruto X Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections is available for PS4, PS5, PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and PC. Check out our review, where we praised the animations and roster while criticizing the lack of gameplay depth and Boruto’s boring story section (which is also unnecessary outside of the extra costumes).

While it isn’t strictly speaking a traditional fighting game, Naruto X Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections certainly tries its best to present some of the most harrowing, brutal and celebrated fights from the original series, as well as its Shippuden follow-up, while also featuring an original story focusing on Naruto’s sequel series, Boruto.

"When it comes to the story, the Boruto section, which revolves around the adventures of Naruto’s son, features a completely original story that isn’t based on any manga or anime."

When it comes to the story, the Boruto section, which revolves around the adventures of Naruto’s son, features a completely original story that isn’t based on any manga or anime. Unfortunately, much like the actual Boruto series, the story in the game doesn’t really do much with its characters and setting. Kicking things off with a VR video game that revolves around Naruto’s adventures, Boruto’s storyline essentially starts as a strange basis for fanservice, and with no real stakes or character development on the line, it doesn’t really amount to anything.

Instead, the star of the game is quite easily the story mode focused on Naruto, as well as its versus mode. Since the former takes you through essentially the entirety of the Naruto story, there’s a lot of content for fans of the series to dig their teeth into. Aside from just experiencing the story, each fight in the campaign also comes with its own set of optional side objectives, which players can chase for additional unlockable content like extra costumes and new artwork. Sure, ultimately, it’s all just fanservice for fans of Naruto, but that’s a goal that Naruto X Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections accomplishes quite handily, no doubt thanks to developer CyberConnect2’s experience in working with the franchise with its previous Ultimate Ninja Storm games.

Before we get into the Versus mode, we need to talk about the core combat in Naruto X Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections. First of all, it’s an arena fighter; this means that rather than having characters stand on either side of the screen, the game instead tries to emulate the cinematic feel of the anime adaptation by offering players a full 3D arena that they can run around in as they fight. This leads to one of the first problems with the game—it’s really difficult, and in some cases, borderline impossible to understand what’s happening if you happen to not be familiar with Naruto.

"Instead, the star of the game is quite easily the story mode focused on Naruto, as well as its versus mode."

The standard control scheme is also strangely complicated in a way that it really shouldn’t be. There’s an attack button, a button that revolves around using special attacks, a block button, a teleport button, two assist buttons, and a jump button. This means that, rather than feeling like a fighting game, the controls of Naruto X Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections are instead laid out more like a regular third-person action game. For fans of the Ultimate Ninja Storm games, nothing has really changed in the core combat of the game. For those new to the series, this is essentially the most definitive release of Ultimate Ninja Storm out so far.

Along with its standard control scheme on the PlayStation 5, Naruto X Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections also offers players a “simple” one where just mashing on a single button can pull off entire combos, but I’d recommend against picking the simple control scheme since it makes what is already an incredibly easy game into downright brain dead button mashing where the only things keeping your attention are the bright colors that come about as a result of the automatically activated special moves and finishers. Even the standard control scheme doesn’t do much to bring any depth to the gameplay, however, since you’re still ultimately going to mash on the O button and occasionally finish things off with a Triangle + O button combination for a combo finisher.

Sure, there are a few gameplay options that might imply that there’s some depth to be found in the game’s rather basic combat, especially with the ability to call in assist characters, tag them in, or even cancel attacks by timing your jump right, things ultimately don’t really go beyond simplistic button mashing. In fact, I found that most of the campaign was essentially doable with little more than the standard four-hit combo with a special attack finisher. Nothing really presented enough of a challenge for me to further explore the game’s more complex options, and even blocking was often just unimportant in favor of just hitting the L2 button to teleport behind your opponent.

"The versus mode has quite a few options for players, especially if you’re playing with a group of other players."

The versus mode has quite a few options for players, especially if you’re playing with a group of other players. Along with its standard versus mode where each player picks three characters to duke it out, there are also a host of modes for fans of longer sessions, like a tournament mode pitching up to 16 players together, one battle at a time. While it doesn’t really shake things up by adding anything on top, there is definitely quite a bit of fun to be had here. After all, who doesn’t enjoy their hundredth time as early Rock Lee taking on an uber-powerful Sasuke in a weird fight that we’d never really get to see in the show or the manga itself. What really makes the versus mode fun, at its core, is the epic roster of characters to choose from. The roster ranges from the protagonists, all the way to side characters that we don’t really get to see much of as the story progresses, bringing in a decent variety for players to choose from.

Naruto X Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections doesn’t really take itself too seriously as a fighting game; there’s nothing here that fans of competitive fighting games would enjoy. Rather, the game is meant strictly as a celebration of Naruto and his adventures, and as a product of pure fanservice, it’s definitely a success. There’s also the fact that, owing to the largesse of the original manga and its anime adaptation, Naruto X Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections is also the best way to experience the story these days, devoid of any fillers, and essentially stacked to the brim with awesome looking action that has been wonderfully animated, and some of the franchise’s peak emotional moments.

When you get right down to it, Naruto X Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections isn’t a competitive game. It’s a game you throw on when you have friends that are anime fans over and want to have a good time. The versus modes offer a decent enough variety thanks to the game’s massive roster to keep any group occupied for a few hours, and for newcomers to the Naruto franchise, it is simply unparalleled in its presentation of the story. Just don’t expect much in the way of depth—Naruto X Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections isn’t the kind of game where you’re going to spend hours in the practice mode to perfect a combo. The Boruto story section is disappointing since it doesn’t really bring much to the game that hasn’t already been covered by its myriad of other game modes, with its only real pull being some extra costumes you can unlock.

This game was reviewed on the PlayStation 5.

While Goku may be friends with Tien Shinhan and other fighters, he and Piccolo (going by Ma Junior) are at odds. The 23rd World Tournament also introduces some interesting twists on the typical superpowered battles. The lack of flying means running and dodging on the ground are more important, and you can Ring Out an opponent.

When knocked down, the player must answer the five count to continue. Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot – The 23rd World Tournament will be available for PS4, Xbox One, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch and PC. It can be purchased standalone for those who don’t own Season Pass 2. One more DLC remains, so stay tuned for reveals in the coming months.

BALD hat das Warten ein Ende… Der 5. DLC "The 23rd World Tournament" zu Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot erscheint am 17. August! #DBZK pic.twitter.com/L86aqVrKw4

— Bandai Namco DE (@BandaiNamcoDE) August 9, 2023

All of these titles will be playable by attendees, and given that Armored Core 6 launches on August 25th, it’s the perfect time to try it before buying. The expo also marks the first time SAND LAND is playable in Europe. Naruto x Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm CONNECTIONS will show off its 1v1 Versus Mode, while Tekken 8 allows fights with other real players.

Gamescom 2023 ruins from August 23rd to 27th in Kolenmesse in Cologne, Germany. Xbox, Bethesda and Nintendo are confirmed for the show, while THQ Nordic and Sony will be skipping. Before the expo opens, Gamescom Opening Night Live will air on August 22nd, so expect plenty of world premieres and announcements.