Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade Reviews
Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade can be fun for a bit, but with repetitive levels and a flimsy story, it doesn’t stay that way for long.
Once the initial enthusiasm for the dual wielding weapon and the three warriors has waned, run after run the flaws of Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade become more and more evident and allow excessive repetitiveness to take over.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade offers great visuals and slick combat that will initially appeal to fans of roguelites and action RPGs. But unless you're into the slow grind of repetitive battles, you'll likely sheath this blade earlier than expected.
At its best, Yasha's synergistic possibilities with various weapon abilities bring about intriguing bouts of experimentation - yet it isn't quite enough to rectify the mind-numbingly repetitiveness that plagues the entire game from top to bottom.
The combat of Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade is enjoyable enough, and it's great that there are three unique playable characters, each with a range of weapons to unlock. A lack of variety when it comes to stages and enemies really hurts the game's longevity, though, as the story at the heart of this adventure isn't enough to carry it.
Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade is, at best, an incredibly average roguelite. It works, but fumbles its story, gameplay, and meta progression. Even if you prefer the Japanese setting over Greek mythology, there’s just nothing here that Hades (or even Hades 2 in Early Access) doesn’t do far better.
As a pleasant distraction, Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade fits the bill with challenging boss fights and three characters that feel different enough to play as. While the slow progression and plain dialogue mean that you really need to enjoy the combat to see this roguelite through to the end, fans of quick-paced, action-focused games where you'll need to start over again and again may find a more satisfying experience here. There wasn't quite enough nuance or uniqueness to keep me coming back for more Legends of the Demon Blade, but I had a good time with what I played.
If you enjoy fast-paced action then you'll find a lot to love about Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade even with its repetitive campaign. 👹
You can get between 15 and 30 hours of playtime if you don’t mind the repetition and constant grinding, but I don’t see the average gamer doing more than one run and for $30 it’s a bit on the expensive side.
The action-roguelike game Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade is fun and satisfying. The combat moves quickly and smoothly, and the mechanics and character abilities are fun to use. The story is deep and emotionally compelling, and each main character has a unique journey.
The story overall is compelling (all three of them), and I like the way you progress and level up as each character, but that repetitiveness in battles is what hinders it from being great.
Although Taiwan has established itself as a relevant creative hub in the Asian gaming industry, Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade seems to be failing to keep up with this evolution. With its repetitive structures, lack of gameplay diversity and abscence of difficulty, the game seems to be a product that corroborates the mistaken view that the most prejudiced players have of this market rather than actually doing justice to its current state of development. It's a superficial attempt to jump on the Hades bandwagon, as if the audience were not capable of discerning the quality of this derivative production in relation to that of the source material.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade proves to be a missed opportunity. The inspiration from Hades is palpable, but suffocating repetition and a banal plot, filled with bland characters and predictable dialogue, undermine its potential. The lack of arena variety, linear progression, and an ever-same final boss make the experience too monotonous and predictable, tending to fizzle out after a few hours.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade is a visually striking and mechanically competent roguelike that doesn’t quite break new ground. The anime art is strong, the action is satisfying, and the parry system adds some welcome depth, but the lack of true weapon diversity and limited character interactions hold it back. If you’re looking for something to play after finishing Hades for the umpteenth time, Yasha is a fine distraction. But much like a forged copy of a legendary blade, it’s sharp, stylish — and ultimately a little hollow.
I think I really enjoyed Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade because I didn’t spend a lot of time chasing the next Hades clone after the success of the progenitor. There have been attempts, but I missed them, and I didn’t get into the sequel early access yet. So something that reminds me that isometric, fast paced, incrementally improving titles are fun as hell is important, and Yasha hits those notes with aplomb.
Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade doesn’t break new ground, but it’s a satisfying hack-and-slash experience with enough charm and variety to make it worth your time. The combat is fun, the characters are cool, and the world has a stylish edge, even if the story doesn’t dig too deep and the roguelite upgrades feel a bit bland. If you’re new to the genre, you’ll likely have a blast. If you’re a roguelite veteran, you might feel a sense of déjà vu. Still, if you’ve got room for one more run-based action game in your life, this one’s worth picking up for a weekend of demon-slaying fun and beyond.
Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade is an excellent combination of a good roguelite experience with an increasingly interesting narrative. The game picks up after ACT 1, and makes the game tenfold better with abilities, difficulty and the narrative depth. This indie game has perfectly hit all the marks for being a very enjoyable roguelike game, and hits it out of the park for its replayability options.
The game constantly teases something grander than it can deliver. Whether it’s the promise of unique storylines for each of the three protagonists or the allure of a deep combat system with collectible weapons and layered progression, Yasha overpromises and underdelivers in almost every category. It’s the kind of experience where you finish the game, sit in silence, and wonder, “Was that it?” To be honest, Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade feels like a game that was rushed out the door long before it was ready. The foundation is there—beautiful visuals, a culturally rich setting, and a cool premise. But the lack of polish, shallow mechanics, and absurdly short playtime make it hard to recommend to anyone but the most diehard fans of Japanese mythology or side-scrolling action games.
Though it has its minor flaws, Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade pulls off its mission of providing a swift-paced, action-packed, story-driven adventure across three distinct characters that are all uniquely exciting to play as.
This action roguelike excels in fluid combat, rewarding progression, and engaging visuals, but its repetitive loop and lack of accessibility options might turn some players away. If you’re looking for exhilarating battles and satisfying upgrades, Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade delivers—but long-term enjoyment depends on how much grinding you’re willing to endure.