Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade Reviews
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.
Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade is not the kind of game that will mark you as a masterpiece like few others, but the game doesn't have anything that bothered me to the point where I would consider it a defect, which makes it seem like I'm overestimating it (which is a possibility). The story is important and fulfills its role, with the larger budget going to the gameplay, which is perhaps a very well-refined aspect of the game, offering great gameplay with good rogue-like elements — although the genre has been considered saturated lately. The game is very good, but I won't give it a 10 because of what I mentioned above about it not being such a polished experience that makes me want to give it that rating.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade is one of the finest roguelike action-RPGs out there, with fluid combat, plenty of upgrades, and some incredible visuals.
It might not live up to its lofty title, but Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade still delivers a captivating journey through a twisted Edo Japan—where striking visuals and frenetic yokai battles unfold across the paths of three unforgettable warriors.
With a simple gameplay loop, beautiful art, and smooth combat, this game can make a nice addition to a roguelike collection. While I wouldn’t call this game someone’s first roguelike, it can be a really great way to introduce someone to the roguelike genre. The stories are easy to follow and not very long. If the true ending of Hades is too long for you with the number of required runs, this Yasha: Legend of the Demon Blade will be for you.
With addictive combat, intense boss battles, and an anime-like aesthetic, there’s a lot to love about Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade. Unfortunately, that’s all undercut by a frustrating lack of variety and an upgrade system that is far too grindy.
Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade features engaging and fun gameplay, but after a few hours it can become tiresome due to the repetition of scenarios, enemies, and bosses. The limited variety in this aspect hinders the pace and makes the experience more monotonous over time. Although the game's plot functions more as a backdrop to the battles, it still supports the main action. However, the three protagonists are charismatic and offer distinct play styles, which keeps the game interesting throughout the journey.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade managed to hold my attention and keep me entertained throughout the entire journey. With a strange start, it soon blossoms and shows its charm. The story, which offers three different storylines in a single game, also works, and it's fun to follow them all. Despite a few flaws, it's a solid roguelite that's fun to play.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review