Review: Demon Slayer: The Hinokami Chronicles 2 Feels Story-Focused

When CyberConnect 2’s Demon Slayer: The Hinokami Chronicles launched, I said that it seemed fun, but also like it was a first step and start of something more. It felt like the company’s work on early entries in the Naruto: Ultimate Ninja series, and though it might eventually build up into something that incorporates more ideas, concepts, and story elements to make a 3D fighting game that also combined action adventure gameplay to better tell the story in the campaign. With Demon Slayer: The Hinokami Chronicles 2, you can see how ideas came together and the sense of progression that makes this installment feel more well-rounded and fun. The story CyberConnect 2 is telling and characters its following are the main focus in this new game, but the anime fans picking it up probably want exactly that.

While Demon Slayer: The Hinokami Chronicles 2 is a fighting game, the campaign is a major attraction and selling point that grants access to customization options, minigames, and additional experiences based on the story. It’s well-handled too, executed in a way that sends us along the journey Tanjiro Kamado and his allies take as they pursue Muzan Kibutsuji and his Twelve Kizuki. This installment picks up almost immediately after the previous one, continuing the story from the Entertainment District Arc. Each section sees Tanjiro and his allies going through certain points and fights based on those segments, complete with the anime being referenced as in the original game. So you’ll go through moments in the story. You’ll typically get opportunities to explore an area at these points, perhaps taking on an optional sidequest or additional fights that aren’t part of the major happenings. Then you go through the serious altercations and advance through the arcs. 

I mentioned earlier that the Demon Slayer: The Hinokami Chronicles felt like a first step, and this seems especially evident in the sequel’s campaign. CyberConnect 2 really did a lot to accurately convey important moments. There are a number of upgrades and adjustments to make it feel more involved and like we’re doing more when playing through sections. Yes, there are still abilities we’ll use, such as Tanjiro using his senses for tracking purposes. But the execution of optional sidequests, cosmetic bonuses for cards, minigames like one involving Zenitsu playing the shamisen, and insights into the story via additional segments really come together to help tell the tale well and feel more interactive than before. It isn’t just about walking down rather narrow paths with no deviation and branching to get to story-advancing fights. There are cosmetic and currency incentives for exploring and it feels like there’s more to do. 

This is also a situation in which you probably won’t feel too left out if you just go for the sequel. Demon Slayer: the Hinokami Chronicles 2 features a The Path of the Demon Slayer mode for catching up with events that took place in the original game. Now, this isn’t as extensive as the actual campaign. But it does go from the start of the series to the Mugen Train Arc that were covered. It’s an adequate means of quickly catching up.

I’m also a fan of the Gear System introduced in the Demon Slayer: the Hinokami Chronicles 2. It doesn’t feel totally necessary if you are more familiar with fighting games and played the first installment. However, I feel like it’s more of an accessibility option for people who enjoyed the manga or anime, but maybe aren’t as adept at fighting games. Especially since it isn’t just an option in a campaign, but that you can use it to tailor your VS Mode experience. 

As for combat, Demon Slayer: the Hinokami Chronicles 2 generally feels fine. CyberConnect 2 knows how to make an arena fighter, and it’s made satisfying ones like Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4. We get spaces that offer a lot of freedom to move around as we plot attacks, the control scheme is simplistic in a Smash Bros sort of way that ensures you know how to perform special attacks even if you’re new to a character, and there’s a satisfaction that comes from filling gauges and using Ultimate attacks. It does feel like the characterizations and movesets we’ve seen in the manga anime are accurately represented. The new combat element here involves Dual Ultimates, which stem from pairing up certain fighters with supporter individuals known to have a strong connection to them. Giyu Yomioka and Shinobu Kocho share one, as shown ahead of launch. That acknowledgement feels fitting, and it makes a player feel like CyberConnect 2 gets the audience for the game. I also really appreciated the wide array of characters, as we get over 40 at launch.

Demon Slayer: the Hinokami Chronicles 2 is the video game equivalent of a popcorn flick. We won’t see this fighter on the competitive scene, but for an anime-based game it can be pretty great. It’s clearly designed to be welcoming to newcomers who love the series and want to play through major moments, but people looking for a bit of a challenge might find it in isolated bouts, Hashira Training Paths, or fights with other players. It honestly makes me hope we might eventually see a third installment too.

Demon Slayer: The Hinokami Chronicles 2 will come to the Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC in Japan on August 1, 2025 and worldwide on August 5, 2025.