Kazuma Kaneko's Tsukuyomi

Kazuma Kaneko’s Tsukuyomi is a game that you can play if you want to see some redesigns for certain demons and gods. However, playing it has small issues that the AI issue alone is to blame. The map in-game is another enemy you wouldn’t think is against you until you reach a split path. Sometimes, you’ll have a good look at what lies ahead. While another you can only see two lines, but no idea which path carries more benefits. With that in mind, I feel this game is just a play until you get to the end and never touch again. This game has a lot of potential, but some of it even in this remake did not achieve the top floor, but only the middle. I give Kazuma Kaneko’s Tsukuyomi the Thumb Culture Silver Award!

Kazuma Kaneko’s Tsukuyomi ultimately feels exactly like what it is: a mobile game port with the microtransactions stripped out and a premium price tag slapped on top. There are occasional glimpses of something genuinely clever buried in here, but they’re weighed down by gameplay that never feels nearly as deep as it initially pretends to be, and systems that still feel built around short, bite-sized sessions between train stops rather than extended time in front of a console or PC.

Roguelike deckbuilder set in a world in which reality and falseness collAIde

While on the gameplay side the dungeon-crawling meets deckbuilding works nicely, the game’s creative direction (or lack thereof) makes it tougher to whole-heartedly appreciate

So we’ve got a game that has zero respect for aesthetic traditions, gameplay that is no more than a shallow grind, and a game about Japanese demons that somehow fails to be interesting to a guy that has a library shelf filled with books about yokai, yurei, oni and the rest. What an intolerable disgrace this is to video games as an art form.

Tsukuyomi is an odd duck of a game. As an off-brand Shin Megami Tensei card battler, it's pretty fun, despite some obvious balance flaws and a low budget. The story isn't anything great, but it was enough to bolster the gameplay, and I had a good time playing through the main story. For a game that prides itself as being the work of Kazuma Kaneko, the AI-bloated art style deeply detracts from the experience. It's a fun enough experience, but it has enough warts that it can be tough to recommend.

For JRPG fans who are looking to dip their toes into the vast deckbuilding roguelike genre, Kazuma Kaneko's Tsukuyomi is a fantastic first step. It has plenty of familiar elements and gameplay loops, in part because of its common roots in the DRPG genre, and because of many deliberate design choices. It is not a two-way street, though, and fans of pure deckbuilders might be annoyed that they can handpick their deck each run. It does, however, make Tsukuyomi stand out in an oversaturated genre, and this more than makes up for its repetitive nature. It is a refreshing mix of old and new: a monster-collecting JRPG and a deckbuilder. This blend creates a highly unique experience; one that's easy to recommend.

Kazuma Kaneko’s Tsukuyomi ended up being a pleasant surprise. At first glance, it might look like just another roguelike card battler, but its approachable mechanics and fast-paced battles make it very easy to jump into. The runs move quickly, the card system is simple to understand, and building new deck strategies along the way is genuinely fun. The story presentation is quirky in that unmistakable anime style, and while the visuals aren’t particularly groundbreaking, the overall package still has plenty of personality. Most importantly, the game respects the player’s time. Runs are short enough to fit into quick sessions, yet there’s enough strategy and replay value to keep you coming back for another climb up the tower. If you enjoy card-based strategy games or roguelike progression systems, Kazuma Kaneko’s Tsukuyomi is definitely worth drawing from the eShop.