Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade

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.

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.

Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade is a technically well-made game, with a very appealing look and overall production. The lack of added value to the strict roguelite gameplay, with no procedurally generated levels or enemy encounters and no real way to excel within each run, makes Yasha a game whose initial veneer wears off extremely quickly. The mundane story delivery does not help to motivate you to power through to get any satisfaction in the end, making it a mediocre experience at best.

Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade is a fairly standard and simple roguelike game with nice graphics and a combat system that can be frustrating with its linearity and lack of variability.

Among so many roguelites released in recent years, Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade ends up being just another one in the crowd. Its visuals and, mainly, its fun gameplay are the highlights, but not enough to make it a memorable game. Repetition, which is usually an ally of the genre, acts as a villain here, wearing down the experience and making the game recommended only for big roguelite fans.

Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade is a captivating visual experience, with an immersive soundtrack and good combat ideas. However, structural repetition and limited variety between runs prevent the game from reaching its full potential. Recommended especially for those who value art and style, but perhaps less suitable for those looking for mechanical innovation in roguelites.

So what’s the final verdict on Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade? The developers at 7QUARK have undoubtedly demonstrated a keen eye for visuals and perfectly blended traditional Japanese art (ukiyo-e) with contemporary styles (manga and anime). The game isn’t just a feast for the eyes—it’s also a pleasure to play. But that good feeling doesn’t last long. After a few virtual deaths, you’ll inevitably feel the weight of repetition and a justified sense that neither your character nor the gameplay is evolving in any way. Given the low price the developers are currently charging for Yasha, however, it’s still worth considering a purchase.

It lacks many of the elements that made roguelight games like Hades and Dead Cells stand out, and were it not for some drawbacks, it would be among the elite games of this genre.

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.

Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade has a lot of fun to offer if you’re looking for a take on a roguelike or hack’n’slash game. The three characters are all unique and fun to play as, despite needing their own saves. The combat is fast-paced with enjoyable, with a diverse weapons list to switch up gameplay, even if you can expect each character to control the same throughout each run