Our visit to Tokyo Game Show 2025 was packed with games that deserve a preview. We tried both indie titles and major productions, and even titles that, while not having a large booth, also stood out. In the case of Kyouran Makaism, we couldn’t resist it because it’s a new game from Nippon Ichi Software. And, as its thousands of fans know, NIS has always been synonymous with quality.
An unapologetic Action RPG
Kyouran Makaism was announced this September with the intention of hitting stores on January 29, 2026, for Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch. It’s a new twist on the NIS universe, adopting an Action RPG format that isn’t exactly common in the history of titles from the company that makes Disgaea or Prinny.
The first thing fans will like is that the game is set in the company’s franchise universe, although it’s important to remember that there are many Netherworlds, and the one presented in Kyouran Makaism will be just one of them. But that guarantees that, as in other titles, we’ll once again encounter familiar demons and characters.
This tastes a little like Musou
The demo we tried at the Tokyo Game Show 2025 had three different missions, but in all three cases, they basically consisted of the same thing: advancing and defeating enemies. The developers have chosen a gameplay system reminiscent of the Dynasty Warriors franchise, the well-known Musou. In that regard, it’s easy to see that the developers’ goal is for us to have fun pressing buttons and defeating enemies relentlessly.
It’s not a difficult game and has the advantage of having a protagonist, the mercenary Neuer, who has a good repertoire of attack techniques. He’s also fast and moves with ease, which makes the confrontations more satisfying. Fighting wasn’t a problem, and we completed the missions quickly. Even with the timer at the game booth, we managed to complete all three demos, which reflects how intuitive the game is.
How attacks work
There are different types of weapons and special techniques, and Disgaea fans will recognize a multitude of moves and details that unfold throughout the game. In addition to the basic attack buttons, the most important aspect of Kyouran Makaism are the techniques that can be used by combining one of the four center buttons with the L1 button.
These abilities require a cooldown and perform different types of effects depending on the skill. Some are powerful close-range attacks, while there is also an area attack in which we mark the place where we will cast the magic. Once launched, the attack will hit all enemies within that area of the stage. The combination of normal attacks with special moves makes the game very fast-paced.
This is Disgaea after all
It’s fair to say that, except for the gameplay, which substitutes strategy for action, everything in Kyouran Makaism is pure Disgaea. The story, to begin with, features a constant stream of humor, as it revolves around an overlord’s quest for revenge because someone ate her deceased father’s last pudding.
Furthermore, the music, composed by Tenpei Sato, is also pure Disgaea. Added to this are the presence of enemies and even mission bosses that are as distinctive as they are extravagant. In one of the missions, for example, we faced a Felynn, the cat girl we’ve come to know from the series since Disgaea: Hour of Darkness. Her enormous size and design, which hides absolutely nothing, are another reference to Disgaea’s DNA. The same goes for the other enemy we fought, a blonde Succubus who also meets Nippon Ichi Software’s standards.
Waiting for January 2026
Did we like Kyouran Makaism? The truth is, we did. It’s not a game NIS wants to make history with. They’ve already said it’s an action RPG that even those who aren’t good at action games can enjoy. And everything points to that being just that: a game to have fun with.
In our playthrough, the only thing we didn’t like was the design of one of the stages, where there are several levels and, if you fall to the floor below, you have to travel a long way to get back to where you were. Aside from this tiny detail, it’s a game we had a great time with.
