In the JRPG *Echoes of Aincrad*, you experience the SAO universe not through the eyes of the series’ hero, Kirito, but with a character you create yourself. The focus on action already serves the game well in the demo, but Bandai could definitely use to polish up the graphics a bit more.
Every time the Steam Next Fest rolls around, I ask myself the same question: What on earth should I play?! My colleague Kevin’s is constantly breathing down my neck, urging me to write a quick game preview. But in the seemingly endless sea of demos, nothing really catches my eye—especially since it feels like half of the participating games are now just crudely cobbled together with AI.
Luckily, the decision is much easier for me this time. That’s because Echoes of Aincradis currently featured at Next Fest—a game that immediately catches the attention of an old-school anime fan like me. This action JRPG from publisher Bandai Namco is based on the popular sci-fi anime Sword Art Online, in which thousands of players are trapped in a VRMMO.
Unlike previous SAO licensed games, however, in Echoes of AincradE you don’t go into battle as the series’ protagonist, Kirito, but instead explore the flying fortress Aincradwith a character of your own creation.
I tried out the game at Next Fest and, after two hours, was quite impressed by the focused action approach of Echoes of Aincrad. Finally, an SAO game manages to truly and convincingly transport me into the uncompromising, virtual game world of Aincrad; there are even a few nice cameos from the series. However, the developers should take another look at the visual details before release.
What’s it about?
Anyone who’s had anything to do with anime in recent years—and isn’t completely out of the loop—has probably already heard of Sword Art Online. The light novel series by Japanese author Reki Kawahara is about the world’s first VRMMO of the same name, whose developers removed the option to log out with the release of the full version.
The catch:If you die in the virtual world of Aincrad, the VR headset fries your brain, and you’re done for in the real world, too. The only way out is to play through the entire game.
As you battle these hideous but dim-witted beasts, you’ll familiarize yourself with the most important gameplay mechanics and gradually fight your way toward the first major boss—the leader of the goblins. The mix of heavy and light attacks feels natural; the fast-paced gameplay keeps you motivated to keep going.
Once you’ve mastered the prologue and return to the City of Beginnings, however, the real challenge of Echoes of Aincrad is just beginning. After a few hours, you’ll suddenly realize that you can no longer log out. Of course, you can still press Alt+F4, but the game’s story now consistently suggests that you’re trapped inside the game and must join Kirito, Asuna, and the other series characters in their fight for survival.
Echoes of Aincrad isn’t meant to take you all the way to the top of the flying castle’s 100th floor, though. The game covers only the first two floors—but even those are massive. Not much is known about the specific plot yet, but the game is said to tell its own story.
How does it play?
In terms of gameplay, Echoes of Aincrad takes a much more action-focused approach than previous SAO games. The combat isn’t just faster—it’s also staged with a bit more punch. You’ll take on enemies with heavy and light attacks. But just swinging wildly won’t get you far, because dodging, blocking, and proper positioning are what determine how far you’ll get in a boss fight in Echoes of Aincrad.
In addition to standard attacks, you can alsounleash particularly powerful Sword Skillsthat stun enemies but cost a lot of stamina. These special attacks can even sever an enemy’s limbs—a surprisingly graphic approach for an anime game. You also have the option to give your party members basic commands: you can either act together or on your own; when needed, you can combine your powers intoa particularly powerful Switch attack.
Before venturing into a dungeon, however, you’ll want to carefully choose the right weapon. That’s because in Echoes of Aincradyou can’t switch weapons in the field;that’s only possible at your base within the city. As for exploration—the other key gameplay component of this RPG—I can’t say much about it just yet.
Where are there still issues?
I currently see the greatest need for improvement in the graphics—and by that I explicitly do not mean the anime style. The outdoor areas of Echoes of Aincrad are attractively designed and, thanks in part to the atmospheric lighting, really invite you to wander around.
In contrast, however, the interiors—especially in dungeons—are disappointingly lacking in detail and sometimes feel like corridors made up of repetitive assets. The animations of the individual characters also still seem very stiff in places. In the demo version, dialogue audio was frequently played with a significant delay relative to the speech animation. Developer Game Studio Inc. should address this before release; such details are relatively easy to iron out.
After playing the demo, I’m generally optimistic that the new Sword Art Online game will be a success. Echoes of Aincrad entices players with a fresh take on the familiar SAO story. The combat feels promising, and the game world effectively captures the atmosphere of one of my favorite anime series.
When it releases on July 10, 2026, we’ll find out if the story and exploration are up to par as well. Echoes of Aincrad is coming to PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series consoles.