Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles 2 review for Nintendo Switch

System: Switch
Release date: August 5, 2025
Developer: CyberConnect2
Publisher: Nintendo

Few anime series have ignited the pop culture scene quite like Demon Slayer. With its emotionally charged battle arcs, breathtaking animation, and unforgettable characters, it’s no wonder the franchise has become such a multimedia powerhouse. Now, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles 2 arrives on Nintendo Switch, bringing the next chapter of Tanjiro Kamado’s journey to handheld and hybrid players alike.

Expanding on its predecessor with new arcs, a vastly increased roster of playable character, and enhanced mechanics, Hinokami Chronicles 2 is a faithful continuation that delivers both fanservice and substance. While translation hiccups and some visual downgrades are hard to ignore, the game runs surprisingly well on the Switch—particularly in its robust and emotional story mode.

The heart of Hinokami Chronicles 2 lies in its single-player campaign, which follows the events of the Entertainment District Arc, Swordsmith Village Arc, and the recent Hashira Training Arc. It picks up where the original game left off, and the developers wisely lean into what makes the anime so beloved: emotional storytelling, strong character development, and high-stakes battles. You’ll play primarily as Tanjiro, progressing through key narrative battles punctuated by lengthy, lovingly recreated cutscenes. These scenes don’t just mimic the anime – they elevate it through interactivity and well-timed QTEs that pull players into every sword clash and emotional reveal. Whether you’re facing off against the sickeningly smug Daki and Gyutaro or navigating the emotional weight of Muichiro and Mitsuri’s personal struggles, the story mode delivers some of the game’s highest highs.

Despite a few awkward or stilted translation moments, the writing mostly holds up. Emotional beats land, the performances are strong in both English and Japanese voice tracks, and the arcs unfold with a steady rhythm that keeps the player engaged. Better yet, the game runs smoothly during these segments. Load times are reasonable, cutscenes are clear and vibrant, and even handheld mode retains decent fidelity during battles. It’s a genuine relief – and a surprise- that this Nintendo Switch port didn’t compromise the story experience.

Combat in Hinokami Chronicles 2 remains rooted in the arena-fighter structure of the first game, but there’s a stronger emphasis on momentum and synergy thanks to new mechanics like Dual Ultimates and Gear loadouts. You’ll build a team of two fighters for battles, and the new Dual Ultimate attacks provide explosive finishers that are as dazzling as they are satisfying to land. These co-op ultimates are a stylish evolution of the first game’s mechanics, and they make team composition more meaningful and important for Versus mode team battles. Controls are simple but responsive, with a light-heavy combo structure and a parry/block system that rewards timing. Most characters feel distinct, and while the mechanics aren’t especially deep for fighting game veterans, there’s enough variety and strategic nuance to keep casual and midcore players hooked. Notably, combat in Story Mode is smooth on Nintendo Switch. Unlike the Versus Mode where occasional performance dips can occur – especially when particle-heavy Ultimates hit the screen – Story Mode battles are stable and enjoyable. Handheld or docked, Tanjiro’s Water Breathing techniques and Zenitsu’s blinding speed still manage to feel kinetic and powerful, without being weighed down by lag or slowdown.

Hinokami Chronicles 2 massively expands the Versus Mode from the original, now boasting over 40 playable characters, including all nine Hashira, numerous demons, and alternate versions of fan favorites. Returning characters are joined by new additions like Mitsuri Kanroji, Muichiro Tokito, and Genya Shinazugawa, each with unique playstyles and stylish abilities. Alternate forms and Academy variants also add extra flair and cosmetic variety.

The inclusion of Gear adds light customization, letting you tweak attributes to personalize your fighters. It’s a welcome addition, though it doesn’t significantly change the core gameplay loop. More impactful are the Dual Ultimates, which not only add visual punch but make team synergy a more central part of competitive play, which makes tactical thinking a must for planning matchups.

Versus Mode supports offline multiplayer, training, and online matches. Online play requires a Nintendo Switch Online membership and benefits from a stable connection – but it’s worth noting the absence of rollback netcode. Some matches can feel sluggish or unresponsive when network conditions dip, and unfortunately, the Switch version can’t fully overcome that, but I didn’t have a bad time. Local or CPU Versus mode became a wonderful place to practice characters and fine a playstyle that worked for me. Still, as a local multiplayer experience or a casual online battleground, Versus Mode offers plenty of replay value, especially for fans eager to pit their favorite Hashira against Upper Rank demons in dream matchups.

Given the hardware limitations of Nintendo Switch, Hinokami Chronicles 2 makes some predictable concessions: lower texture quality, reduced lighting effects, and slight aliasing are all present. That said, the game still manages to maintain a consistent framerate during Story Mode gameplay and performs adequately in most battles. The game truly shines in its ability to keep cutscenes and emotional beats visually intact. It’s easy to forget you’re playing on a handheld console when you’re watching Nezuko unleash her demonic powers in a climactic moment or when Gyokko’s grotesque transformations ooze across the screen with unsettling detail. Another area where I had a lot of fun is in the sheer number of collectibles I could unlock throughout my playtime. 

When I mentioned fanservice, this is definitely what I was referring to: You will be rewarded for exploration and completing story arcs by unlocking a sarcastically large amount of collectibles – from animation frames to new characters, there’s a lot to look for and all the excuses to continuously poke around. As a working adult with not as much free time, I don’t know that I’ll ever unlock everything available, but it does make it easy for me to pick the game back up and jump back in.

Overall, this experience works out well on the first Nintendo Switch hardware, which for those of us still puttering along with our favorite aging console is some pretty good news. In Versus Mode, especially online or during co-op ultimates, some frame pacing issues and input delay may occur – but not often enough to ruin the experience, but do trust that you will get your face kicked in sometimes, and there is not much to be done about it.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles 2 may not be the game that finally rewrites the book on anime fighters, but it doesn’t need to. It takes a successful formula, expands on it rather effectively, and as a result delivers a richer, more emotionally resonant experience. The new story arcs are compelling, the cast feels more level with expectation, and the Dual Ultimate mechanic adds flair without overcomplicating the fun. Is it the best version of the game? No. PlayStation, Xbox, and PC users will still have the upper hand in visuals and performance. But on Nintendo Switch – especially in Story Mode – this game proves more than competent. If you’re a fan of Demon Slayer, there’s no reason to skip this version, especially if you want to be able to experience it solidly on the go.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles 2 copy provided by the publisher for the purposes of this review.