- Role-playing (RPG), Adventure, Action, 4X (explore, expand, exploit, and exterminate)
Step into the legendary floating castle of Aincrad, a realm of breathtaking beauty and unforgiving danger. What seemed to be a dream adventure has now become a fight for survival. Among thousands of trapped souls, your journey is yours alone; will you rise, endure, and forge bonds that define your destiny?
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Character
Grave, earnest, epic and unpretentious.
- gravecomic
- earnestironic
- intimateepic
- unpretentiousprestige
- classical in formformally daring
Who loves it, who doesn't
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Reviews
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From the critics
A few lines from each review; the whole review is on the critic's site. Not part of Tastebuds's numbers.
The Outerhaven ProductionsKeith MitchellJul 20264/5 starsIf you’re new to Sword Art Online, this may be a tougher sell. But if you’re already a fan of the series, Echoes of Aincrad is still worth playing, even with its shortcomings.
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Gamer GuidesEcho ApseyJul 202682/100Despite being tied to Sword Art Online, Echoes of Aincrad is worth checking out for its own merits, as there is a polished and pristine sheen here that most anime-based RPG games don’t get. While it won’t surprise you, it will give you several dozen hours of exciting action and exploration.
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Digital ChumpsNathaniel StevensJul 20267.5/10Echoes of Aincrad from Game Studio Inc. is a wonderful open-world setup that brings gorgeous graphics, good backend character building, easy-to-get-into controls, and a very solid story. What it lacks is enemy variety and action-adventure elements that keep the gameplay engaging long-term.
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TheSixthAxisMiguel MoranJul 20264/10Echoes of Aincrad sadly fails as both a standalone RPG adventure or as a fan-pleasing experience for the Sword Art Online community. Its flaws hold it back a lot, and newcomers or seasoned fans alike would be better served playing any of the other games in the franchise instead of this one.
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Final WeaponRafael Martins MalaquimJul 20262/5 starsEchoes of Aincrad is a classic case of "sometimes less is more". It's a game that dilutes too much of its content in an attempt to look grander than it is. This can be a fun experience for those who value certain gameplay loops and new takes on established combat formulas, but it's frankly unacceptable for a AAA title. Only major SAO fans will likely get something out of this one.
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Snippets via OpenCritic, where 27% of critics recommend it.
About the game
- Platforms
- Xbox Series X|S, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5
- Developer
- Game Studio Inc.
- Publisher
- Bandai Namco Entertainment
- Released
- July 9, 2026
- Modes
- Single player
- Perspective
- Third person
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 5
- Time to beat
- 20 h rushed · 25 h main story · 35 h completionist
IGDB rating 7.4/10 from 3 ratings.
Screenshots
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