Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade Demo Impressions

Back in November, I had the opportunity to review Realm of Ink, an excellent Hades-like, roguelite, combat RPG. I’m sticking with the name Hades-like because Realm of Ink-like is far too long but if you were a fan of that game, I know what you need to play next. Available at Steam Next Fest starting tomorrow (February 24) is the demo for Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade.

From its Steam page: “Taking place during the Edo period, Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade is an action RPG infused with fantasy elements and roguelite mechanics. Immerse yourself in a realm brimming with authentic Japanese ambiance as you engage in seamless combo attacks against relentless demon adversaries.

Once upon a time, a delicate equilibrium existed between humans and demons. Despite occasional discord, both factions labored to uphold their dearly attained peace. This equilibrium shattered when the sovereign of all demons, the "Nine-tailed Fox" arose, rallying demonkind to sow chaos across the mortal realm.

Embark on a journey in a chaotic world, confronting a myriad of demons, and seeking a path to reclaim peace. Through a series of adventures, piece together the truth behind the mystery and forge a path to restoration.”

In Yasha, you play as one of three characters: Shigure, Sara, and Taketora, all with unique backstories. Shigure can wield two different weapons that can be switched between at any time. Sara uses two swords simultaneously. Taketora can attack from range with his bow or use powerful fists (paws?) in melee range.

Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade takes the already addictive gameplay of an action roguelite and multiplies it by three. With unique weapons to unlock for each character adding build diversity to every run, the game is setting itself up for hours upon hours of replayability. Check out this week's demo and wishlist the game (here) for its April 23, 2025 release.