Toukiden: Kiwami Review Summary

Great story, characters, addictive gameplay, and strong AI teammates, but the PC port has poor optimization, bugs, no keyboard/mouse support, and a 30 FPS lock.

Good Story and Characters: The story is well-received, especially its blend of Japanese heroes and mythology. Characters are entertaining and side quests deepen attachment to them.

Fun and Addictive Gameplay: Players consistently describe the gameplay as very fun, addictive, and polished. The core combat and progression loops are engaging and keep players coming back.

Strong AI Teammates: The friendly AI companions are praised for being highly capable, smart, and following orders flawlessly. They clear out small enemies effectively and make solo play feel like multiplayer.

Appealing Theme and Visuals: The game's theme is considered cool and appealing, with pretty visuals and a special charm. The overall aesthetic is a highlight for many players.

Overall Decent Game Quality: Many reviewers find the overall game quality to be decent or fine, describing it as an enjoyable experience despite any minor flaws.

Poor PC optimization and bugs: The PC version suffers from severe optimization issues, including frame drops, crashes, corrupted save files, and graphical problems, especially for NVIDIA users.

No keyboard and mouse support: The game lacks proper keyboard and mouse support, with many players noting that a controller is required to play. Keybindings are poor and mouse buttons cannot be remapped.

PC port locked at 30 FPS: Many players report the game is capped at 30 FPS on PC, which is uncomfortable and a common complaint about the port. This includes both the main game and PC port versions.

Controller required to play: Players state that a controller is almost mandatory, and those without one should not buy the game. The game does not recognize mouse input and forces controller use.

Inferior to Monster Hunter: Many players compare the game unfavorably to Monster Hunter, stating it is inferior in combat, overall quality, and fun. It is seen as an unworthy competitor.

Online multiplayer for up to four: Online play supports up to four players and works smoothly, with dedicated multiplayer modes and co-op options. Some achievements require online participation.

Monster Hunter-style hunting action: The game is widely described as a Monster Hunter-like hunting action game, often compared to God Eater and Phantasy Star Online. Clusters highlight both the genre and its casual co-op orientation.

Weapon and armor crafting system: Players craft and upgrade weapons and armor using materials from hunted monsters. Set bonuses are tied to wearing complete armor sets.

Nine distinct weapon types: The game offers nine weapon types, each with unique playstyles and individuality. The Mitama system further customizes combat skills.

AI teammates and NPC companions: AI teammates fight alongside the player, can rescue them, and are available in both solo and online missions. They are noted to be strong allies.

Locked at 30 FPS on PC: Many players report the PC version is hard-capped at 30 FPS, which feels uncomfortable. Some note that breaking this cap can destabilize the game.

Poor optimization and port quality: The PC port is widely criticized for bad optimization, frame drops, and overall low quality. Many describe it as an awful port with constant performance issues.

Frequent crashes and instability: Players experience random crashes, often at launch or after missions. Some find that compatibility mode or launcher options can mitigate the issue.

Severe frame drops in village: Many players report severe lag and low FPS specifically in the village area, sometimes dropping to single digits. This makes the game unplayable for some.

Stuttering and frame drops during gameplay: Many players experience stuttering and frame drops, especially during cutscenes or combat. This can make the game feel clunky.

Poor port and technical issues: Many reviews criticize the PC port for poor optimization, lack of patches, and various technical problems. Common issues include the 30 FPS lock, frame rate tied to game speed, and keyboard/mouse limitations.

Great for Monster Hunter fans: The game is repeatedly recommended for fans of Monster Hunter and similar hunting action games. It is often described as a solid alternative on PC for those who enjoy the genre.

Enjoyable despite flaws: Many reviewers find the game fun and worth playing despite its technical shortcomings. It offers a solid hunting experience if you can overlook the issues.

Wait for sale before buying: Many reviewers agree the game is not worth the full price, especially given technical issues. It is frequently recommended to wait for a discount or buy on sale.

Controller is strongly recommended: Numerous reviews state that a game controller is essential or strongly recommended for an optimal experience. Keyboard and mouse support is poor, and some users suggest buying a controller before the game.

Community fair range: $30.00 - $40.00.

Game completion: 200.0h.

Story completion: 60.0h.

Endgame: 500.0h.

Players often find the core hunt loop and co-op engaging, but the strongest hook appears after fighting the first epic oni and as gameplay systems are learned. Early controls, multiplayer usability, and late-game repetition create friction, with some completionist boredom.

Friction: Convoluted control scheme; Multiplayer lobby and friend-join limitations; Weak story and mission-only exploration; Weapon tutorials must be read or objectives are unclear; Low performance in missions and town; Multiplayer progress may require replaying single-player content for storage.

Unlock drivers: Fighting the first epic oni creates anticipation for the next monster; Learning more gameplay systems over time increases engagement; Playing co-op with friends lifts the experience; Reading weapon tutorials clarifies what to do.

Monster Hunter Genre Veteran: Grinds hunts to craft and upgrade weapons and armor, breaks monster body parts, and evaluates systems against Monster Hunter and God Eater. Motivation: To enjoy a Monster Hunter-style hunting loop with weapon/armor crafting and part-breaking on PC. Stance: buy.

Casual Newcomer Hunter: Plays loosely solo or with friends, button-mashing and wailing on demons instead of methodical hunting. Motivation: Casual, forgiving fun as an accessible entry point into hunting games. Stance: buy.

Solo Story & AI-Companion Player: Plays solo alongside AI companion characters and focuses on narrative progression rather than online multiplayer. Motivation: Immersion in the story and camaraderie with AI allies during single-player hunts. Stance: buy.

Steam Deck: The audited title (Toukiden Kiwami) shows a consistent tinkering-required profile on Steam Deck. The single direct Deck report confirms it runs well only after forcing Proton Experimental and disabling in-game videos, which triggers the mandatory 40-point score floor. Across many languages, the most frequent technical complaints are the hard 30 FPS cap, the absence of keyboard/mouse support with no control remapping, and limited controller compatibility. Additional issues include optimization-related stuttering and, for some Windows users, crashes and launch failures requiring compatibility-mode workarounds. On Deck specifically the experience is playable after adjustments but not seamless.

Linux and Proton: Linux/Proton evidence is limited but positive: one review reports the game runs perfectly fine on Steam Deck after using Proton Experimental and turning off videos. The 30fps cap is mentioned generically and is not tied to Linux, Proton, or SteamOS, so it does not add Linux-specific friction. No launch failures, anti-cheat blockers, or major Proton incompatibilities are reported.

Compared to Monster Hunter: Many players compare the game to Monster Hunter in terms of feel, game system, balance, and visuals. It is also described as an attempt to replicate Monster Hunter with its own features.

Port of handheld title: The game is a port of a handheld or console title, specifically from PSP, PS Vita, or PS4. It was originally released on portable consoles.

Japanese voice acting only: The game features Japanese voice acting only, with no English voiceover. Subtitles are available in English and Japanese.

Developed by Koei: The game is developed by Koei (Koei Tecmo), known for series like Samurai Warriors and Nobunaga.

DLC available: The game has optional DLC content, but it does not add new story; it mainly includes additional bosses and equipment.