Akatori Demo Impressions

Written by Ross Locksley on 06 Mar 2026

Akatori is the latest in a long line of Metroidvania games, with colourful pixel art and some charming artwork that caught my attention. So how does Akatori stand out against the competition?

Firstly, the game's major strength is the fluidity of movement exhibited by Akatori herself - there's a real feeling of flow here, especially once you start adding abilities to your repertoire, a gracefulness that makes traversing the levels fun as an activity unto itself. When you do get into combat, it's hard-hitting and challenging in a way that makes you evaluate each area you uncover without rushing in, though not in a way that's frustrating. 

The personality of the characters is another of the game's strengths. The writing is witty and every character has their own voice, showing that they've spent some time to create a world that's both inviting and engaging. 

Graphically the game is simple and colourful pixel art that looks lovely in motion

The actual gameplay is classic Metroidvania, so fans of the genre should be happy - while it's nothing new in terms of layout, with items just out of reach that you'll return to later, it handles everything with a confidence that makes this feel like a polished sequel rather than a brand new IP.  There are periods when the view will zoom out to make the world feel huge, and it's those little graphical touches that make me keen to try the full game. Equally, the sound is really nice too, with a very Eastern vibe that's fitting for the aesthetic they've plumped for.

Graphically it's a colourful and well presented affair, I can only hope this extends to the full game and the environments continue to show the artistic quality of what's on offer here. 

First impressions are good then, with everything working as it should, a central character that's fun to play and root for, with the promise of more imaginative locales and powerful gear very promising indeed.

The demo is available on Steam now.