Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles from CyberConnect2 and Aniples debuted last year on PS5, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam through Sega in the West, and it has now arrived on Nintendo’s hybrid console. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles is a gorgeous arena fighter that I enjoyed playing quite a bit on Xbox Series X and Steam following its release online and offline. Since that launch, it has gotten many free content updates and improvements bringing in new characters, 60fps support on current generation platforms, and more. For my Demon Slayer Kimetsu No Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles Switch review, I will be covering the quality of the port, how it compares to current platforms, and how it feels compared to the game on Steam Deck.
Demon Slayer Kimetsu No Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles Switch contents
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles on Nintendo Switch features all the content included in the PlayStation, Xbox, and PC versions of the game with the post-launch update content also included from day one. The difference is that you will need to defeat specific characters in the story to unlock them versus them being unlocked through updates in the prior release. This is the full game with a few bonus DLC packs included for all owners of the Switch version like additional Kimetsu Points and unlock keys.
I enjoyed my time with Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles on prior platforms, and still play the online with a friend on PC on and off. The story mode was fun after a few updates, and CyberConnect2 is the best developer for anime-styled visuals alongside Arc System Works. Just like Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot, I was hoping the Nintendo Switch port of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles would be competent. Thankfully, it is a great port.
Demon Slayer Kimetsu No Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles Switch visuals and performance
I wasn’t sure what to expect with Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles on Nintendo Switch before booting up the game because anime games on Switch either end up being sub-par like One Piece Pirate Warriors 4 with its many technical issues, or great ones like Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles is like Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot on Switch with the expected compromises made to have it look and feel good on Nintendo’s hybrid system.
I didn’t play Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles on the original Switch or the Lite. I did all my testing on the OLED model, and it looks gorgeous in handheld mode. The animations, particle effects, and character models all shine on the display. The screenshot comparison above (zoomed) shows some of the differences going from handheld (left) to docked (right) in Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles.
Demon Slayer Kimetsu No Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles Switch vs PS5 and Xbox Series X
Barring the drop in resolution compared to the PS5 and Xbox Series X versions I have, there are also other cutbacks like some post-processing effects, foliage density, but mainly draw distance. This was the most noticeable downgrade compared to other versions of the game. In story mode, the foliage and some objects pop into view near you, while others load in further away. The screenshot comparison below showcases how an in-engine cut-scene on PS5 (left) and Switch docked (right) compare. While the PS5 and Xbox Series X have 60fps support in some modes, the Switch just like last generation systems has no frame rate option.
Demon Slayer Kimetsu No Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles Switch vs Steam Deck
Now that I have a Steam Deck, I’ve been including it in comparisons and reviews. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles is verified on Steam Deck by Valve, and it runs perfectly in my testing. While the display is obviously not as nice as the Switch’s OLED one, the game looks and runs a lot better with locked 60fps performance in the modes that support it with higher image quality. I could even set it to 30fps and go above the native 800p display for downsampling on Steam Deck. If you have the option, it plays and feels a lot better on Steam Deck than Nintendo Switch thanks to the PC port being great, but the Switch version is an excellent way to experience this game.
Should you buy Demon Slayer Kimetsu No Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles on Switch?
If you held off on buying Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles on other platforms so far to play it on Nintendo Switch portable, it is an easy recommendation. I’ve enjoyed replaying it on Switch, and hope CyberConnect2 continues to bring quality anime game ports to the platform in the future. I would recommend against getting it docked if you have access to a more powerful console though. The load times and image quality are a lot better on not just PS5 but also PS4 Pro compared to Switch docked. As it stands, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles is a great experience on every platform I’ve tested it on and those who waited for a competent portable version on Switch will enjoy experiencing the story on the go.
Switch port review: This review focusses on the Nintendo Switch version and port quality of a game that was either previously released on other platforms or one that simultaneously launched on Nintendo Switch and other platforms.
