Is This Action-Strategy Game the Hidden Gem of 2024? Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess Review

Capcom has been releasing some really impressive games as of late, and one of the more unique-looking ones is Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess. The game is a Japanese-inspired, single-player action strategy game, but its tower-defence-like system crossed over with a fast and fun action game makes it arguably the most unique game on the current market.

Players take control of Soh, an acrobatic swordfighter who has to slash, dodge, and take on demons head-on in order to protect a maiden, Yoshiro, who oversees Mt. Kafuku and wants to purge the region of its demonic rot. However, a spin on the genre is that you also have backup (archers, soldiers, and other warriors) that you can strategically place and order around the battlefield to help you fight.

What you get is moment-to-moment gameplay that requires you to use hack-‘n-slash type combat to kill enemies ala Devil May Cry or Bayonetta, with a little less bombastic flair and a bit more cultural Japanese pazzazz, inspired by the Kagura dancing of Japanese folklore. The melee combat system isn’t as deep as it is beautiful, though, but while straightforward, it’s incredibly satisfying pirouetting from one enemy to the other while slashing them in half.

The strategy component of Kunitsu-Gami is, as the name implies, all about carving a safe route for Yoshiro — hence, the Path of the Goddess. Each ‘battle’ plays out in a set area on the map, which you will start in during the day and have time to learn the nooks and crannies, find villagers who can help you in your defence or offence, and allow you to set traps. When night falls, the demons arrive, and you’ll have to kick into fighting mode, move around the sectioned-off map, defeat demons, and ensure that Yoshiro makes it to the portal gate to close it and end the demonic corruption in that zone.

The challenge comes with an unpredictable amount of demon hordes arriving in waves, and what demons you’ll face, as there are a wide variety, all with different strengths and weaknesses. This unpredictability makes each fight an interesting battle of strategy and wit, causing you to adapt on the fly and attack priority targets. Thankfully, higher-power demons drop more crystals (which act as currency) that can help you buy more traps, help, and streamline Yoshiro’s movements in the next battle. So, you fight, learn, adapt, and plan accordingly.

Visually, the game is absolutely stunning and really does feel like it’s been ripped out of the scroll of an ancient Japanese fairytale. Colours are bright and vivid, the whole world looks incredibly fantastical, and the Japanese tapestry and design are woven through everything, even the sword-slashing animations. It truly is a unique-looking game that gives you a visual splendour as you make more and more progress vanquishing the demonic entities from the world.

The hybrid gameplay mechanics of Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess may not be for everyone, with some preferring an out-and-out action game and others preferring a top-down strategy approach. However, there’s no denying that this is one of the most unique experiences you can get on current consoles and PCs, delivering both elements in a grand and gorgeous way.

It looks unlike anything else out there; it plays like anything else out there; and produces a unique experience that’s well worth checking out if you’re looking for something that subverts from the tried-and-tested genre formulas.

Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is available on Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC.