The mediums of animation and video games are often intertwined with one another in interesting ways. For popular shows, translating the characters and setting to a video game is much easier to do faithfully given the similar art styles, letting players get immersed in the world they already care about. Today, Bandai Namco announced a new adventure game set in the world of Sword Art Online, titled Echoes of Aincrad. This title seems to be taking a unique approach to the adaptation formula by allowing players to customize their characters rather than control the characters from original series.
The trailer begins by announcing that Aincrad is in danger, and with that danger comes to resurrection of the god of death. Players then get a glimpse and the dark dungeons and aggressive monsters they can expect to encounter. The gameplay shows off a massive plant-like creature trashing its vines, offering the player a chance to dodge and counterattack. The bosses shown off look to have fair telegraphs to create a balanced fight pattern. Players will also be able to attack alongside their partner to unleash combos as seen toward the end of the announcement. Echoes of Aincrad puts the phrase “Risk your reality” front and center, teasing the stakes to come in the main game.
In addition to the reveal trailer, bits of information about the upcoming release can be found on the game’s store page. Players will be able to customize not only the appearance of their character, but also the skills that influence their fighting style and stats. They will also be joined by partners controlled by AI that players can adapt their playstyle to work alongside. The game will also feature quests in a large world to add substance to the experience.
Time will tell whether Echoes of Aincrad will have appeal outside of fans of the original show. It is set to release on Xbox, PlayStation, and Steam on July 10th, 2026.