Demon Slayer - Kimetsu no Yaiba - Sweep the Board! (PS5) review: Not even the 9 Hashira can save this game

Muzan wins this one.

Image: Sega

Image: Sega

The Nintendo Switch arguably has the widest selection of party games – some good and some bad – thanks to the console’s flexible multiplayer capabilities but the PlayStation 5 has a pretty long list too. Sega’s Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - Sweep the Board is one example and tries to leverage its popular anime license. But does it manage to stand on its own merits, or does it rely too heavily on the Demon Slayer brand? Read on.

TL;DR: Sega's Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - Sweep the Board has plenty of fan services but its minigames are uninspired and not engaging enough, making this title a mediocre party game at best.



The game is available for
PlayStation 5Nintendo Switch as well as Xbox Series X|S.

At first glance, Sweep the Board is literally a Demon Slayer board game that impresses by staying true to the source material. The game features 12 playable characters, including mainstays Tanjiro, Nezuko, and Inosuke, alongside the nine Hashira. These characters interact in ways that fans of the anime will recognise, such as Inosuke's competitive dynamic with Tanjiro. Little attention to details like this helps make the game feel both authentic and to fans.

Image: Sega

Image: Sega

However, when you look beyond the anime aesthetics, Sweep the Board’s concept and mechanics feel just the same as most party games on the Switch. For instance, the minigames are reminiscent of those from Mario Party but while the Nintendo first-party game excels with polished and varied minigames, Sweep the Board’s offerings feel less refined and often lack the same level of fun. Most times these minigames feel very repetitive too. Some, like the fireworks display, are mildly amusing, but others, such as the jump rope simulator, suffer from awkward controls that lead to frustration rather than enjoyment.

One of the major drawbacks of Sweep the Board is the pacing. Navigating the game board can feel tedious due to its semi-cooperative design, which limits player interaction. Instead of allowing players to sabotage each other, the game reduces competition to racing to destination squares. This predictability drains much of the excitement from the party game format in my opinion.

Image: Sega

Image: Sega

A highlight in this otherwise average offering from Sega is the Greater Demon Battles, which occur sporadically. These battles are triggered when players reach certain squares during the daytime and are inspired by key arcs up to the Swordsmith Village Arc from the anime’s third season. Using motion controls or joystick flicks, players can simulate sword swings to defeat demons. While these battles aren’t particularly challenging, they add a fun and unique element to the game. However, their infrequency limits their impact on the overall experience.

There are three gameplay modes in Sweep the Board: single-player, online multiplayer, and local multiplayer. Single-player mode is pretty self-explanatory, where you compete against AI-controlled characters. It is straightforward but lacks the communal fun of party games and frankly is the least fun mode. After all, what is a party game if you don’t play with friends?

Image: Sega

Image: Sega

Online multiplayer, accessible with a PlayStation Network membership, promises a more engaging experience but is hindered by frequent connection issues. In my experience, I faced numerous problems, including dropped connections and prolonged pauses, making it difficult to complete a game without interruptions. I’m not sure if these technical issues are born from Sega’s poor coding but regardless, they significantly impact the enjoyment and reliability of the online mode. Which is a shame, because half of the fun with the game is here.

The other fun half is the local multiplayer mode, which provides the best experience – especially with friends and families. However, even this mode has its drawbacks. The gameplay can feel sluggish, particularly due to the long pauses after rolling dice. These delays, although minor at first, accumulate over multiple turns, gradually making the game feel slow and tiresome.

Here’s what I think about the game: For fans of the Demon Slayer anime, Sweep the Board offers very little in the way of entertainment even for the most hardcore of fans. While the game’s graphics faithfully recreate the anime’s art style, and the inclusion of climactic battles from each arc provides a nostalgic thrill, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - Sweep the Board struggles to shine as a party game, it fails to capture the essential elements that make party games exciting and engaging, resulting in a mediocre experience.

To be fair, it is not a fundamentally bad game, but its underwhelming execution and lack of compelling gameplay make it a missed opportunity in a genre that thrives on excitement and unpredictability.

Demon Slayer - Kimetsu no Yaiba - Sweep the Board! is also available for the Nintendo Switch. The PlayStation 5 (reviewed here) can be purchased here.

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