Sword Art Online Alicization Lycoris (v3.12 & ALL DLC)

Kirito’s return to the Underworld turns a familiar anime arc into a sprawling action RPG built around friendship, memory, and a virtual realm that feels far too real to its inhabitants. Sword Art Online Alicization Lycoris follows the early Alicization storyline before branching into an original plot featuring new ally Medina Orthinanos, giving series fans recognizable events alongside material made for the game. The tone balances dramatic stakes and emotional character moments with the colorful spectacle of a fantasy world full of knights, monsters, villages, and colossal hostile creatures. It is a lengthy, dialogue-heavy adaptation aimed squarely at players who want to spend serious time with SAO’s cast.

Real-time combat drives nearly every major encounter, with Kirito and a customizable party chaining weapon skills, timing dodges, managing cooldowns, and issuing simple commands to AI partners. Different weapon types alter attack ranges and skill options, while Sacred Arts function as the game’s magical system, letting players cast elemental attacks, buffs, and utility abilities. Questing sends the party across broad connected regions to hunt enemies, gather materials, clear dungeons, and take on tougher raids, while crafting and gear upgrades support the long progression curve. Four-player online co-op opens up later challenges, although the campaign itself places its greatest emphasis on controlling Kirito and building effective bonds with companions.

Its biggest strength is the scale of Underworld: rather than moving through a string of small arena stages, players roam large fields that sell the idea of a living fantasy continent. Combat can feel busy and occasionally cumbersome, particularly when several characters unleash effects at once, but learning skill chains and party roles gives difficult fights satisfying momentum. The recreation of beloved characters, voiced story scenes, and original narrative detour make it more than a basic retelling, even if newcomers may find the opening exposition dense. Fans of SAO, .hack, and anime RPGs with long campaigns will find the most to enjoy here, while action-RPG veterans should come prepared for a slower, story-led start.