When it comes to video game adaptations of anime, I’m not really expecting much except for a quick cash grab. Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- Sweep the Board is a family friendly board game of up to 4 players. The decision to make this video game adaptation family friendly is certainly an interesting one considering how the source material is intended for mature audiences.
Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- was developed by CyberConnect2. You may recognize these developers if you’ve played any of the Naruto video game adaptations. However they also developed Asura’s Wrath and are best known for their works on the .hack video games. Sweep the Board isn’t actually their first time making something from the Demon Slayer franchise as they also developed the Hinokami Chronicles fighting game back in 2021.
Sweep the Board isn’t a type of game that CyberConnect2 would seem to work on as they’re normally more aligned with fighting games like Naruto Ultimate Ninja or JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Eyes of Heaven. I’ve actually played a few of their games before, particularly the .hack//G.U. trilogy, Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm, and Asura’s Wrath so I’m curious to see how CyberConnect2 would make a dice game interesting.
From the get go, I couldn’t help but feel that playing Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- Sweep the Board was like playing a minigame in a much larger and different game. This video game is clearly meant for those who are already fans of Demon Slayer because the game has no story and makes no introductions as to who these characters are or any lore from the source material.
At the start of each game, players can pick from the prominent cast of the anime. Who you choose as your avatar doesn’t affect anything in gameplay except for dialogue so don’t expect the characters to use any of their signature abilities. Before the start of each match, you can configure a few settings such as how many turns before the game ends or if rank points will be awarded at the end of the game. A typical game will take around 10 to 20 minutes depending on how many turns you’ve set.
Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- Sweep the Board is a board game where the rules are pretty simple. Each player is tasked to collect Rank Points. Whoever has the most rank points by the end of the game is the winner. There are multiple ways to earn these points, either by playing minigames or by making certain milestones which will be awarded at the end of the match.
You move through the board by rolling a dice and will gain certain benefits depending on what tile you land. There are modifiers such as items you can buy after reaching certain parts of the board. These items can be bought with Slayer Coins which are earned independently from the Rank Points. Strategic use of these items can be pretty important as they can quickly change your placement at any given moment. I was able to quickly jump to first place all the way from the fourth by taking advantage of an item that lets me switch places with another player.
There are two phases in the board game’s map. One during daytime where you can recruit the assistance of other characters and train your character to earn Rank Points via minigames. Once enough turns have passed, you’ll enter nighttime where the demons will come out. Encounters with demons can earn you Rank Points however they can also take your points from you should they surprise a player on the board.
Minigames that occur aren’t very fun. Most are glorified quick-time-events where you have to match or mash the right button at the appropriate moment. I did find a few of them fun, like guessing which box Nezuko is hiding after being shuffled around.
Even though the minigames weren’t too fun, I did like that the boards are diverse. There are six boards to choose from which all have different locations, unique minigames, and demons in them to fight. Each map is divided into different areas, there’s usually a friendlier area where you can gather useful items and there’s a more dangerous area where demons will frequent at night.
Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- Sweep the Board is entirely voiced in Japanese with no option for English voice overs. Though due to the lack of any story, CyberConnect2 probably didn’t think it was worth having to bring the English voice cast just to reprise familiar roles. This may disappoint some fans who prefer to hear the English dub.
Outside of the main board game, you are able to replay minigames and partake in sweepstakes which are like loot boxes. Though the only prices of those are customization for your profile.
Because of how Sweep the Board is, it’s clearly a game meant for multiplayer. There is online connection where you can find a match online, but I wouldn’t count on relying to finding randoms for a decent game. Offline, you can play locally but each player needs their own controller and you can’t just pass it around when it’s someone else’s turn.
For the price of a full game, I can’t recommend Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- Sweep the Board! If you’re looking for a family-friendly board game, there are better options available even if you’re a fan of the anime. I can’t help but feel like this is one large minigame that’s overpriced for its content.
