Summary
- Sword Art Online: Variant Showdown is back on mobile after fixes, new content and new characters.
- The game features an original story with Kirito and friends exploring the new VR title, Cross Edge.
- Players can recruit characters through a lottery system, enjoy the action combat system, and fight with unique abilities.
A Sword Art Online The mobile game, which launched in 2022, is finally back after a major reboot following massive fan complaints about game-breaking bugs and technical issues. Sword Art Online: Variant Showdown is fully available again on mobile platforms after publisher Bandai Namco pulled it from the online store in 2023, giving fans another chance to try it out.
Mass anime franchise is still growing after more than a decade since the original television series first aired with many Sword Art Online video games are taking the story in entirely new directions. Most of these have taken the form of action role-playing games featuring original characters and returning cast members, although the series has also had a few mobile games.
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Fortunately for fans, the mobile RPG Sword Art Online: Variant Showdown is finally back online after more than a year of maintenance with a brand new trailer announcing the relaunch, showing off gameplay and some new additions. The newly rebooted game will reportedly feature a new power-up system, characters and game modes, as well as a fully voiced main storyline and seemingly a number of bug fixes.
The SAO mobile game is back with new content
Following the trend of many other games based on anime franchises, Sword Art Online: Variant Showdown presents an original story where Kirito and his friends investigate a brand new VR title called Cross Edge. The story reportedly ties its events to those of the original Sword Art Online anime series, and the new version will even add some returning characters, such as the blacksmith Agil.
As for the gameplay, Disassembly option features an action-packed combat system where players dodge attacks and continue to use their own unique abilities while controlling a group of characters from across the franchise. To recruit new characters to use in battle, players can participate in the game's lottery system, similar to Genshin Impact to add to your game hero lists.
For fans looking for action role-playing games on consoles or PC, there is no shortage of video games based on popular anime series, the latest of which is Sword Art Online Fractured Daydream, available on current generation platforms. The anime franchise is still going strong with new animated content as well as the latest spin off series Alternative to Sword Art Online: Gun Gale Online now in its second season.
