Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact Review: A Bitter Taste for Fans

Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5

Release Date: July 16th, 2025

Developer: Eighting, Bushiroad Games

Publisher: Bushiroad Inc., Arc System Works

Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact is a 3v3 team-based fighting game that brings together various characters from the anime, including Gon, Killua, Kurapika, and Leorio, as well as iconic villains like Hisoka.

The game features multiple modes, such as online matches, an arcade mode with eight battles, training, and a story mode designed to teach players the combat system while following key events from the anime.

Trailer

Fans of the anime and manga expected a nostalgic and entertaining experience. However, the game shows some notable limitations early on, especially in the story mode. It's brief, covers only a few chapters, and relies on static images that resemble screenshots from the show. While it remains faithful to the plot, several major events are missing.

The story mode battles lack difficulty. Most of the challenge lies in completing side objectives rather than the actual combat.

Gameplay is affected by issues that significantly reduce enjoyment: easily executable infinite combos, super armor mechanics, and simple moves that completely shut down opponents. Casual players may notice the imbalance, and offline modes offer little resistance.

Online, the situation is even more discouraging. There are few active players, matches are often unbalanced, and bugs frequently disrupt the experience.

Visually, the game is average. The interface is unintuitive, which makes learning the mechanics and progressing through fights more difficult. Matches often turn one-sided due to repetitive attacks, frustrating newcomers and reducing long-term engagement.

In fact, gameplay is filled with easy-to-trigger infinite combos that severely impact overall quality.

Although online play appears to be the developers' main focus, it's underwhelming. The low player base and recurring technical issues make matchmaking unattractive.

Despite being tied to the strong Hunter x Hunter franchise, the final product feels rushed and lacks polish.

Pros

- Engaging fighting mechanics: Eighting's expertise in combat design shows. The 3v3 format is fast and fun, offering enjoyable gameplay elements.

- Diverse roster: The game includes 16 characters, each with unique abilities and styles.

- Fluid movement: Even heavier characters move smoothly. The auto-combo system, while exploitable, helps beginners enjoy the game and ease into its mechanics.

Cons

- Weak story mode: Although it spans from the Hunter Exam to the Chimera Ant arc, the storytelling is superficial and skips key moments. New players might struggle to connect with the narrative.

- Underwhelming presentation. Animation is stiff, effects are basic, and impactful moments lose their weight. Iconic scenes like Netero vs. Meruem are reduced to generic battles.

- Limited content. Beyond story mode, there are only arcade, time attack, and survival modes. Without meaningful rewards or variety, the game quickly becomes repetitive.

- Overpowered infinite combos ruin the experience. Some characters can dominate just by spamming a single button, especially online where counterplay is minimal.

- Online mode is always empty. Few players and persistent bugs make what should be the main attraction a frustrating experience.

Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact introduces some creative concepts and a potentially strong combat system. Unfortunately, it suffers from serious narrative and technical shortcomings that undermine the final experience. While it tries to stay faithful to the anime, the visual execution is poor and major scenes are reduced to static snapshots.

Although the game has redeeming features, it ultimately feels like a missed opportunity. It offers the essentials, but that's not enough.

Die-hard fans might explore it out of curiosity. Still, even they are likely to walk away disappointed. The game lacks the care and dedication that both its combat and story deserve.