The Lords were at Anime NYC 2025, where all things anime and pop culture are celebrated, with one of the games we played at the Expo being Akatsuki Games Inc.’s Kaiju No. 8: The Game. Adapting the exciting action anime series, we went hands-on with the mobile version of the title.
What is Kaiju No. 8?
Wanting to stand alongside his childhood friend and fight the dangerous Kaiju terrorizing Japan, Kafka Hibino uses newfound powers from the Kaiju themselves, but at what cost? Joining him is a colorful cast of characters that fight Kaiju to protect Japan, befriending Kafka, unaware of the great power he hides within.
Kaiju No. 8: The Game – Impressions
In a sea of anime fighters like Naruto Ninja Storm and Dragon Ball Fighters, it’s interesting seeing Akatsuki Games bring this exciting action-anime into the realm of turn-based combat.
As seen in the above gameplay footage, players select a team of four characters to fight one of the many gigantic Kaiju. In the demo build we played, everyone had a set level and load-out, but through playing the game, you can upgrade your characters to make them stronger.
But this wasn’t the most well-explained when we played the game, as my first battle or two went horribly. However, once I utilized the skills of my team, I was able to navigate the turn-based bout with ease.
Ongoing Support and More for Kaiju No. 8: The Game
As the game continues being on the market, expect new characters and story chapters to enjoy based on new episodes from the anime.
One of the latest inclusions is Soshiro Hoshina using Kaiju Number 10.
Presentation
While the turn-based combat was enjoyable, the biggest surprise was Kaiju No. 8: The Game’s visuals. For a game running on a mobile phone, the visuals looked stunning.
Watching the show itself, the character designs and animation work perfectly match the source material, pleasing fans and newcomers to the series alike.
Release Date & Platforms for Kaiju No. 8: The Game
Kaiju No. 8: The Game is out on mobile platforms and will release on Steam on September 30th.
