When you think of Bandai Namco, you expect fighting games, RPGs, or maybe an anime tie-in — but a roguelite? That’s new territory. Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree marks the company’s first attempt at the genre, and it’s clear where the inspiration comes from. The game wears its Hades influence proudly, trading Greek mythology for a Japanese animation-inspired world. It’s an exciting concept with plenty of potential, but does Bandai Namco’s debut in the roguelite space blossom into something special, or does it fall short of sacred?
Gameplay & Story
The story follows Towa, a priestess tasked with protecting her village of Shinju from the evil god Magatsu. Magatsu spreads a corrupting miasma that gives rise to destructive creatures called Magaori, and to fight back, Towa enlists eight villagers to serve as guardians.
Like most roguelites, the core story trickles out slowly between runs through cutscenes and character dialogue. There’s also a deeper layer of narrative hidden in conversations with the villagers, which fleshes out the lore and character arcs. While the additional depth is appreciated, the sheer amount of dialogue sometimes slows the pacing. In a game that clearly wants to emphasize quick, repeatable action, it can feel like the story keeps you waiting in the lobby instead of sending you back into battle.
Combat is fast-paced and familiar to anyone who’s played Hades. You’ll carve your way through rooms of enemies, collect upgrades, and face off against bosses before moving into new areas. The Japanese theme pairs beautifully with the roguelite formula, and the character designs fit right into that world. Nishiki, a humanoid koi fish guardian, stands out as one of the most creative designs I’ve seen in the genre.
Where the game stumbles, however, is in the execution of its unique mechanics. The two-sword durability system — where you alternate between blades before they break down and lose effectiveness — is a neat idea in theory, but frustrating in practice. At the start of the game, durability depletes so quickly that it’s hard to settle into a consistent rhythm. Instead of encouraging strategy, it often feels like you’re being forced to juggle weapons just to stay afloat.
The game also throws in side activities like blacksmithing and fishing. They’re charming, sure, but they don’t add much to the core roguelite experience and end up feeling more like filler than meaningful content.
Graphics & Performance
Visually, Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree is striking. The Japanese-inspired art direction is consistently strong, with bold colors, stylized environments, and enemies that look distinct and carefully designed. Character art is a real highlight — each guardian feels unique, and bosses carry that same deliberate attention to detail.
Performance-wise, the game runs smoothly without major issues. Even when combat heats up, the frame rate holds steady, and there’s nothing overly demanding that will stress your setup. It may not push technical boundaries, but it’s stable and polished where it counts.
Feedback
There’s plenty to like here, but a few things hold Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree back from greatness. The sword durability mechanic is the biggest culprit — instead of adding strategy, it slows combat down and punishes new players too harshly. The pacing of the narrative also drags, with long stretches of dialogue that can feel like roadblocks when you’re itching to get back into the action.
That said, the art direction and character design deserve a lot of credit. The Japanese theme feels fresh for a roguelite, and guardians like Nishiki bring a ton of personality. Performance is smooth, and once you get past the early frustrations, there’s definitely fun to be had in the roguelite loop. It’s a mixed bag, but one that shows real potential.
Final Verdict
Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree is a strong first attempt at a roguelite from Bandai Namco, but it’s not without its rough edges. The art direction is fantastic, and the core combat has plenty of energy, but the clunky sword durability mechanic and slower narrative pacing keep it from reaching the heights of the games it takes inspiration from.
It’s enjoyable, it’s stylish, and it shows promise — but it doesn’t fully carve its own identity yet. For now, Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree is a good roguelite with room to grow
Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree is available now on PC via Steam, Xbox Series X|S, PS5, and Nintendo Switch.
