ONI : Road to be the Mightiest Oni for Windows

3D action game in a fantasy world

ONI : Road to be the Mightiest Oni is a 3D action game that follows an unusual protagonist in the shape of Kuuta, along with his partner, Kazemaru. The game features a cell-shaded cartoon art style and a colorful world to explore, occasionally doing battles with various creatures.

Moreover, ONI : Road to be the Mightiest Oni takes place in a world divided into three distinct areas, each with its own visual and geographical differences. The style of the world can be likened to games like Sonic Frontiers. However, the gameplay is more combat-based, like in Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

Step into a lovely new world

The story of ONI : Road to be the Mightiest Oni takes place in the fictional world of Kisejima, a small world with a few distinct regions to explore. The player takes on the role of Kuuta and his companion, a ghost named Kazemaru. Kuuta attacks enemies with his club, while Kazemaru sucks enemies’ spirits from their bodies and destroys them. Though, Kazemaru’s role is not limited to just that, as he can also be controlled by the player and he can heal Kuuta if necessary.

Kisejima is quite small. Still, it presents enough for players to do some exploring. Despite being compact, it has a lot of variety, with each of the three areas being distinct enough that players should be able to tell which region they are in without any written indication. At the same time, the gorgeous art direction puts a heart in a visually barren world—coupled with the poignant and soulful soundtrack, they create an astonishing yet sincere atmosphere.

Battle demon spirits

Aside from the well-established universe, this game also offers a competitive storyline that will definitely get players hooked from the get-go. It begins with a cutscene in which the protagonist demon warrior Kuuta gets defeated by his archnemesis Momotaro. Driven by the newfound desire to have his revenge, Kuuta then heads to the lonely Kisejima island to train. There, he meets Kazemaru, who becomes his ally and training companion; together, they go on quests and trials to get stronger.

Trials can get triggered by interacting with shadow demons—each one requires a different requirement to be met before it’s cleared and that can be done by defeating a certain number of enemies, protecting an NPC, and more. Some battles lead to boss fights that have special puzzles needing to be solved as well. While these fights are fun and there is almost always something new, the process can get tedious especially when Kuuta and Kazemaru are surrounded, as the combat graphics are stiff.

Cute game with repetitive combat

Visually, ONI : Road to be the Mightiest Oni is a nice game to look at, despite the simplicity and noticeable emptiness of the island, and the differences between the areas in Kisejima keep things interesting. The style of the game may make it more palatable to a younger audience, while the style of combat doesn't make it unsuitable for that younger audience. In it, the player puts themselves into the shoes of the protagonist Kuuta and goes on an adventure to get stronger.