Sekiro: No Defeat
Sekiro was supposed to be one of the best Souls-like games released in a while. I must admit that it is hard, as they say it is yet it's fun so if you catch it on sale, which I did over the summer when Steam put all their games on sale, I would definitely say jump on it but here's the kicker: Crunchyroll sometime ago announced that they were making an anime and do I think the anime will live up to the hype? I don't know; nevertheless, as Mobb Deep would say, drop a gem on them.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is renowned for its exceptionally challenging gameplay, characterized by fast-paced combat, precise timing requirements for parrying, and minimal room for player error. Unlike other Souls games, it doesn’t offer varied character builds or extensive customization, forcing players to master its unique swordplay mechanics and “parry-riposte” combat style. Players must react quickly to attacks, and even minor enemies can kill the player in just a few hits, making each encounter tense and punishing, especially for those not used to its unforgiving rhythm. In my opinion, it's a lot less forgiving than, say, a game like Code Vein.
There's an old saying that 'there is nothing new under the sun,' and FromSoftware is not the first company, and definitely won't be the last, to have an IP enter the realm of multimedia distribution—encompassing video games, anime, manga, light novels, music, and more. I don't have to go into detail as to which Series has done it. Still, a very popular horse anime is blowing up on social media now, at least on my timeline, and it's associated with Cygames. My only quip is, will the anime be a faithful adaptation or go its own direction? There's nothing wrong with the anime going in its own direction, taking part of the lore, but I think it would be cool if it were at least recognizable. That being said, there are a few positives, which I'll discuss below.
FromSoftware is the developer and creator of the game. While the studio is not the direct producer, the Sekiro anime adaptation—titled "Sekiro: No Defeat"—is being made with collaboration from companies connected to FromSoftware. According to IGN, Crunchyroll and Qzil.la, ARCH, and Kadokawa (FromSoftware's parent company) adapted, with the anime reportedly capturing the game's precision and spirit.
It is slated for a 2026 release on Crunchyroll and features hand-drawn animation from studio Qzil.la. Never heard of this studio, nor have I. Qzil.la is a relatively new Japanese anime production company, established in 2021. Here are some anime they have worked on: Chainsaw Man (TV): Ending production for Episode 11. Champignon Witch (TV): Animation production, Enter The Garden (ONA): Production, Kuromi's Pretty Journey (ONA): Animation production, Ninja Kamui (TV): Work management for episodes 3-4, 7, 10, and 13. (ANN) With direction by Kenichi Kutsuna and character designs by Takahiro Kishida. The anime closely adapts the story and dark themes of the original award-winning game set in Sengoku-era Japan, following the silent shinobi guardian known only as Wolf (Sekiro) and the Divine Heir, Kuro, on their quest to restore balance to a nation on the edge of destruction. Voice talents reprising roles from the game include Daisuke Namikawa (Wolf) and Miyuki Satou (Kuro), with Kenji Tsuda playing Genichiro Ashina.
For fans of the game, rest assured that it will feature a "1-to-1 retelling of the original game" when it debuts, with iconic locations, characters, and key story moments adapted directly from Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. The world-building, including the mystical and historical elements, social turmoil, and supernatural threats, will be present in the anime, maintaining the dark atmospheric mood fans expect. The anime will delve into emotional and psychological depth, potentially adding detail to narrative elements—such as Dragonrot and character backstories—that were only lightly explored in the game. (Gamerant).
For people who've never played the game, it is my hope that Crunchyroll does the same thing that Netflix did when Devil May Cry was released: they discounted all the games on Steam. I hope that they do the same with this game in 2026 when it's released, so I'm sold on my hope that the anime is good enough that it encourages you to go out and buy the game, or if you already have the game, not throw your controller at the TV because the anime is subpar. All I can say is I'm going to keep my fingers crossed and maybe by the time of this anime's release, I'll probably be done with the game or maybe, just perhaps, the anime will be so good I want to play the game while watching the anime and let that inner child come out either way we'll all find out here shortly thank you for reading.
