Edens Zero released on 15 July 2025 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. Based on Hiro Mashima’s hit anime and manga, it takes the form of a hack-and-slash action RPG where you follow Shiki, Rebecca, and Happy on a galaxy-spanning adventure. Fans will find plenty of familiar story beats, while newcomers get an approachable entry point without being buried in lore.
For me, this was my first real dive into Edens Zero, and I was surprised by how quickly I got hooked. By the time I’d finished playing, I’d even gone back to watch the anime, which says a lot about how well the game sells its world and characters – even if it doesn’t always nail the landing.
So, is this one worth adding to your library, or better left as a companion to the anime? Read on for the full review.
The Story of Edens Zero: From Manga to Game
Edens Zero is based on the anime and manga by Hiro Mashima, the creator of Fairy Tail. The story follows Shiki, an orphan raised by robots, who sets off on a space adventure after meeting Rebecca and her cat, Happy. Together they travel the galaxy in search of the legendary cosmic goddess known as Mother.
The game sticks closely to the key story beats from the original series, giving fans plenty of familiar moments. At the same time, it doesn’t overload new players with too much lore, which worked well for me as this was actually my first real introduction to Edens Zero and prompted me to go and check out the show.
How Edens Zero Plays: Fighting, Levelling, and More
At its core, Edens Zero is a hack-and-slash with some light RPG elements. Combat starts off simple and new mechanics are introduced gradually, so you’re never overwhelmed. That said, it can feel a bit stiff at times. For example, you’d expect to be able to lock onto enemies straight away given how the combat flows, but that option doesn’t unlock until a few hours in, which feels strange.
As you move through the main story, you unlock different characters to play as. You can take up to four into battle at once, unless the story forces restrictions. Each character has a normal attack, two finishing moves, a signature skill, and an ultimate ability. Combos are built by chaining normal attacks into finishers, with each move being upgradeable as you progress.
Fights also build up a meter for your ultimate. Once charged, you unleash a flashy super move that not only looks great but also dishes out massive damage. Pulling these off mid-battle is easily one of the most satisfying parts of the game.
After the first two chapters, the reins loosen a little and you’re given a choice of how to continue: Story Mode or Exploration Mode.
Story Mode
Story Mode retells the anime and manga, and it does a decent job of condensing the main beats. It’s an abridged version with a few tweaks for a modern audience, but it moves quickly and doesn’t outstay its welcome. Gameplay here is mostly linear, even though many areas can technically be explored. In practice, this just means more grinding for experience points, which the game is a little stingy with.
Exploration Mode
Exploration Mode opens things up by letting you freely roam the wide world of Gran Blue with any four characters of your choice. Quests gradually unlock as you progress through the main campaign, and completing them boosts your adventurer rank, which in turn unlocks even more quests.
This mode almost feels like it belongs in a different game. It reminded me a lot of Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot, with its mix of exploration, lore hunting, and collectible gathering. You can summon a vehicle to get around, though it handles terribly, so I quickly ditched it in favour of flying, which is by far the easiest and fastest way to travel.
The Grind Problem
What’s on offer across both modes will definitely keep you busy, but as you push deeper into the game a big issue rears its head. Regular enemies become ridiculously tanky, with what should be basic fights sometimes dragging on for 5 to 10 minutes. Unless you keep your attack power high and constantly upgrade your gear, these battles quickly turn from mildly challenging to tedious.
Visual Style and Technical Performance
There’s a lot of equipment in this game. Each piece not only boosts your character’s stats but also changes their appearance, which was a pleasant surprise. You can mix and match to create some really cool looks, though it also dips into a few of the typical anime tropes you’d expect.
The main cast are recreated faithfully, with special credit going to their expressive facial animations, which really capture their personalities. Environments, on the other hand, can feel rushed and maze-like, loosely resembling their anime counterparts without much detail. Gran Blue is the big exception here – the city looks fantastic – but once you head out into the wider areas, things quickly start to feel a bit bland.
Performance is where things get a little messy. I noticed minor optimisation issues in some places. That’s understandable in Exploration Mode, where you’re travelling across big biomes, but it feels odd in the more linear story sections. I did have one crash after about 8 hours of play, which threw up an Unreal Engine error. That could have been my build, but it’s worth noting.
Sound Design and Atmosphere in Edens Zero
The soundtrack isn’t pulled straight from the anime, but what’s here fits the bill for a game adaptation. It’s nothing groundbreaking, but it works well enough at the moment. The standout for me is the theme that plays while exploring Gran Blue – it’s so catchy I’ve caught myself humming it for days afterwards.
The Japanese voice acting is excellent, with most of the original cast reprising their roles. It really helps bring the characters to life. That said, there are times when the audio mix is off, and dialogue can get lost under music or effects, which is frustrating.
One gripe I have, and it’s the same for a lot of anime-based games, is the lack of an English dub. I get that keeping things in Japanese adds authenticity, but since the anime already has an English version on Netflix (at least for the first season), it feels like a missed opportunity not to include it here.
The First 60 Minutes of Gameplay
Verdict: A Faithful Adaptation with Rough Edges
Edens Zero is a mostly faithful adaptation that will please fans of Hiro Mashima’s work, but it never pushes itself beyond being a serviceable anime tie-in that feels stuck in the PlayStation 2 era. The story does enough to hook newcomers without overwhelming them, and the flashy ultimates and character variety can be fun. Exploration Mode adds some welcome freedom, even if it sometimes feels like a different game stitched on.
Stiff combat, overly long battles, bland environments, and some optimisation issues hold it back. The lack of an English dub is also a missed opportunity, especially since one already exists for the show. If it’s the story you’re after, the anime tells it better.
For die-hard fans, there’s enjoyment here, and it might even tempt newcomers to check out the series, like it did for me. But as a standalone action RPG, Edens Zero struggles to compete with stronger titles in the genre.
6/10
A decent companion piece for Edens Zero fans, but too rough around the edges for anyone else