The end of an era has arrived for fans of Touken Ranbu as the English and Chinese versions of the beloved game are set to shut down on August 21. Developed by Nitroplus and DMM Games, Touken Ranbu entertained many with its blend of history, fantasy, and strategic gameplay. The community has to bid farewell to their cherished Touken Danshi and the immersive world they inhabit.
Touken Ranbu’s English and Chinese versions provided an opportunity for players outside of Japan to enjoy and experience this game. Gamers across the globe, with a passion for Japanese history and culture, embraced their opportunity to create their own arsenal of legendary swords.
From famous blades like Yamatonokami Yasusada to lesser-known collectibles, players fought countless battles with the historic swords one could only dream of yielding. The loss of these versions also highlights the challenges faced by developers and publishers in maintaining a global player base. As August 21 approaches, gamers appreciate the game for all the fun times they had with hours of gameplay.
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The Journey of Touken Ranbu
Touken Ranbu (Wild Dance of Swords) is a wildly popular free-to-play collectible card browser video game that grew insanely popular in the Japanese community. Developed by Nitroplus and DMM Games, it first launched in Japan in 2015 before its worldwide release in April 2021. This franchise has inspired not only three anime productions and a live-action film but also two separate long-running stage play series and an exciting spin-off game.
Touken Ranbu struck a chord with fans, particularly young women, and quickly gained over 1.5 million players by 2016. The game was one of the main reasons behind the cultural trend of “katana women” in Japan, with women posing with historical Japanese swords and paying homage to their heritage.
The game’s popularity even led to a women’s magazine publishing exercise routines based on sword fighting techniques from the game. Funny what a piece of media can do.
Touken Ranbu’s impact extends beyond virtual battles and trendy subcultures. The game has inspired restoration campaigns for real-life swords represented in the game that were damaged or destroyed, leading a donor to lend 45 million yen to a crowdfunding campaign to create a replica of the Hotarumaru sword.
The Gameplay
Step into the role of a time-traveling sage in Touken Ranbu, where you’ll battle evil forces and bring legendary swords to life as attractive young men. It’s similar to Kantai Collection but with swords instead of warships.
The character designs are a blend of historical accuracy and aesthetic appeal, taking inspiration from different sword types and historical eras. “Combat is largely automated, so resource management and grinding are key to progress.”
Collecting materials and forging new swords keep the action going, but keep an eye out for real-time countdowns on repairs and forging. Play Touken Ranbu on your web browser or on your phone anywhere you wish!
What Kantai Collection is to the boys, Touken Ranbu is to the girls. Playing a sword-based combat game is fun, for sure, but playing a sword-based game with attractive men is even more fun. Although it follows history and medieval elements, it’s a very fun and silly game. The game is very light-hearted and laid-back, and that’s what people like the most.
The story is fun, and the gameplay is relaxing. It is sad that the English version won’t be available anymore, but those in Japan can still end a stressful day with Touken Ranbu.
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