80
By the end you'll probably be left wanting more. [Issue #40 – July/August 2019, p. 18]
60
Katana Zero looks fantastic and has fun fast paced combat, unfortunately the combat is broken up with a confusing and convoluted story. It was all over too quickly, but for people who want more, a dialogue system provides replayability.
90
As is often the case the Switch version adds nothing to the experience, but the graphical style and lightning pace suit the handheld screen way better than they suit a full-sized TV. The Switch, as a result, feels like the natural home for Katana ZERO, which slots perfectly into the existing catalogue.
10
My gripes with some aspects of the combat not withstanding it's a 10/10 game man, just play it. The way this game does story is without a doubt, the single best implementation of conveying story in a 2d game I have experienced.
9
indie oyunlar arasında çok iyi bir oyunsun sen hikayen muazzam oynanışın harika ama 2 son var biri oyunun yarısında bitiriyo oyunu o değişik :D
8
The fast-paced hack-and-slash combat , mixed with time control was thrilling and fun. Other features like dashing, deflecting bullet, and aim a slash with mouse makes killing enemies so satisfying. The story also interesting, despite the cliffhanger at the end.
Katana ZERO
Released On:
Apr 17, 2019
Metascore
Generally Favorable
83
User score
Generally Favorable
8.5
My Score
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Metascore
Generally Favorable
84% Positive
31 Reviews
31 Reviews
16% Mixed
6 Reviews
6 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Apr 18, 2019
100
Katana ZERO, a time-warping samurai escapade, boasts stunning visuals, music, mechanics, and writing. It's one of 2019's best games thus far.
Apr 29, 2019
90
Katana Zero has been a surprise for everyone since it always kept a low profile and in the midst of the number of high level pitches that we have is able to carve a niche and get up as one of the best games so far this year. Perhaps its biggest problem comes in the sense of the duration that does not end up being exact to obtain the development of the whole plot and that certainly can be exploited more. Otherwise it is an indispensable this month and perhaps this year because without much pretension shows that the heart of a video game is in what is in itself and nothing more.
User score
Generally Favorable
86% Positive
580 Ratings
580 Ratings
11% Mixed
72 Ratings
72 Ratings
3% Negative
20 Ratings
20 Ratings
Feb 20, 2026
10
My gripes with some aspects of the combat not withstanding it's a 10/10 game man, just play it. The way this game does story is without a doubt, the single best implementation of conveying story in a 2d game I have experienced.
Jan 25, 2026
10
An incredible story, full of twists and turns, captivating characters, and a unique mechanic.
Apr 18, 2019
90
Katana Zero ties an incredibly dark and thrilling narrative directly into fast and deep gameplay to create one of the best games of the year.
May 22, 2019
85
Katana Zero is a mesmerizing title. The narrative twists and turns in odd ways, and the payoff is both open and satisfying. The action is crisp if you can commit everything to memory well enough to create small, bloody masterpieces. With a familiar yet attractive presentation, Kata Zero feels right at home on the indie-loving machine that is the Nintendo Switch.
Apr 22, 2019
80
Katana Zero offers surprisingly solid narrative, excellent, fast paced gameplay and good level design. it is a short game, and it feels like it didn't reach its true potential, but it has a unique identity.
Apr 18, 2019
78
When Katana Zero is in top form, it is a satisfying and stylish action/puzzle hybrid that rewards your patience and persistence. But the longer you play, the more the effect diminishes. The assassination scenarios start blending together, and the cutscenes stop inspiring curiosity. That tipping point is what stops Katana Zero from reaching its full potential, but it doesn’t negate the pride that comes from a well-planned and perfectly executed sword-slashing rampage.
Apr 18, 2019
60
If you can ignore gameplay flaws and focus on style, you might fall in love with its VHS trappings. However, if you want something beyond style, if you want an interesting interactive tale or a precise action game, you should look elsewhere.
Jan 14, 2026
10
Loved this game. The speed the intensity and THE STORY! I loved it. I replayed this game like 10 times and i never get tired of it.
Jul 18, 2025
7
Katana zero was good game the pixel art style of game is amazing and combot fights are awesome in game and final Boss was hard but I defeat the final Boss I finished the game I enjoyed the game but story was ok not great but gameplay was amazing Liked the main hero of the game katana zero was best in fights and combots was best in game and Iwas playing on Android and android experience was amazing and gameplay was fantastic
Jul 20, 2020
7
Muy buen juego, entraras en el título por el llamativo gameplay, la música y la rapidez con la cual ves que se pueden pasar los niveles, pero no es lo mejor del título. Obviamente este juego bebe mucho de Hotline Miami y de como cambio en cierto modo los juegos indie pixel art con su gameplay adictivo de muerte y repetición, este juego adapta esa idea a su gameplay y aporta su narrativa e historia que hará que te quedes hasta el final. Sinceramente es un titulo que merece mucho la pena jugarlo. no es de duración larga y te deja con ganas de más.
Oct 27, 2020
4
It's a solid game but with much less variety than the reviews claim. The gameplay was too repetitive for my taste, but it's not a long game so there's that. I think a lot of effort has been done on the presentation but too little on the mechanics and therefore the replayability.
The story is a complete ripoff of Hotline Miami, which wasn't great to begin with if we're being honest. But the quirkiness of the characters and the wink wink dialogue started to grate on me pretty fast. The Devolver games feel terribly pretentious in that way, that they try to outsmart the player and use 'shock value' but most of the time I feel disengaged from the story/protagonist by those antics. The game sure looks beautiful, but that’s all there is unfortunately.
SummarySlice through time to take back what's rightfully yours in a neo-noir, instant-death action platformer.
Rated Mfor Mature
Platforms:
- PC
- PlayStation 4
- Nintendo Switch
- Xbox One
Initial Release Date:Apr 17, 2019
Developer:
- Askiisoft
Publisher:
