Katana Dragon

About Katana Dragon

Katana Dragon is a single-player action-RPG set in the cursed realm of Sogen, developed by Tsunoa Games and released January 30, 2026. Available on PC and Linux, it tasks players with controlling ninjas Shin and Nobi as they investigate a plague turning people into ghosts. The game blends dungeon exploration, puzzle-solving, and combat against mutated enemies. Its core loop revolves around upgrading Dragon Gems, equipping Cursed Seals, and navigating treacherous environments. The story follows a classic hero’s journey but leans into mystical folklore, with players figuring out the dragon’s legacy while battling corrupted beasts. It’s a straightforward top-down adventure with a focus on progression and world-hopping.

Gameplay

Players spend most sessions switching between Shin and Nobi, each with distinct abilities. Combat is real-time but methodical, requiring precise dodges and timed attacks to counter enemies. Upgrades like Dragon Gems and Cursed Seals alter movement and damage types, while puzzle sections demand manipulating traps or environmental objects. Missions often involve backtracking through previously cleared zones, now infused with tougher enemies. The interface shows resource management: ki points for spells, stamina for dodging, and a crafting menu for seal upgrades. Sessions last 2, 4 hours, with frequent save points. Boss fights require pattern recognition, and exploration rewards include lore fragments and crafting materials. The game’s controls are light but responsive, with a slight learning curve for combo systems.

What Players Think

Community ratings average 4.2/5, with 89% of reviews positive. 68% of players complete the main story, averaging 15, 20 hours. The mood is nostalgic (74%) and adventurous (61%), with some frustration over repetitive side quests. 81% of reviewers praise the combat depth, while 19% cite clunky UI transitions. PlayPile data shows 35 achievements, with the average player earning 17.5 (taking 10.2 hours). 72% of players beat the final boss, and 55% collect all elemental god fragments. Critic scores hover around 84/100, with praise for art style and lore density. However, 23% of community threads mention bugs in early chapters, particularly with save file corruption.

PlayPile's Take

Katana Dragon is a solid but uneven pick for fans of classic action-RPGs. Its $29.99 price tag matches the 15-hour average playthrough, though the lack of multiplayer and occasional pacing issues limit replay. The 35 achievements add 5+ hours to the experience, but the game’s best moments are in its boss battles and upgrade systems. Skip if you crave open-world freedom or dislike backtracking. Stick with it for the combat polish and atmospheric story beats. Not a must-play, but worth a try if you’ve enjoyed games like Hollow Knight or The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past.

Storyline

A long time ago, an evil dragon ravaged the lands of Sogen until the 5 great monks, locked it in a glass prison using their Ki. After 1,000 years, the dragon got to break this barrier and causes the chaos again. It was then when the Daimyo commanded her best swordsmith, Katamune, to forge the legendary Katana Dragon using the barrier’s fragments. This allows that the young samurai Cideyasu faced the dragon, bringing an end to it evil reign… or that is what they thought. That’s how Katamune and Cideyasu went from history to legend. Thanks to their effort and sacrifice, peace now reigns in Sogen, but the day that our young ninjas, Shin and Nobi, will finally be able to perform their first mission, unexpected things will happen. Turning a simple mission to deliver a gift into a real adventure. Suddenly, people around there, including their Sensei, will be transformed into ghosts by a curse. However, they don’t seem to be affected by it, making them the only ones that can find out what it’s happening. For that reason, they will be embarked on a journey with their ghost Sensei. They will tour all Sogen’s lands, meeting any village, town, island or mountain that conforms to it. But it will not be an easy way, because the curse that is plaguing their people is also affecting the Gokais, which are more savage and aggressive, losing their friendly nature. So there are a lot of enemies that they must defeat in their journey. But perhaps, if they can find the five elemental gods they will get a way to return their people to normality.