Dragon Ball Meets Vampire Survivors In Wild New Co-Op Anime Game

It's incredibly easy to find over-the-top action experiences that emulate anime like Dragon Ball Z. While these were fewer and far between in the retro era due to hardware limitations for action games, the chaotic action genre really started to thrive around the PS2, when Dynasty Warriors 2 arrived.

Then, studios could more reliably provide power-fantasy-fueled action romps, selling games as "one versus hundred" simulators, where you could beat up on hundreds of people in a single level. That popularity helped give rise to games like Vampire Survivors eventually, along with many other inspirations like shoot 'em ups. Now, a new contender is entering the arena, thanks to a listing on Steam.

Dragon Ball Fans Shouldn't Sleep On This One

If you're in the mood for action chaos, Kage is coming to Steam later this year. Here's what you're in store for when it hits: "Anime Megabonk with friends. Unleash anime-style techniques — shout them to activate their true power! Fight hordes of enemies, hunt massive bosses, gather rare loot, and craft insane builds in a fast co-op action game for up to 4 players. Upgrade your village. Become a legend"

The idea is to unleash "true shonen chaos," among "dozens of playable characters" that ape anime cast members, including parodies of One Piece, Demon Slayer, Evangelion, and Dragon Ball Z. It supports four-player co-op, and is predicated on a combo system, as well as air juggles and counters. Voice-activated special attacks are also a gimmick, plus co-op synergies and the ability to duel 1v1 with friends.

A hub will allow players to collect missions, unlock new NPCs, and upgrade your village as you progress. Bosses are a huge focus of the game, with multiphase fights and rare loot drops. The game sports a PS1 aesthetic by choice, aiming to capture the "nostalgic charm" of the '90s.

Kage Looks Absolutely Wild

Thankfully, a robust build system is in place, and the developer clarifies that the game is "not a roguelike" because all progress persists. You can upgrade weapons, locate rare items, craft synergies, and customize builds (options given include crowd control, glass cannons, frontline bruisers, and lightning-quick DPS).

The studio even explains how this game isn't a roguelike in detail: "The rewards you earn from missions can be used to upgrade the village, unlocking new features like skill upgrades, duels, new missions, and much more. And yes, your progression is permanent. The gameplay on location is probably closest to Risk of Rain 2, but it’s not a roguelike."

You'll be able to play Kage later this year, as it's slated for a Q4 2026 release. No price has been announced yet, and the only confirmed platform is Steam.