Last week, MonsterVine attended Anime Expo. Of course, the convention was filled with anime news breaking every other minute; there were a couple of other things for people to enjoy. Although the name might be a bit misleading, the convention featured a variety of games for people to play. Most of the games I got to play throughout the week were on the show floor open to the public; there was one that I got to play behind closed doors. From fighting games to turn-based combat, here are our thoughts on everything we played at Anime Expo 2026.
Qliphah In Providence’s Shadow
Developer: Unite Plus | Platforms: PC, PS5, Nintendo Switch
This was a rather interesting game. The demo I had for it was fairly short, so there wasn’t much time for me to get under the hood and explore much of it. But a couple of things that I did notice were the music. From start to finish, it was a certified bop. The other was that the game is extremely busy. A lot of the time, the screen was filled with text and prompts, making it hard to tell what was actually happening. This made combat all the more confusing. I was playing as two different characters, going up against a giant monster, and although we could move around, I was stuck to a grid. With so much playing out at once, it was hard to tell whether I was making the right moves. But with that in mind, it was cool to watch them actually fight even if I didn’t fully understand what I was doing.
Demons’ Night Fever
Developer: Drecom| Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch
This was a game that I really wanted to enjoy. It had a lot going for it, including a fun art style, a goofy tone, and a cool turn-based system. But that’s where a lot of it begins and ends. The build for this was rather long, and in short, you play as a man who’s trying to become a powerful demon. But the thing is, the character is super annoying, and although it’s trying to make fun of people who spend too much time online, the jokes never land; the same goes for the overall writing, too. The Persona-like time system can be fun, but it quickly becomes an annoying task to ensure you’re strong enough for the battle ahead.
Damon and Baby
Developer: Arc System Works | Platforms: PC, PS5, Nintendo Switch
Yes, I know Damon and Baby have been out for some time now. But it’s a game I haven’t had the chance to play until last week. To quickly summarize the game, you play as a once-powerful demon trying to reclaim his strength. But to do that, you have to take care of a baby. A Metroidvania filled with humor and interesting puzzles that’ll keep you engaged. On top of that, the combat is super fun. I didn’t know that throwing a baby across a room would be as fun as it was until I got my hands on this game. With a bunch of abilities and weapons that I was teased with, I’m sure the game only gets better from there on out.
Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls
Developer: Arc System Works | Platforms: PC, PS5
Like many people, I cannot wait for this game. After playing it for only twentyish minutes, I can confidently say this is going to be a fighting game I spend too much time on. Keep in mind I haven’t really been too deep into the fighting game community for a while now, but while I was playing this, a lot of my old instincts came back almost immediately. As a giant Doctor Doom sicko, I was beyond happy to see my boy Victor get the respect he deserves. Even though it can be a bit crunchy since it’s a fighting game, it’s not overbearing and is easy for newcomers. Perhaps the best part about it was that each fighting arena felt alive, and knocking my opponent into a new part of the map felt good every single time. If you haven’t been already, keep your eyes out for Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls.
MIRESI: Invisible Future
Developer: CONTROL9 | Platforms: TBD
MIRESI is a rather interesting game. This is for several reasons. But before I get into what really stood out to me, let me talk about the actual gameplay first. I was surprised by how fun it was, because it turns the turn-based system on its head. Yes, you still have your turns, and when you attack, you can take all the time in the world, but once you do that, everything else will play in real time. The second it comes back to being your turn, the world will stop. The other thing that caught my eye was how unnecessarily horny the game can be. The way the women were drawn in this game felt almost disrespectful because it can send a harmful message about what beauty standards should be. Every other scene felt like it was skirting the line between a game and something much more mature.
Ninjala 2: The Uncharted Planet
Developer: GungHo Online Entertainment| Platforms: Nintendo Switch 2
Admittedly, I didn’t know too much about Ninjala before playing it over the weekend. But after spending some time with it, I can confidently say that I want to spend more time as a kid ninja, skateboarding through their campus and fighting monsters. Everything about this game is incredible. The art style is unique, and it’s filled with fun travel mechanics, such as wall-running and tree-swinging, that look like they belong in Spider-Man. On top of all of that, this game is basically Elden Ring for kids. It has an extremely in-depth yet easy-to-understand combat system and bosses that are just as adorable as the world it’s set in.
