Demon Slayer Sweep the Board! Review | Didn't Slay, Snooze— I'm Bored

Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- Sweep the Board! is a Mario Party-like game developed by Aniplex and CyberConnect2 and published by SEGA. Read our review to learn what it did well, what it didn't do well, and whether it's worth buying.

Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- Sweep the Board! Review Overview

What is Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- Sweep the Board!?

Demon Slayer - Kimetsu no Yaiba - Sweep the Board! has your standard fare Mario Party-esque mini-games and settings, including several board game versions of iconic settings from the anime like Mugen Train or Mt. Natagumo. Up to 4 players roll dice to traverse the game board, completing events and mini-games appropriate to the space that they land on.

Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- Sweep the Board! features:
　⚫︎　Take Control of Iconic Demon Slayer Characters
　⚫︎　Board Game Designed Around Demon Slayer Locations
　⚫︎　Over 30 Unique Mini-Games
　⚫︎　Local and Online 4-Player Multiplayer
　⚫︎　English and Japanese Dub Available

For more gameplay details, read everything we know about Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- Sweep the Board!'s gameplay and story.

Digital Storefronts
Nintendo
Price	$59.99

Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- Sweep the Board! Pros & Cons

Pros	Cons
Creative Mini-Games Multiplayer Can Be Fun	Overall Lack of Content The Game Captures Mugen Train’s Plot Perfectly

Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- Sweep the Board! Overall Score - 60/100

Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- Sweep the Board! is a letdown, to say the least. While there's some initial enjoyment to be had when playing with fellow Demon Slayer fans, the game falls short in terms of long-term engagement. With a lack of meaningful unlockables, achievements, and overall lack of content, the experience can quickly become stale, despite its attempts at catering to fans with fan service. While there are a few creative mini-games scattered throughout, the high price of the game is hard to justify, especially when there are cheaper alternatives available in both the Mario Party-style genre and Demon Slayer-themed games.

Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- Sweep the Board! Story - 5/10

While it's understandable that a party game might not prioritize a story, it's hard not to wish for one, especially when adapting such a rich and masterfully crafted world written by Koyoharu Gotouge. A compelling narrative could have greatly benefited the game and filled in some of the content gaps that the game currently has.

Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- Sweep the Board! Gameplay - 8/10

Sweep the Board offers a Demon Slayer twist on the classic Mario Party format, with some minor adjustments to fit the theme. The daytime training mini-games are particularly creative and simple, making them enjoyable for players of all skill levels. However, the nighttime demon slaying mini-games feel lacking in creativity and depth. Additionally, the limited number of maps, only five in total, leaves something to be desired in terms of variety and replay value.

Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- Sweep the Board! Visuals - 6/10

The character models in the game seem to have been lifted directly from CyberConnect's previous titles, which is a positive aspect as they retain their expressive qualities. However, I can't say the same for the background designs. Some elements suffer from poor rendering and textures and can be very distracting. Additionally, while the board game maps are inspired by locations from Demon Slayer, they come across as somewhat generic and lack the distinctive charm one might expect.

Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- Sweep the Board! Audio - 6/10

Sweep the Board! barely takes advantage of its incredible voice cast in both the Japanese and English dubs, and it barely features any of the memorable songs from the anime, if at all. Instead, the soundtrack is disappointingly generic and forgettable, which is a missed opportunity considering Demon Slayer's reputation for exceptional music.

Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- Sweep the Board! Value for Money - 5/10

At the moment, if you're a big Demon Slayer fan and happen to have friends who share your enthusiasm and some extra cash to spare, then maybe give this game a shot. But if you're missing any of those prerequisites, I'd recommend looking elsewhere. There are plenty of other Demon Slayer games on the market, as well as party games with much more content and replay value than this one. While it's fun for a little while, it quickly becomes stale after a few sessions, and nobody wants that in their party games.

Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- Sweep the Board! Review: Disappointing Slayer

As someone deeply invested in the Demon Slayer manga and anime, I eagerly anticipated playing this game. I imagined it as a delightful fusion of Demon Slayer's captivating world and the lively gameplay of Mario Party. And to some extent, it delivered on that promise. The incorporation of Demon Slayer elements into mini-games was a delightful touch, and I reveled in the fan service and the chance to interact with beloved characters in a slice-of-life setting during the initial hours of gameplay.

However, as I continued playing, I couldn't shake off the growing sense of monotony, which made the gameplay feel more and more repetitive. But let's start by highlighting the positives first.

Just like Mario Party, in Demon Slayer Sweep the Board!, you get to choose from about 5 board game options inspired by locations from the anime. Then, you can play with up to 4 players online, locally, or against CPU opponents. The goal is to collect the most tokens by the end of the game, and there's a twist with secondary tokens that can be claimed if you reach specific areas designated by the crow.

Landing on these tiles grants you a certain number of these special tokens, which can really turn the tide in your favor, even if you're trailing behind in regular tokens. Whoever accumulates the most tokens before the game ends wins.

But what sets Demon Slayer apart is its day and night system. The game board alternates between day and night phases. During the day, you'll engage in events and minigames to prepare for the night ahead, where you'll hunt demons. Unfortunately, the night minigames can feel lackluster, often requiring simple actions like swiping your Joy-Con or rapidly pressing a button. They lack the depth and challenge of the daytime activities.

However, the daytime minigames are a blast. For example, there's an all-out snowball fight where you aim to pelt your opponents with well-aimed snowballs. Another favorite is Nezuko Shuffle, where you must locate Nezuko hidden among several boxes.

But my personal highlight is the breathing technique minigame, inspired by the anime's focus on mastering breathing techniques. You have to practice your breathing even while asleep to avoid getting caught by the Butterfly Mansion girls—a hilarious and fun challenge.

That's why I always dreaded the night phase—it only occurs once in a cycle, but it can be quite annoying as the tiles you land on trigger demon-slaying minigames. Speaking of tiles, they're pretty much what you'd expect from a party game: some offer random coin rewards, special items, or shops, and there are even tiles that unlock additional characters from the roster to give you extra dice rolls.

Plus, there's a special Slayer Dice you can use every two turns, which grants better rolls or a hefty coin bonus. It's a smart strategy to alternate between the two types of dice to maximize your chances of success.

Playing with friends or family members adds another layer of enjoyment to the experience. The mini-games are designed to ignite that competitive spirit, driving everyone to outdo each other—a theme perfectly in line with the anime. And if your friends or family are Demon Slayer fans, the fun is even greater as you get to embody your favorite characters and engage in some roleplay action.

It's a refreshing change to see these characters in lighthearted moments, especially considering their usual serious and dark situations in the anime. However, multiplayer online play isn't as engaging due to the lack of a chat or voice feature, relying solely on emotes, and finding players online can be a bit tedious.

Unfortunately, the positives end there because the game falls short in several areas, making it quite average or even below average overall. One of the most frustrating aspects is there is no unlockable characters or maps. It's disappointing not to see beloved characters like Kanao included, especially since unlocking new characters and maps is a highlight of party games. The unlockables available aren't particularly enticing, and the way you obtain them through a raffle system is not enjoyable and can really dampen the mood.

But the biggest flaw of the game it just becomes dull and repetitive after a short while. This could be due to the lack of additional modes or unlockables, but it's also exacerbated by the repetitive nature of the game boards and tiles.

With little replay value, it's a letdown for a party game, especially one with a $60 price tag. There are much cheaper alternatives out there that offer more content and replayability. While I might have been more forgiving if the game were priced lower, asking $60 for an experience that won't last more than a few hours is disappointing and frankly unreasonable.

Pros of Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- Sweep the Board!

Things Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- Sweep the Board! Got Right
Creative Mini-Games Multiplayer Can Be Fun

Creative Mini-Games

Let me clarify, I actually find some aspects of the game quite enjoyable. Specifically, the daytime training mini-games are pretty fun. The game splits the mini-games into two parts: daytime training and demon-slaying. While the demon-slaying mini-games can be a bit boring, the daytime ones are where the real fun is! Some of my favorites include team badminton, demon slei-gher, and the breathing technique mini-game.

Multiplayer Can Be Fun

If you've got friends or family around, this game can actually be a blast, especially if they're into Demon Slayer. Playing as beloved characters like Tanjiro and the gang adds a whole layer of charm to the experience, and the fan service moments are sure to bring smiles to everyone's faces. My own family and friends had a great time with it!

Cons of Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- Sweep the Board!

Things That Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- Sweep the Board! Can Improve
Overall Lack of Content The Game Captures Mugen Train’s Plot Perfectly

Overall Lack of Content

Unfortunately, this game falls short when it comes to overall content. There's a distinct lack of unlockables—no new unlockable characters, no unlockable maps, and the achievements are pretty basic. You can get some battle attire for only 5 characters, a few stamps, wallpapers for your trainer card, and titles, but the unlocking process is odd. It's all done through a raffle system that randomly gives you prizes when you use Kimetsu Tablets or Premium tickets. While it's free to participate, the rewards often feel underwhelming. It's a shame, especially since there are plenty of other memorable Demon Slayer characters like Nezuko who for some reason is an NPC in the game instead of being playable.

The Game Captures Mugen Train’s Plot Perfectly

Mugen Train, the seventh story arc of Demon Slayer, introduces a plot centered around a demon who takes control of a train, lulling the protagonists to sleep with his powers. Similarly, this game feels like a long train ride that loses its excitement after a while and eventually becomes a snoozefest. Despite being a shorter party game, I suggest limiting your playtime to around 5 to 10 turns. The lack of characters and variety in maps makes the game repetitive, and even playing with friends can become dull and boring.

Is Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- Sweep the Board! Worth It?

Only if You Love Demon Slayer

As an avid fan of Demon Slayer, I couldn't wait to dive into this game. However, I need to pay attention to the fact that it comes with a hefty price tag. It seems tailored more towards die-hard Demon Slayer enthusiasts craving some fan service, or for groups of family and friends who are in the fandom. For newcomers, though, it might not be the best introduction, as it assumes a level of prior knowledge about the series' terminology and jargon. While I personally found some enjoyment in it for a few hours, the game ultimately lacks depth and becomes tiresome over time, especially when stacked against more engaging options like Mario Party.

Digital Storefronts
Nintendo
Price	$59.99

Additionally, physical copies of Demon Slayer - Kimetsu no Yaiba - Sweep the Board! are available to order in the following stores:

Physical Retailers
Target		BestBuy		GameStop		Amazon
$59.99

Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- Sweep the Board! FAQ

How Many Characters Can You Play in Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- Sweep the Board!?

Below are the 12 Playable Characters:

⚫︎ Tanjiro Kamado
⚫︎ Giyu Tomioka
⚫︎ Gyomei Himejima
⚫︎ Inosuke Hashibira
⚫︎ Kyojuro Rengoku
⚫︎ Mitsuri Kanroji
⚫︎ Muichiro Tokito
⚫︎ Obanai Iguro
⚫︎ Sanemi Shinazugawa
⚫︎ Shinobu Kocho
⚫︎ Tengen Uzui
⚫︎ Zenitsu Agatsuma

How Many Mini-Games are there in Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- Sweep the Board!?

There are 35 mini-games overall.

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Demon Slayer - Kimetsu no Yaiba - Sweep the Board! Product Information

Title	DEMON SLAYER - KIMETSU NO YAIBA - SWEEP THE BOARD!
Release Date	April 26, 2024
Developer	Aniplex, CyberConnect2
Publisher	SEGA of America
Supported Platforms	Nintendo Switch
Genre	Party, Action
Number of Players	1-4
ESRB Rating	T 13+ (Teen 13+)
Official Website	Demon Slayer - Kimetsu no Yaiba - Sweep the Board! Website

Uriel Rodriguez

Writer | Gamer | Self-Proclaimed Digimon/Sujimon/Persona/Palworld/Pokémon Master