Type-Moon Games You Should Try in 2023

As Fate/Samurai Remnant's release date looms, we here at Game8 have chosen a few of the developer's games for you to try before the game releases worldwide. So, take your pick of games using our (spoiler-less) recommendations!

Type-Moon Games You Should Try

Fate/Extella: The Umbral Star

Fate/Extella: The Umbral Star is an action RPG with a gripping plot. It's a tale of a tragic romance in four parts, ending on a tastefully bittersweet note. The game features many familiar characters from the Fate/EXTRA continuity, such as Nero Claudius Caesar (female), Tamamo-no-Mae, Jeanne d'Arc, Gilgamesh, Alexander the Great, and Elizabeth Bathory, as well as a new character that people may recognize from Type-Moon's hit mobile game Fate/Grand Order, Atilla the Hun (also female).

Unlike the previous installments' turn-based, rock-paper-scissors gameplay, Fate/Extella: The Umbral Star has a gameplay similar to Dynasty Warriors. Players take control of powerful servants, manifestations of heroes from the past, and battle through hordes of enemies. Each stage has various objectives ranging from defeating enemy servants, rescuing allies, capturing areas, and defending strategic points. But despite the multiple objectives required in every mission, it all still boils down to an elementary, boring loop of killing hundreds of enemies to achieve them.

Despite the game's heavy fanservice, stale gameplay, and ridiculous ending sequence, it's still worth getting it for the story alone. Oh, and if you're a fan of the original Fate/EXTRA cast, too. Regardless, Nero and Altera's (Atilla's feminine name in the game) routes will surely punch a hole through your heart. It truly shows Type-Moon's writing prowess. For that, it's definitely a strong recommendation for anybody interested in the series.

	Buy Fate/Extella: The Umbral Star on Amazon

Melty Blood: Actress Again: Current Code

Type-Moon's fighting game with a long title is the arcade and PC port of their console fighter Melty Blood: Actress Again. It's notable for being the most accessible release of Type-Moon's Melty Blood series, a set of games based on their hit Tsukihime visual novel. For a long time, it was the go-to fighting game for Type-Moon fans before Melty Blood: Type Lumina was released, considering their other fighting game, Fate/unlimited codes, only released for the PS2 and PSP.

It's a fast-paced fighting game that resembles Arc System Works' Guilty Gear series in many aspects, such as its flashy moves and gratuitous aerial combos. Another similarity that can be drawn between the two would be their use of different "styles" of fighting for any single character. In Guilty Gear XX (and older releases) up to Λ Core Plus R, these were referred to as a character's EX mode, which could be toggled in the character screen. Meanwhile, Melty Blood: Actress Again: Current Code used the "Moon Styles," for a total of three different fighting styles for each character. These were referred to as a character's Crescent Moon, Half Moon, and Full Moon styles, and each of them changed significant aspects of a character's move sets and mechanics that they may well be considered an altogether different character.

One thing to note, though; controller support for the Steam version is notoriously troublesome to set up. There was a time when local tournaments switched from using the Steam release to a modded version simply because it was so much easier to set up controllers (or fight sticks) with it. Though players can still definitely play locally using the Steam version without many issues, most people still prefer not doing so.

Platform	Price
Steam	$24.99

Tsukihime: A Piece of Blue Glass Moon

Tsukihime is the work that kickstarted the Nasuverse, a fictional collective of Kinoko Nasu's major titles, including the Fate series, Garden of Sinners, Witch on the Holy Night, and Angel Notes. In fact, every single title in this article belongs to this fantasy world.

In a way, Tsukihime can be regarded as Type-Moon's most important work. Sure, it may not have been as prevalent (or profitable) as Fate, nor did it have multiple high-quality movie adaptations by the studio ufotable, but make no mistake; Tsukihime walked so that the others could run. It made people who have read the original work set expectations from Type-Moon's works - expectations they have repeatedly met and exceeded.

Now, you might be thinking, "Oh, geez! What is a game that has yet to receive an English version doing here?"

Well, dear readers, it's here because Tsukihimates, a fan translation group, have recently finished creating an English Translation patch for the game, which will work on a legal copy of Tsukihime: A Piece of Blue Glass Moon. Though the original 2000 Visual Novel had a much better atmosphere due to its use of redrawn photographed sceneries, the remake is still a great read. Additionally, the game has been confirmed to receive an official English localization by 2024.

Witch on the Holy Night

For those seeking a classic Type-Moon experience on modern hardware (and an official English release), look no further than Witch on the Holy Night. While the series is technically unfinished, with the only released title being what is essentially the series' prologue, Witch on the Holy Night (abbreviated as Mahoyo from now on) offers a full display of the developer's prowess in story-telling and world-building.

It follows the story of Aoko Aozaki, Alice Kuonji, and Soujuurou Shizuki as they live their lives together, learning magecraft and attending school. It's a simple, almost comical premise. But despite that, Mahoyo is one of Type-Moon's most captivating works. It features a cast of charming, well-written characters to which any reader could find themselves attracted.

On top of all that, it also serves as the chronological origin for many of Type-Moon's other works. This can be seen from Mahoyo's main cast performing as supporting characters or major influences on well-known titles such as Garden of Sinners and Fate and even in the legendary Tsukihime franchise.

Although the localization may sometimes be somewhat jarring, often forcing readers to read through a sentence multiple times, it doesn't detract from the narrative quality Type-Moon is quite known for.

	Buy Witch on the Holy Night on Amazon

Fate/unlimited codes

The Fate series' first real foray into fighting games (the others being the likes of CRUCIS FATAL + FAKE, a 2008 fan-made game) goes hard with their PS2 and PSP title, Fate/unlimited codes. Despite what many may describe the game as, it is a 3D fighting game, not a 2D one, with a heavy emphasis on fast-paced ground combos despite each character's ability to take fights to the air. Each player can react differently to an enemy's actions, from guarding to using Reflect Guard (parries) to simply side-stepping away.

Overall, the gameplay can be described as a mix of Tekken and Guilty Gear, where players must use their positioning and range while possessing flashy combos that can take them to the skies.

Due to only being available for the PS2 and PSP, it would be incredibly difficult to procure a legal copy of the game nowadays, especially after it was pulled from the PlayStation Store over a decade ago. On top of that, the English version is only available for the latter platform. However, those fortunate enough to obtain one would certainly appreciate that there's still a healthy community around the game, with the occasional tournaments still being held here and there.

Fate/EXTRA

The first installment to Type-Moon's Fate/EXTRA series. While it certainly isn't as striking as Fate/EXTRA CCC or as gripping as Fate/Extella: The Umbral Star, Fate/EXTRA is still a solid installment to the Fate franchise. It boasts well-written characters, a fantastic plot, and a polished rock-paper-scissors combat mechanic that, for better or worse, could leave some players absolutely exhausted after just a couple of hours of grinding.

What really makes Fate/EXTRA memorable is that it is the first of many things for Type-Moon; it is the first of their games to be released in the RPG genre, the first game to be set in a universe entirely different from the one shared by Type-Moon's previous works, and it is also the first of the developer's games to receive an official, physical international release. Fortunately, it was a great game that drew in plenty of people to the franchise.

There will be a remake of Fate/EXTRA for modern consoles, titled "Fate/EXTRA Record." It will no longer feature the rock-paper-scissors mechanic from the original game but will instead feature a rotating set of commands that players could use, provided they have enough action points available.

Perhaps waiting for the release would be worth it, as obtaining a copy of the original game on the PSP might prove to be a daunting task.

Melty Blood: Type Lumina

Melty Blood's first worldwide release is also their latest in Melty Blood: Type Lumina. Much like its predecessors, it's a fast-paced fighting game with a very polished style resembling Guilty Gear. On release, it immediately exploded in popularity from both Type-Moon fans and fighting game enthusiasts alike, garnering praise for its even faster pace than its predecessor while also managing to simplify various aspects, such as the removal of the Moon Styles, without hurting the series' signature variety.

It features many of the series' most beloved characters, such as Arcueid Brunestud, Shiki Tohno, Ciel, Akiha Tohno, and most importantly, Neco-Arc. And while some fans of the older games are still waiting for more iconic additions to the game, such as Arcueid Brunestud's peak form, Archetype: Earth, the game also has something for fans of the Fate series, such as Altria, Ushiwakamaru, and Mash Kyrielight.

The game is already a regular category in the global fighting game championship event EVO, a testament to its popularity and polish. But for Melty Blood: Actress Again: Current Code players, be warned; many of the characters shared between both games have had their movesets adjusted or completely changed, such as Powered Ciel's.

Platform	Price
Steam	$49.99

Alfonso Majarucon

Writer of things from game, anime and manga reviews to news and webnovels. Hopelessly addicted to story-driven games, especially cross-platform ones. Favorite games include Punishing Gray Raven, Arknights, Limbus Company, Elden Ring, Touhou, Soul Nomad and the Disgaea series (except 3 and 6). Avid..