Sword Art Online Fractured Daydream is a 20-man online multiplayer game set in the world of SAO. Read our review to see what it did well, what it didn't do well, and if it's worth buying.
Sword Art Online Fractured Daydream Review Overview
What is Sword Art Online Fractured Daydream?
Sword Art Online Fractured Daydream introduces a new story in the SAO series centered around Kirito and his companions as they stumble upon a mysterious system within ALfheim Online known as Galaxia. This system grants players the ability to revisit their past experiences. However, the tranquility is shattered when Galaxia spirals out of control, hurling players from across time and space into disarray. In order to rectify this temporal chaos, Kirito must collaborate with both allies and adversaries alike to realign the timeline and restore order to the virtual realm.
Sword Art Online Fractured Daydream features:
⚫︎ Cross-Play Online Multiplayer
⚫︎ 21 SAO Characters to Unlock
⚫︎ Story Mode with Original Storyline
⚫︎ Character Customization
⚫︎ Large Scale Raids and Boss Battles
⚫︎ Anime-Style Cutscenes
⚫︎ Character Combos
For more gameplay details, read everything we know about Sword Art Online Fractured Daydream's gameplay and story.
| Digital Storefronts | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Steam |
 PS |
 Xbox |
 Nintendo |
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| $59.99 | |||||||
Sword Art Online Fractured Daydream Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
 Fan-Service Gallore Chaotically Fun Combat |
Unusual and Outdated Gameplay Elements and Features Boring Story Mode |
Sword Art Online Fractured Daydream Overall Score - 76/100
Fractured Daydream is as messy as the anime itself, perfectly capturing both the highs and lows of the series. Sword Art Online fans have been waiting for a game like this, but it doesn't quite hit the mark as the perfect SAO experience. The 20-player online multiplayer is a true tribute to the series, with exciting combat and a massive character roster that guarantees some wild, chaotic fun. Yet for every two steps forward, it takes one step back, weighed down by outdated mechanics and a story mode that doesn’t quite hit the mark. While it might not reach the heights of Fatal Bullet, it edges closer to delivering the Alfheim Online experience fans are dreaming of.
Sword Art Online Fractured Daydream Story - 7/10
This game is essentially the Into the Spider-Verse of SAO, packed with fan service, Easter eggs, and fun character interactions. Though the story concept is intriguing, the lackluster execution and unengaging new characters hold back what could have been a more enjoyable narrative.
Sword Art Online Fractured Daydream Gameplay - 8/10
The gameplay perfectly illustrates what I mean by messy. While the combat can feel clunky at times, it’s undeniably fun, especially with the variety of unique character abilities. However, that excitement is dampened by some strange and outdated design choices, like RNG-based equipment, slow-level scaling, and an overwhelming number of currencies.
Sword Art Online Fractured Daydream Visuals - 7/10
The character models for Kirito and the gang really shine in the game. They bring a lot of life to the otherwise plain backgrounds and enemies, especially with their expressive battle animations. Plus, the variety of accessories and costumes is a major bonus!
Sword Art Online Fractured Daydream Audio - 8/10
The game features full voice acting by the same Japanese voice actors, which is already a major plus. I also love the opening theme used for the story mode. It does an excellent job of recreating the anime's OST, particularly during battles, where the music really amps up the excitement.
Sword Art Online Fractured Daydream Value for Money - 7/10
While I genuinely enjoy a lot of aspects of the game, I would recommend that newcomers explore other SAO titles instead, especially since this game isn’t newcomer-friendly, leans heavily into multiplayer, and requires an online subscription for console versions. The multiplayer is enjoyable, but it can become repetitive due to the limited game modes and rewards. However, if you're a fan of SAO, it's definitely worth considering as a purchase since it's designed with the series' fans in mind.
Sword Art Online Fractured Daydream Review: As Messy as the Anime
Anime fans often struggle to find decent video game adaptations, but Sword Art Online has been an exception, probably because the anime itself revolves around video games. When Fractured Daydream was announced, fans like me were excited—it seemed like the closest we'd get to the SAO MMO experience from the anime. With promises of a 20-player multiplayer mode and an original story by the creator himself, the hype was real. But, as the title of this review suggests, the game is just as messy as the anime, with its fair share of highs and lows.
The game kicks off in the cheerful world of Alfheim Online, where you play as Kirito, the main character, picking up after the anime's latest arc. Early on, Kirito meets a mysterious figure who’s later revealed to be the Administrator, a pivotal character driving the story’s conflict. Without diving too deep into spoilers, Kirito, the Administrator, and their friends must investigate why characters from different games are suddenly meeting, and why familiar faces from the past are reappearing.
The crossover characters and interactions in Fractured Daydream are a nice nod to longtime SAO fans, but the story's presentation falls flat. Much of the narrative is delivered through long dialogue sequences between characters, followed by standard gameplay where you explore areas, follow checkpoints, and defeat waves of enemies before facing off against a boss. The story mode is divided into chapters, and after each episode, you're rewarded with items, weapons, and unlockable characters. Unfortunately, this structure becomes repetitive pretty quickly.
The story mode feels more like an afterthought, existing primarily to unlock characters and provide an offline option since it’s the only mode that doesn’t require other players. While the combat can be clunky and unbalanced, it still manages to deliver some fun, capturing the anime’s flashy style. Every character comes with their own set of abilities, and while Kirito is the most basic with his dual swords and lackluster moves, others bring more variety and excitement.
Some characters can fly, others are quick and agile, and there are even gun users to mix things up. Personally, I’ve enjoyed playing as characters like Sinon and the Administrator, whose offensive, skill-based playstyles make them among the strongest in the game when built properly. While the game has its rough spots, the variety in character abilities offers enough enjoyment, especially for fans of the series.
The character customization is the most extensive we've seen in any SAO game. You can equip accessories, weapons, costumes, and tweak abilities and passives, allowing you to truly build your favorite character. Once you unlock the online mode, this customization becomes a key part of optimizing your playstyle.
The online mode is clearly the main focus of Fractured Daydream and a major selling point, being the first in the SAO series to offer a 20-player multiplayer experience. It’s an ambitious attempt to create something that feels close to an MMO, and seeing so many characters fighting bosses together is pretty impressive. The game offers three online modes: Free Roam, Boss Raid, and Co-op Quest.
In Free Roam, you select a character and get dropped into an open area where you can encounter up to 19 other players. It serves as a kind of lobby where you can explore, test your character, grind for loot, and meet new people. However, it would have been nice if Free Roam could be played offline, allowing players to explore solo without always being surrounded by others or having to rely on story mode for that experience.
The two main modes are Boss Raid and Co-op Quest. Boss Raid is where things get intense—you join a raid team of 20 players (split into groups of 4) to take down a high-level boss. These bosses often have multiple forms and difficulty stages, making teamwork crucial. Co-op Quest follows a structure similar to the story mode, where you and your team clear maps, complete objectives, and eventually face off against a boss alongside other teams at the end of each mission.
While the multiplayer mode in Fractured Daydream offers some exciting moments, the limited variety of game modes can make it feel repetitive over time. However, for SAO fans, the thrill of large-scale battles and teaming up with other players keeps it engaging. I hope future updates bring more raids, bosses, and maps to keep the experience fresh and interesting.
Overall, the multiplayer is a step up from previous SAO games, and the addition of cross-play across all platforms is a welcome improvement. That said, it’s not without its shortcomings. The raids can feel grindy, with bosses often turning into damage sponges, and the reliance on RNG for loot and crafting adds unnecessary frustration. Despite these issues, multiplayer is still a fun experience, especially for fans of the series.
Pros of Sword Art Online Fractured Daydream
| Things Sword Art Online Fractured Daydream Got Right |
|---|
|
Fan-Service Gallore Chaotically Fun Combat |
Fan-Service Gallore
At its heart, the game is a true celebration of SAO, and that’s evident in the abundance of fan service. There are countless characters to play, and the cute interactions between them are a highlight. It’s a lot of fun to witness unexpected character pairings engaging in conversations and sharing special moments together. In many ways, it feels like the Avengers: Endgame of the SAO universe.
Chaotically Fun Combat
While the controls and mechanics can sometimes feel a bit clunky, the combat is a blast. Each character has unique abilities, and you’ve got a great mix of roles—from fighters to mages to gun users. This variety really lets you play the way you want, especially in multiplayer matches with over 20 players going wild with combos. I’m a big fan of characters like Sinon, Llen, and the Administrator. The gunplay is awesome, and flying adds a fun twist to the action.
Even if the characters aren't perfectly balanced, they all feel strong, thanks to the wide range of combat options and tools at your disposal. It’s awesome how every character feels distinct, even if you and another player choose the same one. With various equipment options, special attacks, and cosmetics, you can customize your build in so many ways. This allows for a really unique playstyle, and it’s a lot of fun experimenting with different approaches to gameplay.
Cons of Sword Art Online Fractured Daydream
| Things That Sword Art Online Fractured Daydream Can Improve |
|---|
|
Unusual and Outdated Gameplay Elements and Features Boring Story Mode |
Unusual and Outdated Gameplay Elements and Features
At times, Fractured Daydream feels more like a mobile game with its odd design choices. For example, the decision to make gear crafting RNG-based feels unnecessary. It’s frustrating enough that the gear you earn from quests is random, so it would make more sense to introduce a proper crafting system instead of one that resembles a slot machine. Additionally, locking free roam mode behind online access and introducing multiple currencies—like Col for crafting and memory crystals for unlocking memories—makes the progression system feel overly convoluted. These outdated mechanics hold the game back, adding unnecessary complexity without much payoff.
Many of these mechanics feel outdated, especially since the game lacks variety in modes. It can be incredibly frustrating to navigate all this unnecessary complexity, which seems to be there just to pad out the game and create a sense of replayability.
Boring Story Mode
This game had so much potential with its intriguing concept, but it really misses the mark on execution. There are moments in the story mode that I enjoyed, but the pacing is off, and some of the dialogue is cringe-worthy. The new character, Administrator, isn’t all that compelling, and the way the characters are connected feels forced. Overall, the narrative feels disjointed, and Kirito is as dull as ever—honestly, the parts without him are often more engaging.
If you’re new to the series, I’d recommend skipping this one. The game assumes you already know the lore and characters, and it falsely advertises a recap for newcomers that doesn’t deliver. Instead, there’s a History of SAO
section that showcases important events, but you can only unlock it by gathering memory crystals through quests. This feels frustrating and counterintuitive, especially for newcomers who need a better grasp of the story. In the end, it’s mostly there to boost certain characters' stats rather than provide any real context.
Is Sword Art Online Fractured Daydream Worth It?
For the SAO Fans, Less for Newcomers
If you’re new to Sword Art Online, I’d suggest passing on Fractured Daydream for now or waiting for future updates. There are other SAO games, like Fated Bullet, available at a lower price that provide a better introduction to the series. That said, you can still enjoy this game, especially if you plan to play with friends. The people who will really get the most out of it are long-time SAO fans. For them, this game offers a satisfying blend of MMO elements without requiring a full-time commitment, plus a roster packed with familiar characters.
However, to keep the game engaging over time, I hope the developers introduce more features and game modes, like an offline free-roam option, additional boss updates, and events to boost the multiplayer’s longevity. Improving certain gameplay elements could also help elevate the overall experience.
| Digital Storefronts | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steam |
PS |
Xbox |
Nintendo |
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| $59.99 | |||||||
Sword Art Online Fractured Daydream FAQ
How Many Characters can you Unlock in SAO: Fractured Daydreams?
You can unlock 21 characters in the game.
⚫︎ Kirito
⚫︎ Asuna
⚫︎ Leafa
⚫︎ Oberon
⚫︎ Sinon
⚫︎ Argo
⚫︎ Agil
⚫︎ Llen
⚫︎ Fukaziroh
⚫︎ Eiji
⚫︎ Yuna
⚫︎ Alice
⚫︎ Yuuki
⚫︎ Lisbeth
⚫︎ Silica
⚫︎ Klein
⚫︎ Administrator
⚫︎ Yui
⚫︎ Death Gun
⚫︎ Heathcliff
⚫︎ Nautilus
⚫︎ Eugeo
Do you need PS Plus, Xbox Game Pass, or Nintendo Switch Online Membership to play Raids?
Yes, the game requires you to have a subscription to PS Plus, Xbox Game Pass, and Nintendo Switch Online to play the online sections of the game.
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SWORD ART ONLINE Fractured Daydream Product Information
 |
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| Title | SWORD ART ONLINE FRACTURED DAYDREAM |
|---|---|
| Release Date | October 4, 2024 |
| Developer | Aquria |
| Publisher | Bandai Namco Games |
| Supported Platforms | PC (Steam), PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch |
| Genre | Action, Multiplayer |
| Number of Players | 1-20 |
| ESRB Rating | T |
| Official Website | SWORD ART ONLINE Fractured Daydream Website |
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