{{Short description|2025 video game}} {{Infobox video game | collapsible = | state = | italic title = | title = Blade Chimera | image = Blade Chimera steam header.jpg | alt = | caption = | developer = {{ubl|Team Ladybug|WSS Playground}} | publisher = {{ubl|Playism|WSS Playground}} | series = | engine = | platforms = {{ubl|Nintendo Switch|Microsoft Windows}} | released = 16 January 2025 | genre = Action | modes = Single-player | director = | producer = | designer = | programmer = | artist = | writer = | composer = peposoft }} {{Nihongo foot|'''''Blade Chimera'''''|ブレードキメラ|lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}} is a 2025 action game developed by Team Ladybug and WSS Playground, and published by Playism and WSS Playground. The player assumes Shin, a warrior who hunts demons in a post-apocalyptic world. It was released on 16 January 2025 for Microsoft Windows and Nintendo Switch.
==Gameplay== ''Blade Chimera'' is a 2D side-scrolling action game with Metroidvania gameplay, with elements of the exploration-heavy ''Metroid'' series and the combat-centric ''Castlevania'' series.<ref name="NL review"/> The player plays as Shin, a warrior equipped with a plasma blaster, and Lux, a demon who takes the form of the magical Lumina Sword and aids Shin with abilities like generating a shield.<ref name="Siliconera review"/><ref name="gema release"/> After the player learns the warp skill, they can fast-travel to almost anywhere on the map.<ref name="gr"/>
==Development and release== ''Blade Chimera'' was developed by Team Ladybug, which were behind ''Record of Lodoss War: Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth'', ''Touhou Luna Nights'', and ''Drainus''.<ref name="NL review"/><ref name="gr"/> The developer's previous games influenced the character design of ''Blade Chimera'', where every character has their sense of justice and each is sympathetic. The developer put effort into the game's backgrounds to make the 2D world more immersive.<ref name="gr"/>
The game was released on 16 January 2025 for Nintendo Switch and Microsoft Windows.<ref name="gema release"/>
==Reception== {{Video game reviews | title = | subtitle = <!-- Formatting --> | state = <!-- blank/collapsed/collapsed/expanded --> | align = <!-- left/right/none/inherit --> <!-- Awards; note capital "P" --> | award1Pub = | award1 = | award2Pub = | award2 = | MC = NS: 83/100<ref name="MCNS"/><br>PC: 77/100<ref name="MCPC"/> | OC = 83% recommend<ref name="OC"/> | Destruct = 8/10<ref name="Destructoid review"/> | NLife = 9/10<ref name="NL review"/> | SN = 9/10<ref name="SN review"/> | rev1 = Siliconera | rev1Score = 8/10<ref name="Siliconera review"/> }} ''Blade Chimera'' received "generally favorable" reviews according to review aggregator Metacritic.<ref name="MCNS"/><ref name="MCPC"/> 83% of critics recommended the game according to OpenCritic.<ref name="OC"/>
==Notes== {{Notelist}}
==References== <references>
<ref name="gema release">{{cite web |last= Romano |first= Sal |date= 7 December 2024 |title= Blade Chimera launches January 16, 2025 |url= https://www.gematsu.com/2024/12/blade-chimera-launches-january-16-2025 |website= Gematsu |location= |publisher= |access-date= 11 November 2025 |archive-date= 7 December 2024 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20241207185840/https://www.gematsu.com/2024/12/blade-chimera-launches-january-16-2025 |url-status= live }}</ref>
<ref name="gr">{{cite web |last= Amoroso |first= Dan |date= February 8, 2025 |title= Interview: Blade Chimera Dev Discusses the Metroidvania's Inspirations |url= https://gamerant.com/blade-chimera-developer-interview-team-ladybug/ |website= Game Rant |location= |publisher= |access-date= |archive-date= February 9, 2025 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20250209005445/https://gamerant.com/blade-chimera-developer-interview-team-ladybug/ |url-status= live }}</ref>
<ref name="MCNS">{{cite web |title=Blade Chimera critic reviews - Metacritic (Nintendo Switch) |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/blade-chimera/critic-reviews/?platform=nintendo-switch |website=Metacritic |language=en-US |access-date=11 November 2025 |archive-date=7 December 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20251207215636/https://www.metacritic.com/game/blade-chimera/critic-reviews/?platform=nintendo-switch |url-status=live }}</ref> <ref name="MCPC">{{cite web |title=Blade Chimera critic reviews - Metacritic (PC) |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/blade-chimera/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |website=Metacritic |language=en-US |access-date=11 November 2025 |archive-date=7 December 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20251207215643/https://www.metacritic.com/game/blade-chimera/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |url-status=live }}</ref> <ref name="OC">{{cite web |title= Blade Chimera Reviews - OpenCritic |url= https://opencritic.com/game/17962/blade-chimera |website= OpenCritic |date= 16 January 2025 |language= en-US |access-date= 11 November 2025 |archive-date= 7 December 2025 |archive-url= https://archive.today/20251207215721/https://opencritic.com/game/17962/blade-chimera |url-status= live }}</ref>
<ref name="Destructoid review">{{cite web |last= Handley |first= Zoey |date= 17 January 2025 |title= Review: Blade Chimera |url= https://www.destructoid.com/reviews/review-blade-chimera/ |website= Destructoid |location= |publisher= |access-date= 11 November 2025 |archive-date= 13 June 2025 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20250613044341/https://www.destructoid.com/reviews/review-blade-chimera/ |url-status= live }}</ref> <ref name="NL review">{{cite web |last= Zack |first= Ethan |date= 15 January 2025 |title= Blade Chimera Review (Switch eShop) |url= https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/switch-eshop/blade-chimera |website= Nintendo Life |location= |publisher= |access-date= 11 November 2025}}</ref> <ref name="SN review">{{cite web |last= White |first= Lucas |date= 15 January 2025 |title= Blade Chimera review: Demonic intervention |url=https://www.shacknews.com/article/142727/blade-chimera-review-score |website= Shacknews |location= |publisher= |access-date= 11 November 2025}}</ref> <ref name="Siliconera review">{{cite web |last= Price |first= Leigh |date= 17 January 2025 |title= Review: Blade Chimera Is a Stylish Cyberpunk Metroidvania |url= https://www.siliconera.com/review-blade-chimera-is-a-stylish-cyberpunk-metroidvania/ |website= Siliconera |location= |publisher= |access-date= 11 November 2025}}</ref>
</references>
==External links== *{{official website|https://playism.com/en/game/blade-chimera/}}
Category:2025 video games Category:Nintendo Switch games Category:Playism games Category:Post-apocalyptic video games Category:Single-player video games Category:Team Ladybug games Category:Video games about demons Category:Video games developed in Japan Category:Windows games Category:Science fantasy video games Category:Video games set in Japan Category:Cyberpunk video games Category:Japanese mythology in popular culture