Game: Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds Ultimate
Genre: Action, Fighting, Arcade
System: Nintendo Switch (Also on Steam (Windows), Xbox & PS5)
Developer|Publisher: Rocker Panda Games Japan | Rocket Panda Games
Age Rating: EU 12 | US Everyone 10+
Price: US $24.99 | UK 24.99 | EU €24,99
Release Date: April 16th, 2025
A review code was provided, and many thanks to PQube Games.
Review: Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds Ultimate – Satisfying Beat ‘Em Up Bliss
Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds Ultimate is a side-scrolling beat ‘em up that acts as a stylish spin-off of the Phantom Breaker fighting game series. Now remastered and rebuilt in Unreal Engine 5, it’s made its way to modern systems, including the Nintendo Switch. While I came in with no prior knowledge of the franchise’s lore, that didn’t stop me from having a blast. This is a vibrant, chaotic, and surprisingly deep arcade-style game, packed with upgrades and attitude that will please both genre fans and newcomers alike.
Break Out the Swords, Fight the Baddies
The game’s story kicks off with a classic anime hook: a young girl named Nagi has been kidnapped by the big bad Phantom, who’s out to reclaim his sealed powers. In response, a group of fierce anime heroines, each with their own weapons and fighting styles, charge through multiple dimensions to save her. If you’re familiar with the Phantom Breaker lore, you’ll catch more details, but even for a total newcomer, the story serves its purpose. It sets the stage without getting in the way, letting the gameplay take the spotlight.
Beat ’Em Up, Fighting Game Style
On paper, this is a standard beat ‘em up: move about, clear the screen of enemies, defeat the boss, rinse and repeat. But where Phantom Breaker shines is its combat system, which borrows heavily from traditional 2D fighters. You’ve got light, medium, and heavy attacks, a block mechanic, and directional inputs to pull off special moves, think Street Fighter meets River City Girls.
It does take a minute to get used to, especially since jumping is performed by pressing up (not a face button), and guarding involves no button input other than holding a block button. There’s no formal tutorial, so you’ll need to dive into the digital manual if you want to learn the ropes. That said, once you get a handle on things, the payoff is real. The variety of moves and strategies makes every fight feel fun, and landing massive combos while the screen erupts in visual effects is just chef’s kiss satisfying.
Bring the Crew, Share the Chaos
The fun multiplies with friends. The game supports up to 4-player local co-op and up to 6-player online co-op, with competitive multiplayer supporting up to 8. Whether you’re teaming up or throwing hands with your pals, the screen quickly becomes a glorious mess of flashy attacks, enemies, and power-ups. There are three difficulty levels to help ease newer players into the fray, but there’s also enough challenge for veterans looking for more chaos.
If you prefer competition to cooperation, the versus mode is also available. It’s great for a raucous game night—the more, the merrier… and the louder the shouting when someone steals your KO.
Progression and Unlocks Galore
Kicking butt comes with rewards. Enemies drop coins and gems like you’re shaking down an arcade cabinet, and these can be used to upgrade your stats or unlock new skills via a satisfying skill tree. As you progress through the story or arcade mode, you’ll gain access to an impressive roster of 38 playable characters, both heroes and villains. Each comes with unique weapons and playstyles, offering tons of replay value. Once you’ve finished story mode, there’s still plenty of incentive to return and experiment with different characters or max out your build.
Adorably Aggressive
Visually, Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds Ultimate leans hard into chibi anime aesthetics. Characters have oversized heads, expressive eyes, and exaggerated animations that keep things light and fun, even as you’re wrecking waves of enemies. The enemies themselves range from zombies to evil robots to chaotic hench-creatures, all rendered in pixel art with that classic parallax scrolling effect in the backgrounds. It all looks nostalgic but clean, bright, vibrant, and perfect for casual or family play.
The soundtrack features an energetic J-rock vibe, courtesy of The Phantom Breakers, and it matches the game’s pacing beat-for-beat. It’s punchy, catchy, and makes you feel like you’re starring in your own Saturday morning action anime.
Conclusion: A Battle Well Fought
Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds Ultimate delivers a tight, stylish beat ‘em up that blends arcade action with the depth of a fighting game. Whether you’re in it for the couch co-op mayhem, the deep skill system, or just the chance to wreck bad guys with a giant anime sword, there’s something here for everyone. It’s an easy game to pick up for a quick session and rewarding enough to come back to repeatedly. Whether alone or with friends, this one punches way above its chibi weight class.
Final Verdict: I Like It A Lot 
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