Observation Records of My Fiancée Anime Reveals New Promotional Video

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January 19, 2026

Observation Records of My Fiancée anime PV

The staff of the TV anime adaptation of Shiki and Wan Hachipisu’s Observation Records of My Fiancée: The Misadventures of a Self-Proclaimed Villainess light novel series released a new promotional video highlighting the character Bertia, who is voiced by Miyu Tomita. Tomita is joined by Observation Records of My Fiancée cast member Yūsuke Kobayashi, who voices as Cecil.

Junichi Yamamoto directs the Observation Records of My Fiancée: The Misadventures of a Self-Proclaimed Villainess anime at Ashi Productions. Miki Matsumoto is the character designer for animation, and Akiko Inoue is both writing and overseeing the series scripts. Yūki Hayashi, Luke Standridge, and Asa Taylor are the music composers, with music production cooperation by Futokoro Gatana.

Additional staff members include:

Sub-Character Design: Abe, Uni Matsui
Color Design: Naomi Nakano (Stella)
Assistant Color Design: Yuika Nagai (Stella)
Art Director: Junichi Higashi
Background Art: Yūta Fujii
Director of Photography: Hideki Eto (EXPLOSION)
Prop Design: Kio Edamatsu
CG Director: Jie Ren (Boundary)
Editing: Akinori Mishima (Mishima Editing Room)
Sound Director: Yukio Nagasaki

Observation Records of My Fiancée anime key visual — ©しき・アルファポリス/バーティア様を愛でる会

Shiki first serialized the story on the Shōsetsuka ni Narō website, and AlphaPolis released the original novel in two volumes in 2017 with illustrations by Wan Hachipisu. Hanashi Media publishes the light novel series in English.

Here’s a description of the story, via Hanashi Media:

Exceptionally gifted to his own detriment, Prince Cecil had always found life effortlessly mundane. One ordinary day, his life took an unexpected turn when he became engaged to Miss Bertia, the Chancellor’s daughter. This engagement, however, was anything but typical.

“Prince Cecil! I must confess – I am the villain of this story!” Bertia’s declaration was startling. She claimed to have memories of her former life, where she had been the antagonist in a “Otome game”. Her lofty ambition was to excel as a villainess and thus have her engagement annulled. However, despite her plans for various misdeeds, her attempts have always been unsuccessful.

AnimeJapan 2026 Stage Lineup, Featured Anime and Schedule Revealed

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Soul Kiwami

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January 19, 2026

The AnimeJapan staff have revealed the stage lineup, featured anime titles, and schedule for AnimeJapan 2026, which will be held from March 28 to March 31 at the Tokyo Big Sight. AnimeJapan 2026 will follow a similar format to AnimeJapan 2025, with the first two days being reserved for the public and the latter two days being reserved for business.

The first two days of AnimeJapan 2026 will feature various stage programs highlighting some of the year’s biggest anime releases, including One Piece, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Steel Ball Run, and Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Season 3, to name a few. A “KICKOFF” video was released to unveil the fill lineup.

AnimeJapan 2026 Stage Lineup and Schedule

Here’s the schedule and stage lineup for AnimeJapan 2026 (all times in JST, subject to change), via the official website:

Day 1 – March 28

Red Stage

09:35 〜 10:10 – Is the Order a Rabbit? the Movie Rabbit House Talk Party ＠ AJ2026
10:55 〜 11:30 – “My Hero Academia” x “Vigilantes” AnimeJapan ULTRA STAGE 2026
12:15 〜 12:50 – Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Special Stage
13:35 〜 14:10 – Inherit the Winds Special Stage
14:55 〜 15:30 – JUJUTSU KAISEN Special Stage
16:15 〜 16:50 – Magic Knight Rayearth Special Stage
17:50 〜 18:25 – JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Steel Ball Run Race Start Celebration Special Stage
19:10 〜 19:45 – ONE PIECE: Elbaf Arc Special Stage

Green Stage

10:15 〜 10:50 – Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Season 3 Special Stage
11:35 〜 12:10 – Ascendance of a Bookworm: Adopted Daughter of an Archduke TV Anime Special Stage
12:55 〜 13:30 – Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian Anime Series AnimeJapan 2026 Special Stage
14:15 〜 14:50 – Witch Hat Atelier Special Stage
15:35 〜 16:10 – BS11 presents I Got a Cheat Skill in Another World and Became Unrivaled in the Real World, Too TV Anime AnimeJapan Special Stage
17:10 〜 17:45 – Fate/Grand Order Special Stage
18:30 〜 19:05 – Mission: Yozakura Family Season 2 Special Stage

Blue Stage

0:45 〜 11:15 – Medalist Anime Special Stage
11:45 〜 12:15 – Sentenced to Be a Hero Special Stage
12:45 〜 13:15 – Netflix Special Stage
14:05 〜 14:35 – Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You TV Anime Special Stage
15:05 〜 15:35 – Rumiko Takahashi’s Latest Work, TV Anime “MAO” Pre‑Broadcast Premiere Event
16:05 〜 16:35 – AnimeJapan New Creator Award 2026 Ceremony

White Stage

10:15 〜 10:45 – Blue Box Season 2 TV Anime Special Stage
11:15 〜 11:45 – PSYREN Anime Special Stage
12:15 〜 12:45 – Fist of the North Star: Hokuto no Ken Anime Special Stage
13:15 〜 13:45 – Black Torch Anime Special Stage
14:35 〜 15:05 – Magical Girl Lyrical NANOHA EXCEEDS Gun Blaze Vengeance Special Stage
15:35 〜 16:05 – That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 4 Special Stage

Day 2 – March 29

Red Stage

09:35 〜 10:10 – OSHI NO KO Special Stage
10:55 〜 11:30 – Re:ZERO Anime Series Special Stage
12:15 〜 12:50 – The Irregular at Magic High School THE MOVIE – Yotsuba Succession Arc – Special Stage
13:35 〜 14:10 – Daemons of the Shadow Realm TV Anime – Pre-Broadcast Special Stage: Opening Rite –
14:55 〜 15:30 – Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End Season 2 Special Stage
16:15 〜 16:50 – Sound! Euphonium The Final Movie Special Stage

Green Stage

10:15 〜 10:50 – The Eminence in the Shadow Project Special Stage
11:35 〜 12:10 – The Ramparts of Ice TV Anime Special Stage
12:55 〜 13:30 – MARRIAGETOXIN TV Anime Special Stage
14:15 〜 14:50 – Rascal Does Not Dream of a Dear Friend Special Stage
15:35 〜 16:10 – Dr.STONE SCIENCE FUTURE Special Stage

Blue Stage

10:45 〜 11:15 – Yoroi-Shinden Samurai Troopers Special Stage
11:45 〜 12:15 – The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten Season 2 Special Stage
12:45 〜 13:15 – BAKI-DOU Special Stage
14:05 〜 14:35 – Sparks of Tomorrow TV Anime Special Stage
15:05 〜 15:35 – Magical Sisters Lulutto Lilly Special Stage
16:05 〜 16:35 – Sgt. Frog Anime Special Stage

White Stage

10:15 〜 10:45 – Kindergarten Wars TV Anime Special Stage
11:15 〜 11:45 – Gals Can’t Be Kind to Otaku!? Special Stage
12:15 〜 12:45 – You and I Are Polar Opposites Special Stage
13:15 〜 13:45 – NTV FRIDAY ANIME NIGHT Special Stage – SNOWBALL EARTH and Draw This, Then Die!
14:35 〜 15:05 – Suikoden: The Anime Special Stage
15:35 〜 16:05 – Akane-banashi TV Anime Special Stage

Sales for AnimeJapan 2026 admission (with stage lottery) tickets are available now through for February 24 at 23:59 JST for 2,800 yen (tax included) per day. There’s free entry for children under 12 years old, but they’re required to purchase the stage lottery ticket to view AnimeJapan stages. The application period lasts from February 27 at 10:00 JST through March 5 at 23:59 JST.

More than 120 exhibitors will participate in AnimeJapan 2026, including Good Smile Company, TBS, Netflix, Fate/Grand Order, Marvelous, MAPPA, Bandai Namco, Square Enix, Kadokawa, Toei Animation, Bushiroad, and much more. The stage schedule for AnimeJapan 2026 will be revealed on January 16 at 20:00 JST during the AnimeJapan KICKOFF 2026 livestream on YouTube.

Hypnosis Mic Gets New I.ADORE Mini Anime

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Soul Kiwami

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January 19, 2026

The Evil Line Records label for Hypnosis Mic -Division Rap Battle- announced a new short anime for its I.ADORE character project will premiere on January 30. New episodes of the I.ADORE mini anime will release on Fridays at 12:00 p.m. JST. A new prologue video and character main visual by designer Kunyamon for I.ADORE were also released.

I.ADORE mini anime key visual — © DAZED CO., LTD.

Serving as the third project following Hypnosis Mic and Charisma, the I.ADORE character project focuses on idols who express political ideologies by singing and dancing, which creates their own “Idol Warring States Era.” DAZED is creating the project with music by Evil Line Records, art direction by BALCOLONY, and character design by Kunyamon.

Previously, the Hypnosis Mic -Division Rap Battle- interactive anime movie opened in theaters on February 21, 2025 in Japan. The story of the film, including the winner of the Third Division Rap Battle onscreen, depended on the real-time polling of the audience members via their smartphones.

Takanori Tsujimoto directed Hypnosis Mic -Division Rap Battle- film at Polygon Pictures. Yūichirō Momose a developer of the franchise’s story setting, characters, and game events, wrote the script. Kazui returned as character designer, while TOHO NEXT distributed the film in theaters in Japan.

Fans can catch up on the Hypnosis Mic -Division Rap Battle- Rhyme Anima anime, which is streaming on Crunchyroll.

Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End Mini Anime Continues with Episode 18

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Soul Kiwami

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January 19, 2026

The Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End mini anime, titled “●●’s Magic,” is back with episode 18 to coincide with Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End Season 2. Episode 18 of the Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End ●●’s Magic mini anime focuses on Wirbel, who appeared in the first episode of Season 2.

Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End Season 2 is streaming on Crunchyroll. The previous 17 episodes of the ●●’s Magic mini anime are streaming on YouTube as well.

Mrs. Green Apple performs the opening theme song “lulu,” and milet performs the ending theme song “The Story of Us” for Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End Season 2.

Tomoya Kitagawa directs the anime at Madhouse with support from Keiichirō Saitō. Daiki Harashina is the assistant director, and Tomohiro Suzuki handles series composition. Takasemaru, Keisuke Kojima, and Yuri Fujinaka are the character designers, Seiko Yoshioka is the concept artist, and Evan Call is the composer.

The cast includes:

Atsumi Tanezaki as Frieren
Chiaki Kobayashi as Stark
Kana Ichinose as Fern
Hiroki Tōchi as Heiter
Kazuhiko Inoue as Southern Hero
Nobuhiko Okamoto as Himmel
Yōji Ueda as Eisen
Kazuhiko Inoue as Southern Hero

Lastly, here’s an overview of the anime adaptation of Kanehito Yamada and Tsukasa Abe’s manga, via Crunchyroll:

The mage Frieren defeated the Demon King alongside the hero Himmel’s party after a 10-year quest. Peace was restored to the kingdom. Because she is an elf, she is able to live over a thousand years. She promises Himmel and the others that she will be back to see them and then sets out on a journey by herself. Fifty years later, Frieren goes to visit Himmel and the others. She remained unchanged, but Himmel and the others have aged and only a little of their lives remain. Later, she witnesses Himmel’s death. Frieren is pained by her desire to have spent more time getting to know people. With that regret in her heart, she then goes on a journey to do just that. On her journey, she meets many people and many events await her.

LEGO The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Final Battle Set Announced

By

Kelvin Rios

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January 19, 2026

Nintendo and The LEGO Group, via a recent press release, have officially revealed The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time – The Final Battle set. It is available now for pre-order and will release on March 1, 2026.

The set, mainly targeted at ages 18 and over, will cost $199.99 and features 1,003 pieces along with 3 minifigures. The set depicts the final battle from Ocarina of Time and has Ganon’s castle as its main setting. Further, at its center, Link and Zelda confront Ganondorf in both his normal and giant Ganon form.

The official website for the set states the following:

Enjoy a creative and nostalgic journey as you build this detailed LEGO The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time – The Final Battle (77093) model. This model kit is a great display piece for any fan of The Legend of Zelda series and Ocarina of Time. It features Ganon’s ruined castle with its tower and rubble that hides 3 Recovery Hearts and reveals Ganondorf at the push of a button.

There are also minifigures of Link, Zelda, and Ganondorf, a big, brick-built figure of Ganon, and a transparent build standing for the fairy Navi. It includes items from the game like the Master Sword, the Megaton Hammer, Hylian Shield, 2 fabric capes, and 2 swords for Ganon. This premium LEGO building set for adults will appeal to anyone who loves nostalgic video games and is a great gift for gamers and adult LEGO building fans.

Lastly, this is the second set done for the Legend of Zelda series, after the Great Deku Tree. That set was a 2-in-1 build and featured both the version from Breath of the Wild as well as from Ocarina of Time.

Golden Kamuy Final Season English Dub Cast Revealed

By

Soul Kiwami

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January 19, 2026

Crunchyroll is now streaming an English dub for the ongoing Golden Kamuy Final Season anime, and the cast and crew were revealed.

English Dub Episode 1 Cast

Ian Sinclair as Sugimoto
Monica Rial as Asirpa
Landon McDonald as Takuboku
Greg Dulcie as Hijikata
Randy Pearlman as Ueji
Christopher Sabat as Ushiyama
Nick Huber as Oosawa
Huber is a temporary voice match for Oosawa
Ben Phillips as Shiraishi
Kent Williams as Nagakura
Kyle Igneczi as Usami
David Novinski as Kadokura
Jason Douglas as Ariko
Orion Pitts as Ogata
Robert McCollum as Tsurumi
Jessie James Grelle as Vasili
Kenny Green as Toni
Chris Gardner as Kirawus
Marcus Stimac as Narrator
Rowan Gilvie as Boy
Prostitutes: Lexa Childress, Vanessa Benoit, Laurel Hoitsma
James Marler as Male Cop

English Dub Crew

Voice Director: Molly Searcy
Producer: Samantha Herek
Adaptation: Alex Mai
Mixer: Neal Malley
Engineer: Derric Benavides

Golden Kamuy Final Season is streaming with English subtitles and an English dub on Crunchyroll.

Awich x ALI performs the theme song, titled “Kogane no Kanata” (Beyond the Gold).

The returning cast of Golden Kamuy Final Season includes:

Chikahiro Kobayashi as Saichi Sugimoto
Haruka Shiraishi as Asirpa
Eiji Takemoto as Sgt. Hajime Tsukishima
Hōchū Ōtsuka as Lt. Tokushirō Tsurumi
Jōji Nakata as Toshizō Hijikata
Katsuyuki Konishi as 2Lt. Otonoshin Koito
Kenji Nomura as Tatsuuma Uchiyama

Shizutaka Sugahara is the chief director of the anime at Brains Base, and Noboru Takagi oversees the scripts. Takumi Yamakawa is the character designer, Yukihiro Shibutani and Mao Miyake are the art directors, Magic Capsule handles sound production, and WOWOW is distributing.

Golden Kamuy Final Season is based on the final arc of Satoru Noda’s Golden Kamuy manga. The anime follows up after the Sapporo Beer Factory Arc prologue films.

The streaming service describes it as follows:

After the Immortal Sugimoto, AKA, Sugimoto Saichi, and the Ainu girl Asirpa reunited in the freezing land of Karafuto, Asirpa witnesses the death of Kiroranke and remembers the key to solving the mystery behind the missing gold. Sugimoto and Asirpa then renew their vows as partners.

But none of this changes the fact that Sugimoto is under the 7th Division’s control. While they continue their conflict with Lieutenant Tsurumi, who gets news about Asripa being found, how will Shiraishi Yoshitake, Tanigaki Genjirou, Tsukishima Hajime, and Koito Otonoshin, all move next after the perilous journey they shared together?

Meanwhile, the demon vice-commander of the Shinsengumi, Hijikata Toshizou, and his crew, who are competing against the 7th Division for the gold, continue to look for clues on the remaining tattoos. Also, the currently missing Ogata Hyakunosuke could also change the outcome of their progress. You won’t be able to look away from the continuing gold rush survival series that continues to take place up north!

BALL x PIT: The Regal Update Releases on January 26

By

Saras Rajpal

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January 19, 2026

BALL x PIT: The Regal Update Releases on January 26

Devolver Digital and Kenny Sun and Friends have announced that BALL x PIT: The Regal Update will release on January 26. The update adds new characters, new balls, and new passives.

Specifically, The Regal Update includes 8 new balls and several new passives, as well as another surprise that the developers “don’t want to spoil yet.” Additionally, the two new characters include The Carouser and The Falconer. The former will have returning balls orbit around him, while the latter wields two falcons that throw balls of their own.

BALL x PIT is available now for Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam, and it’s also available with Xbox Game Pass. Final Weapon reviewed the game and rated it a 4.5/5. We described it as a “fantastic reinvention of Breakout with a new twist. The game combines concepts from the roguelite genre, farming simulators, and shoot-em-ups. In theory, this blending of elements shouldn’t work, but the game is fantastically addicting thanks to a fun gameplay loop.”

Lastly, here’s an overview of the game, via Steam:

Ballbylon has fallen. After a meteoric and completely unexpected event annihilated the great city, all that remains is an ominous, yawning pit. Treasure hunters from far and wide flock to the city’s tomb to seek their fortune, plumbing the depths in search of Ballbylon’s scattered riches. Few return.

The pit plays host to armies of barbaric creatures, hellbent on ending your quest before it even begins. Armed with a growing arsenal of magic-infused projectiles, batter your way through multiple levels of increasingly challenging obstacles to claim the ultimate prizes and rebuild New Ballbylon.

You Can’t Be In a Rom-Com with Your Childhood Friends! Anime Gets English Dub

By

Soul Kiwami

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January 19, 2026

ou Can't Be In a Rom-Com with Your Childhood Friends English dub

Crunchyroll will be streaming an English dub for the anime adaptation of Shinya Misu’s You Can’t Be In a Rom-Com with Your Childhood Friends! (Osananajimi to wa LoveCom ni Naranai) manga series. The English dub cast and crew of You Can’t Be In a Rom-Com with Your Childhood Friends! was also announced.

English Dub Episode 1 Cast

Dakota Farnsworth as Eiyu
Luci Christian as Shio
Veronica Laux as Akari
Marwa Elda as Haru
Bryn Apprill as Runako

English Dub Episode 1 Crew

Voice Director: Jason Lord
Producer: Susie Nixon
Adaptation: Christian Thorsen
Engineer: Tina Son

You Can’t Be In a Rom-Com with Your Childhood Friends! is streaming now on Crunchyroll.

HoneyWorks and cast members Rin Kusumi, Yū Serizawa, Sae Hiratsuka, and Yūki Yamamoto perform the opening theme song “I Love You♡.” Hikari Codama performs the ending theme song “Amanojaku (Contrarian).”

Takehiro Urao as Yonosuke Sakai
Rin Kusumi as Shio Minamo
Yū Serizawa as Akari Hiodoshi
Sae Hiratsuka as Runa Tsukimi
Haru Hinata as Yūki Yamamoto

Satoshi Kuwabara directs the anime at Tezuka Productions. Mitsutaka Hirota supervises the series scripts and writes them with Mayumi Morita. Reina Iwasaki designs the characters. CyberAgent is producing the anime.

Additional staff members include:

Art Director: Masami Saito
Color Key Artist: Yumi Aburaya
Compositing Director of Photography: Shunya Kimura
Editing: Wataru Uchida
Sound Director: Satoshi Motoyama
Sound Production: Bit Grooove Promotion

Shinya Misu released the original manga series on Kodansha’s Magazine Pocket website in March 2022.

Lastly, here’s an overview of the series, courtesy of Crunchyroll:

Eeyuu, a high school boy, has a problem! Shio and Akari, his two childhood friends who go to the same high school, are too cute! They have no intentions, but if they find out that he is the only one looking at them sexually now that they’ve grown up… it would be so embarrassing! On the other hand, the two childhood friends also have their own secrets…? It’s too tantalizing!! Complicated! But childhood friends are the best! A sweet, impatient, and twisted love triangle romantic comedy.

Karous Releases for PC on January 22

By

Saras Rajpal

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January 19, 2026

RS34 has announced that its shoot-em-up, Karous, will release for PC via Steam on January 22. It will be available with both English and Japanese language options.

Karous initially released on Dreamcast and Arcades in 2007. It would later be ported to PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch in November 2025 in Japan. Currently, it is unavailable in other regions on the aforementioned systems. Check out the trailer below:

Lastly, the Steam page describes Karous as follows:

Karous was made an orphan during a war between sky dwellers and humans. With only her father’s dying words to guide her, she descends to Earth in search of the Sanguis Dei. What will she see there? What will she lose?

Enjoy atmospheric visuals, unique characters, and a drum ‘n’ bass soundtrack laced with masterfully crafted breakbeats.

Every attack makes you stronger

Your main options are Shot, Sword, and Shield. The more you use them, the more powerful they become. Mix and match your weaponry as you tackle each stage.

Low skill floor, high skill ceiling

Karous‘s easy mode is regarded as one of the most accessible in the genre, letting newcomers readily get a taste of the exhilaration that this game offers.

The normal mode provides a fun, moderate challenge, while the hard mode is designed for players looking to truly master the game and reach the highest peaks. Karous offers a great experience to people of all skill levels.

Compelling depth

Karous features a variety of strategies to master. When enemies lay down barrages of bullets, you can evade them with a special attack that grants invincibility, reflect them with your Shield, or erase them using Shot or Sword. Dodging is always an option, but it’s never the only solution.

Dungeon RPG Demon Kill Demon: Yomi 1984 Launches May 28 for Switch

By

Soul Kiwami

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January 19, 2026

Japanese RPG developer Experience has revealed dungeon RPG Demon Kill Demon: Yomi 1984 will launch on May 28 for Nintendo Switch in Japan. Demon Kill Demon: Yomi 1984 costs 3,900 yen digitally, and pre-orders for the physical edition will open in mid-February 2026.

Here’s a story synopsis for the upcoming dungeon RPG, via Gematsu:

Five years have passed since the “Imprisonment” incident involving an underground explorer. Once again, the darkness lurking in the underworld bares its fangs.

The targets were the students of Yomi High School.

In the hell where their entire classrooms were transported, their only means of survival was to resurrect the corpses of their classmates and use them as assets in battle.

That is not a choice. It is the only thing they can do in order to live.

The curtain rises once more on a dystopian dungeon RPG.

Previously, Experience released Monkarufanta: The Hero and the Crystal Girl for Nintendo Switch on September 18, 2025 in Japan. Unlike more traditional dungeon RPGs, Monkarufanta: The Hero and the Crystal Girl features hack-and-slash action from a top-down perspective. The story focuses on a hero working to level up and defeat the Demon Lord. The game features companions illustrated by Yuji Himukai and monsters illustrated by Akifumi Yamamoto.