HYKE: Northern Light(s)

Aniplex, Akatsuki Games and Blast Edge Games have released HYKE: Northern Light(s), a pixel art ARPG combining action-packed combat with cozy camping. Does the mixture actually work?

HYKE: Northern Light(s) is a 2D, top-down action RPG. The protagonist, Hyke - a young witch with white hair - embarks on a journey through a war-ravaged world of humans and witches, following in her mother's footsteps. Along the way, she explores forbidden lands and encounters guardian witches, developing her own abilities in the process. The pixel art-style world is a particular highlight. The main story is solid, but the side stories are a different matter.

Essentially, the game offers a combination of fast-paced combat and peaceful camping as an interlude. Firstly, there is the combat. Players can prove their skills in real-time battles against up to seven different witches, each with their own fighting style and magical abilities. The usual is offered here, as one would expect. Unfortunately, the battles lack precision in terms of controls and hit feedback, as well as depth in terms of character development. There is also a lack of variety, with too few enemy types. Consequently, the combat is only average and feels basic.

Alongside this, there is a camping part. Here, players can customise their own camp, which is fairly modern (roadtrip-like), and prepare meals to receive buffs for the next day. This alternation between action and relaxation gives the game a cozy atmosphere. However, even here, the game is a little too tentative. The same applies to the role-playing aspects and interaction options with the environment - HYKE: Northern Light(s) could offer more variety here, too.

HYKE: Northern Light(s) was developed by Akatsuki Games and Blast Edge Games, both of which are based in Japan. The game is published by Aniplex Inc., an entertainment company with a wide range of businesses around the world, focusing primarily on Japanese animation, in addition to planning and developing video games. Aniplex has full ownership of its subsidiary animation production companies A-1 Pictures Inc. and CloverWorks Inc., as well as game production company Lasengle Inc., which focuses on the planning, development and operation of game titles such as Fate/Grand Order. Aniplex is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment (Japan).

HYKE: Northern Light(s) has been released on PC (Steam), Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5 on 18 September 2025.

Conclusion

HYKE: Northern Light(s) is an original blend of action RPG and cozy camping in a stylish, pixelated world. Although it shows promise, it does not quite fulfil its potential.