Find the games you're looking for
Trek to Yomi
Critics Consensus (Skip It)
Trek to Yomi oozes style and nails the samurai aesthetic, but its archaic, one-note gameplay simply does not live up to the standards set by its art direction.
Game Info
As a vow to his dying Master, the young swordsman Hiroki is sworn to protect his town and the people he loves against all threats. Faced with tragedy and bound to duty, the lone samurai must voyage beyond life and death to confront himself and decide his path forward.
0%
Recommended
0%
Average Score
Total Reviews: 83
RELEASE DATES:
GENRES:
- Action, Adventure
DEVELOPER(S):
- Flying Wild Hog
- Leonard Menchiari
PUBLISHER(S):
- Devolver Digital
SERIES/FRANCHISE:
- n/a
GAME MODES:
- Single player
GAME ENGINE:
- Unreal Engine 4
Where to Play
WHERE TO PLAY
** VSG may earn a commission for purchases using our links. Learn more.
RATING & REVIEWS
Ratings & Reviews
83
Critic Reviews
72
Average Critic Score
Where to Play
CRITIC REVIEWS
All reviews are from professional critics. Learn more about the critics VSG aggregates.
High Score
95%
Median Score
70%
Low Score
40%
What did you think of Trek to Yomi?
Player Reviews0 Votes
0
Jon Bailes (GamesRadar+)
May 5, 2022
3/5 stars
In its visuals and audio, Trek to Yomi nails its brief to create an Akira Kurosawa-inspired samurai adventure. Its interactive elements, however, along with its story, are all too ordinary and rarely combine to heighten the atmosphere or create suspense. Worth a try for the sightseeing perhaps, but don’t expect it to cut deep.
Jill Grodt (Game Informer)
May 5, 2022
6.8/10
Trek to Yomi looks and feels noticeably outdated for such an aesthetically pleasing game. And its archaic gameplay can’t be completely covered up by its artistic black-and-white filter. Trek to Yomi tried to reach the heights of lauded Japanese filmmaking, but unfortunately, it falls almost as flat as its 2D combat plane.
Zackery Cuevas (PCMag)
May 5, 2022
4/5 stars
Featuring outstanding cinematic presentation, first-rate voice performances, and superb sound design, Trek to Yomi wraps Akira Kurosawa-like flair around its fun, side-scrolling samurai battles.
VSG News
Assassin’s Creed Jade Release Likely Delayed to 2025 as Tencent Shifts Focus
PlayStation 5 Pro: Leaked Specs Reveal a Major Upgrade, Release Hinted for Holiday 2024
Xbox Games Hit New Platforms: Pentiment, Hi-Fi Rush, Sea of Thieves, and Grounded Coming to Other Platforms
Xbox Reaches Beyond Consoles: 4 Games to Rival Platforms, and What It Means
Silent Hill 2 Remake Developer Unhappy With Trailer Released by Konami
Score Ranges
Read the Reviews (83 total)
| Outlet | Author | Score | Date | Quote | Read |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33bits | Fernando Sánchez | 75 / 100 | 05-09-2022 | Trek to Yomi is a 2.5D hack ‘n’ slash that will take us to feudal Japan in a story of samurais, love, revenge and duty. All this with a cinematographic treatment of the filmmaker Akira Kurosawa that is reflected in the game with an impressive audiovisual section. The gameplay, however, does not reach the same levels of quality, and it is possible that we will notice some repetition at times, although the game is still remarkable. | Read review |
| 3DNews | Алексей Лихачев | 5 / 10 | 05-14-2022 | A picturesque museum exhibit that’s beautiful to look at, but painful to play. | Read review |
| ACG | Jeremy Penter | Recommended | 05-04-2022 | Video Review | Read review |
| Atomix | Alberto Desfassiaux | 80 / 100 | 05-05-2022 | Trek to Yomi is an amazing looking game that totally recreates the feeling of an Akira Kurosawa’s samurai movie, but it lacks a little bit of gameplay depth and a more sophisticated level design. | Read review |
| AusGamers | Steve Farrelly | 7 / 10 | 05-05-2022 | ) The studio has even gone to length to include not just a film grain overlay, but things like audio crackling, film burn and scratches as well as oddities in editing and the like. | Read review |
| BaziCenter | Omid Sedigh Imani | 4 / 10 | 05-13-2022 | Trek to Yomi is like a Christmas present you’ve been waiting for, and it’s finally here, wrapped in the most unique and gorgeous way possible, but when you open it there is nothing inside. | Read review |
| But Why Tho? | Mick Abrahamson | 7.5 / 10 | 05-05-2022 | Trek to Yomi raises the bar high for historical accuracy. It’s clear how hard the developers worked to make this game feel like an act of love and admiration for the Edo period of Japan. However, the well-written story, great voice acting, and beautiful setpieces are held back by the combat. For a substantial part of the game, swordfights feel stale. Especially with little use for combos which are given a big emphasis via unlocks. If the combat was given the attention that every other facet of this game got, Trek to Yomi would have been a big contender for my Game of the Year. | Read review |
| Chalgyr’s Game Room | Robert Risdon | 7 / 10 | 05-12-2022 | Trek to Yomi is an enjoyable, heavy, and atmospheric side-scroller whose presentation along can place it with the greats by way of Flying Wild Hog titles that’s hampered by poor combat. The engrossing story, immersive and highly cinematic presentation, and an excellent score are all indicators of greatness and Trek to Yomi seems to be on its way to being one of 2022’s best Indie titles; only time will tell. | Read review |
| Checkpoint Gaming | Nat Patterson | 9 / 10 | 05-05-2022 | Trek to Yomi is, for me, just shy of a veritable masterpiece. Looking at it purely subjectively, I think this game is bloody brilliant, and certainly one of the finest non-AAA games I have played in a long time. Rich combat, striking visuals, a gritty narrative, and dynamic audio experiences blend together to make this game a true stand out of 2022 so far. Unfortunately, I feel the hyper-stylised tone and fixed Japanese language setting may prove a turn off for some and cause this game to be overlooked. However, if you have even a passing interest in Japanese culture, cinema, or just plain solid gameplay, then I implore you to give Trek to Yomi a look. | Read review |
| Chicas Gamers | Sandra Sánchez | Recommended | 05-17-2022 | Trek To Yomi is a fascinating 2D scroll lateral game focus on the ancient Japan. This game is set in the Samurai, Ronin and Bushido era, with the vibes of Akira Kurosawa films. You have to fight around different places, looking for revenge for your sensei. This game is in Black and White, with an original aesthetic and a simple plot that really makes you involve in the story. | Read review |
| COGconnected | Mark Steighner | 85 / 100 | 05-05-2022 | Taken as a whole, Trek to Yomi is an impressive homage to classic Japanese action films. It looks and sounds incredible, with art direction and music that are impeccably authentic to both history and cinema. As an action game, Trek to Yomi is engaging but a bit lacking in variety and depth, with controls and animations less polished than its visuals. Trek to Yomi is a fascinating and altogether unique experience, worth playing if you’re a fan of great samurai films or simply enjoy new variations on the action game formula. | Read review |
| cublikefoot | Chase Ferrin | 7 / 10 | 05-05-2022 | Trek to Yomi is about as authentic as they come. The lighting, the camera angles – the aesthetic is all there and is matched with some equally nice combat that has a surprising amount of depth to it. | Read review |
| Destructoid | Zoey Handley | 7 / 10 | 05-05-2022 | Solid and definitely have an audience. There could be some hard-to-ignore faults, but the experience is fun. | Read review |
| Digital Trends | Otto Kratky | 3 / 5 stars | 05-05-2022 | Slicing enemies in Trek to Yomi can be worked down to a science, but its story and the development of its main character are what made me want to see the game through to its end. | Read review |
| Easy Allies | Michael Huber | 3.5 / 5 stars | 05-05-2022 | Trek to Yomi could use more variety and story development, but its cinematic presentation scratches a very specific itch for fans of classic samurai films. | Read review |
| EGM | Michael Goroff | 6 / 10 | 05-05-2022 | Trek to Yomi is one of the most visually striking games to launch in a while, delivering on the promise that a samurai game can truly capture the look and feel of classic Japanese cinema. Unfortunately, good looks can only get you so far, as the gameplay and story don’t quite live up to the standards set by its art direction. But if you are in the mood for a samurai game, you could do worse than Trek to Yomi. | Read review |
| Explosion Network | Dylan Blight | 5.5 / 10 | 05-06-2022 | Visually, Trek To Yomi is a cinematic samurai action game like nothing else, while playing it is one of the blandest action games of the year. | Read review |
| Game Informer | Jill Grodt | 6.8 / 10 | 05-05-2022 | Trek to Yomi looks and feels noticeably outdated for such an aesthetically pleasing game. And its archaic gameplay can’t be completely covered up by its artistic black-and-white filter. Trek to Yomi tried to reach the heights of lauded Japanese filmmaking, but unfortunately, it falls almost as flat as its 2D combat plane. | Read review |
| Game Revolution | Jason Faulkner | 3.5 / 5 stars | 05-05-2022 | Trek to Yomi is a fun enough five hours for the money. I wasn’t expecting Ghost of Tsushima for $19.99, so I wasn’t disappointed with what I got. However, I’m a big weeb, love Kurosawa, and think katanas are cool. I’m not sure if those unfamiliar with the design principle behind the game will understand where it’s coming from. It might serve as a gateway drug to Japanese cinema for some, but I think many people will just be wondering why it’s in black and white instead of color. Overall, it’s like a samurai with a dull sword: flashy, but lacking the razor edge needed to cut its way through the shadow of its contemporaries. | Read review |
| Gameblog | _SutterCane | 7 / 10 | 05-05-2022 | Trek to Yomi is a gorgeous 2.5D action game that pays a vibrant tribute to the films of Akira Kurosawa with an absolutely stunning and unique cinematic aesthetic. Unfortunately, the combat is not as good as we would have like due to a lack of feeling and precision during the fights. | Read review |
| GameGrin | Artura Dawn | 6 / 10 | 05-05-2022 | Although the game is still a good experience, every enjoyable aspect was brought with a caveat that diminished my enjoyment somewhat. It’s a great idea, but its execution was not so much. | Read review |
| GameMAG | Unknown | 6 / 10 | 05-15-2022 | If you are at least a little sympathetic to the aesthetics of the samurai cinema, Track to Yomi certainly deserves to be tried. Preferably on a big screen with good sound. | Read review |
| Gamer Escape | Justin Mercer | 8 / 10 | 05-05-2022 | Trek to Yomi is a game with a voice and a vision. The title takes every liberty to adhere to its inspirations without ever feeling like a film masquerading as a game, and the reverence the development team has for that era of Japanese films can be felt in every aspect of the experience. | Read review |
| Gamers Heroes | Johnny Hurricane | 8.5 / 10 | 05-05-2022 | People looking for a short and intense samurai game should check out Trek to Yomi. It’s quick, fun, and makes you truly feel like a samurai. | Read review |
| Gamersky | Unknown | 7.3 / 10 | 05-05-2022 | Trek to Yomi uses black and white graphic style and pure cold weapon combat to create a unique experience of sword and blade. | Read review |
| GameSkinny | Bryn Gelbart | 7 / 10 | 05-05-2022 | Trek to Yomi is a gorgeous samurai adventure with satisfying 2D action and some unfortunately frustrating quirks | Read review |
| GameSpace | Brau3er | 8.5 / 10 | 05-06-2022 | Actually playing Trek to Yomi is not as much fun as just looking at it. Combat turns the game’s 3D world into 2D, forcing you to fight on a single axis. You can move left or right, rotate to collide with enemies, attack or block, and that’s pretty much it. Those expecting a super-difficult task might be disappointed, but with the developers going down the path of getting attention rather than creating a new Sifu and Devolver Digital doing the publishing duties, it’s certainly going to be an interesting project nonetheless. I think Wild Flying Hog has done an excellent job of helping the player go from a beginner swordsman to an experienced samurai. | Read review |
| GameSpew | Richard Seagrave | 8 / 10 | 05-05-2022 | A short but sweet adventure, you might replay Trek to Yomi to collect all of its collectibles and upgrades, perhaps even on a harder difficulty to test your skills. It has multiple endings to discover, too. And so for its modest price it’s easy to recommend to action adventure fans, especially if they also love samurai movies. Its stunning presentation is just the icing on the cake. | Read review |
| GameSpot | Richard Wakeling | 5 / 10 | 05-05-2022 | Trek to Yomi oozes style by evoking the legendary samurai flicks of Akira Kurosawa, but its stilted combat lacks the substance to make this a classic in itself. | Read review |
| GamesRadar+ | Jon Bailes | 3 / 5 stars | 05-05-2022 | In its visuals and audio, Trek to Yomi nails its brief to create an Akira Kurosawa-inspired samurai adventure. Its interactive elements, however, along with its story, are all too ordinary and rarely combine to heighten the atmosphere or create suspense. Worth a try for the sightseeing perhaps, but don’t expect it to cut deep. | Read review |
| Gaming Nexus | Joseph Moorer | 9 / 10 | 05-09-2022 | Trek To Yomi is graphically and audibly amazing. The story is rich and full with a lot of history. If you want to sink a few hours into a beat-em-up with a lot of depth and lots to do, you should definitely play this. I hope you choose the right path for you on your Trek to Yomi, but you definitely shouldn’t pass up this amazing experience. | Read review |
| GamingTrend | Richard Allen | 95 / 100 | 05-05-2022 | Trek to Yomi is a beautifully crafted experience. From your first steps into the game’s world to your last players will be constantly enthralled by the tense combat, tightly written story, and exquisite art direction. It is rare that a game is released that thoroughly wows you with its graphics, atmosphere, and creativity and Trek to Yomi succeeds in all three departments. It is an experience that I highly recommend to all players. | Read review |
| Geek Culture | Jake Su | 7.6 / 10 | 05-05-2022 | A cinematic experience that is spectacular visually, Trek to Yomi falters when it comes to keeping a straight story, with the combat being both a friend and foe. | Read review |
| Generación Xbox | Luis Falcón | 8.5 / 10 | 05-06-2022 | Trek to Yomi takes us to the samurai era with a captivating story and an artistic section worthy of the best movies. Join Hiroki and finish your destiny. | Read review |
| GRYOnline.pl | Krystian Smoszna | 8.5 / 10 | 05-05-2022 | Trek to Yomi is a well-made game, and, in some aspects, even great. If you like this type of adventure and a focus on the artistic style, as well as the samurai atmosphere, go for it! I really hope Trek to Yomi sells well since I’d like to see more. | Read review |
| Guardian | Tom Regan | 3 / 5 stars | 05-11-2022 | This grainy, gore-soaked katana caper slowly morphs into a compelling meditation on vengeance | Read review |
| Hardcore Gamer | Kyle LeClair | 4 / 5 stars | 05-05-2022 | While it could stand to be longer, if only to deliver more when it come to some of its more ambitious elements, Trek to Yomi is an amazing action game that makes terrific use of its cinematic presentation, using Kurosawa vibes to impact both the gameplay and visuals in clever ways. | Read review |
| Hey Poor Player | Heather Johnson Yu | 4 / 5 stars | 05-05-2022 | Having previously gobbled up the great Ghost of Tsushima, I was eager to find another love letter to Kurosawa in Trek to Yomi. On an aesthetic level, my expectations were completely blown out of the water — the famed filmmaker has been honored like never before. When it comes to gameplay, I’m completely satisfied, my desire for another Way of the Samurai fulfilled, but I can see someone who skipped this era of gaming less enthused. If samurai games of yesteryear were your thing, Trek to Yomi is absolutely worth side-scroll slicing your way through the belly of the underworld for. | Read review |
| Hobby Consolas | David Martinez | 80 / 100 | 05-05-2022 | The rigorous black and white style, and the combat system based on “parries” and counterattacks make Trek To Yomi the closest experience to “playing” a samurai movie. It’s short, but replayable. | Read review |
| IGN | Travis Northup | 7 / 10 | 05-05-2022 | Trek to Yomi absolutely nails the samurai aesthetic in a satisfying but modest adventure. | Read review |
| IGN Italy | Alessandra Borgonovo | 7.2 / 10 | 05-05-2022 | Aesthetically well-finished but not always effective in its gameplay, Trek to Yomi is an adventure on the whole interesting and worth playing. | Read review |
| IGN Spain | Rafa Del Río | 7 / 10 | 05-05-2022 | Menchiari and the Polish division of Flying Wild Hog manage to offer a very personal experience, a tribute to the samurai cinema of the last century that will delight all those who enjoyed films like Yojimbo at the time and that could well work as a sequel to Rashômon. | Read review |
| Impulsegamer | Ali Arkani | 4.3 / 5 stars | 05-05-2022 | Trek to Yomi is Flying Wild Hog’s best game. Unlike Shadow Warrior 3, the studio’s first title in 2022 that was a huge step backward, Trek to Yomi is aimed at a niche audience. It’s short, violent, and poetic. The one-hit kill Kensei mode that’s unlocked after finishing the game for the first time also adds more replay value for the game while creating the potential for attracting hardcore gamers and speedrunners. The game can be enjoyed by many, but a very small group of people will hold on to it for a very long time. That’s why Trek to Yomi has the chance to become a cult title. | Read review |
| Jump Dash Roll | Iain Blank | 7 / 10 | 05-09-2022 | For fans of Japanese cinema, this game is a must play. For everyone else, while you’re sure to be wowed by the visuals you’ll probably find the gameplay a little too light and repetitive to hold your attention for very long. | Read review |
| Merlin’in Kazanı | Atıf Doğan Özcan | 67 / 100 | 05-20-2022 | Trek to Yomi stands out with its distinctive visual and samurai movie style. But the ordinary gameplay and heavy cinematics have greatly undermined the gameplay. | Read review |
| Metro GameCentral | GameCentral | 4 / 10 | 05-05-2022 | The attempts to mirror the cinema of Akira Kurosawa work on a visual level but the story and gameplay are so empty and repetitive this barely works as a homage, let alone an engaging game in its own right. | Read review |
| MonsterVine | Shannon P. Drake | 2 / 5 stars | 05-16-2022 | Great visuals, great voice acting, great sound, great music, shame the game is mediocre. | Read review |
| New Game Network | Joe Cabrera | 68 / 100 | 05-05-2022 | Trek to Yomi is a visual masterpiece with a solid story, unfortunately let down by its gameplay. Whilst there are some enjoyable elements, it doesn’t hold up when compared to numerous recently released peers that do samurai combat better. | Read review |
| Niche Gamer | Brandon Orselli | 9.5 / 10 | 05-05-2022 | So many games have tried to present a cinematic experience but the vast majority have no idea what they’re talking about. Trek to Yomi is one of those rare games that not only mesmerizes with its finesse and all-encompassing presentation, it manages to leave an impression on you just like Kurosawa’s films did. Trek to Yomi receives my highest recommendation. | Read review |
| NoesPaisparaFrikis | David Valero | 7.5 / 10 | 05-17-2022 | So beautiful to see that it deserves to be exposed. | Read review |
| Paste Magazine | Kevin Fox Jr. | 7.4 / 10 | 05-20-2022 | Just like every other kid that spent the early 2000s watching Ruroni Kenshin, Samurai Champloo, and Gundam, I think samurai are very cool. As I’ve gotten older I’ve realized they, like knights, they were probably mostly bad on a person-to-person and institutional basis as executors of a feudal order. Nonetheless, their fictional depictions, especially in the films made between the 1930s and 1970s in conversation with the cowboy westerns and swashbuckler films being made at the same time, led to captivating art whose influences extend through today, and Trek to Yomi is an admirable attempt to bring that to gaming audiences. Hopefully it gets more of us to engage with the source material. | Read review |
| PC Gamer | George Yang | 55 / 100 | 05-12-2022 | A gorgeous game with frustrating combat and glitchy exploration, Trek to Yomi is the definition of style over substance. | Read review |
| PC Invasion | Andrew Farrell | 6 / 10 | 05-05-2022 | Visually excellent but extremely short and packed with repetitive, clunky sword fights, Trek to Yomi doesn’t hit all the right notes. | Read review |
| PCMag | Zackery Cuevas | 4 / 5 stars | 05-05-2022 | Featuring outstanding cinematic presentation, first-rate voice performances, and superb sound design, Trek to Yomi wraps Akira Kurosawa-like flair around its fun, side-scrolling samurai battles. | Read review |
| PlayStation Universe | Sebastian Hawden | 8.5 / 10 | 05-05-2022 | Short but ever-so-sweet, Trek to Yomi is a pretty linear affair that respects your time. The combat is nuanced, evolves over time and is entertaining to learn. Small bursts of exploration are rewarded with collectables and upgrades but your main path is never obscured. It’s cinematically beautiful and what’s done with perspective and setting up each scene is really unique. Trek to Yomi is unlike anything else I have played recently, it’s not bloated, pure and I appreciate that a lot. | Read review |
| Press Start | Brodie Gibbons | 7 / 10 | 05-05-2022 | As an homage to Akira Kurosawa’s contributions to Japanese cinema, Trek to Yomi is an unparalleled adventure to the shores of hell and back that meticulously encapsulates and delivers an experience through his lens. It’s when you look behind its eyes that you discover the game’s soul is missing in a disappointing case where a wellspring of style and authenticity is anchored by a sad lack of substance. | Read review |
| PSX Brasil | Paulo Roberto Montanaro | 90 / 100 | 05-05-2022 | Trek to Yomi honors all its best references and the result is an aesthetically brilliant game, with a solid combat system (even if it may seem repetitive in some parts), a safe exploration model and a narrative cadence faithful to the great works of the genre. As a whole, a worthy and memorable experience. | Read review |
| Push Square | Robert Ramsey | 7 / 10 | 05-05-2022 | Trek to Yomi is a decent samurai action game, elevated greatly by its superb presentation. Clocking in at only a few hours, this is a brief but ultimately satisfying tale, stitched together by some simple but very effective environmental design, and a combat system that rewards careful play. It’s not quite side-scrolling Ghost of Tsushima, but it is an impressively atmospheric love letter to samurai cinema. | Read review |
| Rectify Gaming | Dave Rodriguez | 8.2 / 10 | 05-06-2022 | Trek to Yomis’ love for the genre and cinematic ambition is its best feature and shines a light on its flaws. This is a tale of honor and blood that is worth experiencing. | Read review |
| Rock, Paper, Shotgun | Ed Thorn | Not Recommended | 05-05-2022 | A samurai side-scroller with striking visuals and a compelling story of revenge, let down a little by enemies that get very samey, very quickly. | Read review |
| Saving Content | Evan Rowe | 4 / 5 stars | 05-05-2022 | Small issues aside, Trek to Yomi is a lovingly crafted homage to the greats of Japanese cinema, taking the elements so loved by fans of the genre and stretching the limits of what was possible in it through the use of video games as a medium. It is one of the most visually striking games I have played in years, with a beautiful soundtrack and combat that becomes robust over time and is just challenging enough to stay fun and rewarding throughout. The feeling of realizing you’re capable of cutting your way through ten enemies on one screen when just an hour ago you were struggling against dealing with two-to-three at a time is both energizing and empowering, and the momentum from this propels you ever forward through to the game’s satisfying conclusion. Trek to Yomi is a great action game that weighs in at a near perfect length, and in my book it’s one of this year’s must plays. | Read review |
| SECTOR.sk | Branislav Kohút | 7.5 / 10 | 05-05-2022 | Trek to Yomi is a trip to historic Japan in the style of Kurosawa movies. The unique monochrome look will immerse you in the game, and the fights are dynamic and realistic. You will reach the endinf really soon, but the game will leave a good impression. In Game Pass, this is a clear choice that you should not miss. | Read review |
| Shacknews | Ozzie Mejia | 8 / 10 | 05-05-2022 | Fans of Kurosawa films or of Japanese samurai movies in general will dig Trek to Yomi. Anyone with even a passing curiosity for this genre should absolutely check this out. Trek to Yomi aims high and proves to be as sharp as Hiroki’s blade. | Read review |
| Skill Up | Ralph Panebianco | Recommended | 05-05-2022 | Video Review | Read review |
| Softpedia | Cosmin Vasile | 8 / 10 | 05-09-2022 | Trek to Yomi makes a great first impression. The black and white, combined with the first uses of the combat system, suggests an experience that will allow players to step into the sandals of a samurai. The story might not be extraordinary but there’s enough sentiment in it to keep players engaged. | Read review |
| SpazioGames | Domenico Musicò | 7 / 10 | 05-05-2022 | Trek to Yomi is a story of loss, honour and revenge. Despite some technical issues and a combat system with unbalanced combos, it’s undoubtedly a game suited for all feudal Japan fans. | Read review |
| Stevivor | Steve Wright | 6.5 / 10 | 05-05-2022 | Fans of Japanese culture and Kurosawa’s films may be more forgiving of Trek to Yomi than I, but the repetitive nature of its gameplay loop and overall lack of diversity made me pine for the Dark Souls playthrough I’m currently going through. It’s not one I’d enthusiastically recommend to players, but the silver lining here of course is that it’s part of Xbox Game Pass at launch, so many of you will be able to try it for yourself with no skin off your backs. | Read review |
| TechRaptor | Tyler Chancey | 7.5 / 10 | 05-05-2022 | A striking visual style and stylish presentation helps make Trek To Yomi a memorable journey through hell, even when the story and gameplay remain familiar and predictable. | Read review |
| The Games Machine | Simone Rampazzi | 8.2 / 10 | 05-05-2022 | Trek to Yomi is a solid and well-executed trip to a black-and-white tale of swords and souls, where a simple but satisfying gameplay is paired with a charming narrative that offers three different endings. Enemy and setting variety could be better, but overall this is a game worthy of your time. | Read review |
| The Outerhaven Productions | Jordan Andow | 4 / 5 stars | 05-05-2022 | A masterful love letter to the films of Akira Kurosawa. Trek to Yomi’s inspirations are clear. It handles those inspirations with love and care. Ultimately standing on its own two feet as something unique in the current gaming space. Above all else, it is extremely fun to play! | Read review |
| TheSixthAxis | Aran Suddi | 6 / 10 | 05-11-2022 | Trek to Yomi is a game that really does evoke the style of Kurosawa films, with a good story and good characters. However, it is let down by a combat system that can feel clunky and unresponsive against enemies that are a little too straightforward to defeat. If you enjoy sidescrollers and samurai then it may be worth spending the few hours it takes to play through it. | Read review |
| TrueAchievements | Kes Eylers-Stephenson | 4 / 5 stars | 05-05-2022 | The solid and gratifying combat system is perhaps not fully explored, but any mistake in Trek to Yomi is whisked away by its brisk pace complemented by a great artistic vision. Trek to Yomi is a katana-sharp experience that impresses with its flashy skills — use the joyous time it gives you well. | Read review |
| Twinfinite | Chris Jecks | 3 / 5 stars | 05-05-2022 | Trek to Yomi feels like a victim of its own cinematic inspirations and artistic ambitions. While satisfying at times, the combat is ultimately pretty one-note and begins to outstay its welcome by the time you’ve reached the end of Hiroki’s journey. I’m a sucker for artistically driven indie experiences, but there’s got to be some strong gameplay forming a foundation for it, and I can’t say I overly enjoyed my time accompanying Hiroki on his quest for vengeance. | Read review |
| Unboxholics | Γιώργος Πρίτσκας | Not Recommended | 05-19-2022 | The wonderful aesthetic of Trek to Yomi unfortunately cannot cover its several weaknesses in gameplay. | Read review |
| VGChartz | Evan Norris | 6.5 / 10 | 05-06-2022 | Artistically and thematically, it hits all the right notes, and conjures memories of Kurosawa and Mifune. However, if you prefer deep, diverse gameplay to art and story, you might find yourself only partially satisfied. | Read review |
| Video Chums | A.J. Maciejewski | 6.7 / 10 | 05-05-2022 | Trek to Yomi is an undoubtedly beautiful game that will constantly make you want to take screenshots. It’s just too bad that its gameplay is as simplistic and repetitive as it is because it ends up feeling like a chore to play after a while. | Read review |
| VideoGamer | Josh Wise | 7 / 10 | 05-09-2022 | Not that this is something that has to be endured. The underworld may be outglowed by the freaky fogs above, but so what? | Read review |
| Washington Post | Gene Park | Recommended | 05-10-2022 | Available on Xbox Game Pass, “Trek to Yomi” is a no-brainer download for anyone wanting a simple yet cinematic action game that harks back to classic PC adventures and 2D blade-action titles. At a $20 asking price, it’s a more debatable purchase, especially considering the short clear time. But at the end of the trek, I didn’t regret a minute of it, once I got over the fact that the combat was never going to be the real hook. It’s a gorgeous visual feast, and once I started it, I found it hard to look away. | Read review |
| WayTooManyGames | Leonardo Faria | 8.5 / 10 | 05-05-2022 | Know what to expect from Trek to Yomi before purchasing it. I had a great time with it, but that’s because I knew this wasn’t going to be a high-octane, indie equivalent of Ghost of Tsushima or Sekiro. This is the closest to a Kurosawa game we’ll probably ever get. Not only due to its phenomenal presentation, but also due to its emphasis on storytelling and world building, instead of nonstop action and ludicrous combos. Combat sections were more sparse and sluggish than anticipated, but that’s fine since it’s so easy to sink into the game’s world. | Read review |
| WellPlayed | Adam Ryan | 7 / 10 | 05-05-2022 | Trek to Yomi uses incredible cinematic stylings to tell a surprisingly strong story of revenge, but its 2D combat doesn’t always strike true. | Read review |
| Windows Central | Cole Martin | 4 / 5 stars | 05-09-2022 | Trek to Yomi is an interactive take on the classic monochromatic Samurai films of yesteryear. Players take on the role of Hiroki, guiding him on his journey to exact revenge following the destruction of his village. | Read review |
| Xbox Achievements | Richard Walker | 75 / 100 | 05-05-2022 | A stylish side-scrolling samurai epic, Trek to Yomi combines cinematic influences and sharp combat to great effect, but descends into frustration towards the end. Nonetheless, this is a journey worth sticking with. | Read review |
| ZTGD | Ken McKown | 7 / 10 | 05-31-2022 | Trek to Yomi is not an overly long adventure either. Outside of the standard combat there is some light exploration and puzzle solving with a few boss battles tossed in for good measure. The story is what kept me chugging through to the end. It is boilerplate but interesting. I wanted to know how things concluded so I pushed through the repetitive combat. Trek to Yomi is a game that on the surface seems way more interesting than it actually is. It feels like a good Game Pass title that occupied me for a weekend, I just wish it was a bit more in-depth when it comes to the combat itself. | Read review |
Developed by Flying Wild Hog. All titles, content, brand names, trademarks, logos, artwork, and associated imagery are trademarks and/or copyright material of their respective owners. © All rights reserved.
