Sifuis the second game by indie developer, Sloclap. Their first major title was Absolver, and fans can see a lot of DNA imported from that game intoSifu. There are two big differences, though. First,Sifuis more like a time loop game than a straight-up roguelike. Second, Absolver had an emphasis on multiplayer than its successor.
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Overall,Sifuis one brutal game and it’s going to take everything the player has to finish it. Reviews for the game are fairly high across all three platforms, but hat doesn’t mean the game couldn’t work on a thing or two.
8Best: The Art Style
The graphics inSifuaren’t going to push the boundaries of the PS5. However, the landscapes can still be breathtaking. The overall character aesthetic makes everyone look like they are made out of clay. They have chiseled qualities to them, which is unique for a game like this.
One of the more special design choices was the character’s conspiracy board. It adds context to the world and looks fascinating. Every level,from The Squatsto The Club, looks distinct from the others.
7Worst: Lack Of Rewards
The only way players are going to beat this game is through practice. Players will unlock new moves along the way but all stat boosts are temporary. There is no real way to game the system and become better through leveling up like in an RPG.
The lack of positive feedback can be detrimental to some players. It may lead to them quitting, which is a shame, becauseSifuis fun, albeit frustrating.
6Best: Male/Female Choices
The advertising forSifumade it seem like the protagonist was going to be male. It was a nice surprise to get a choice at the beginning of the game. There are a lot of modern games, especiallyroguelikes and RPGs, that allow users to customize their character in some way.
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Picking a gender may not seem like a groundbreaking inclusion, but this game still deserves a thumbs up. The intro in general was a treat. Playing as the villain at the beginning of any game can be interesting. Following that was the training montage through the credits, which was a nice approach to a tutorial.
5Worst: Combat Is Tricky To Master
Most of the gameplay is solid. As a martial arts game, it can be invigorating to take down enemies with ease. However, there are a lot of combos to remember at the start of the game. Players will alsounlock new skills, possibly confusing things further. Thankfully there is a guide the player can refer to in the options. There is also a training mini-game they can hop into at their home.
Even with these helpful features, though, the combat can still feel off, especially when trying to time stick presses with buttons.
4Best: Photo Mode
Any game that adds in a photo mode deserves applause. It’s hard to find at first becauseSifunever directly tells players in a tutorial. Players can figure it out on their own by experimenting with the controller’s buttons or looking atthe controller guidein the menu.
Hitting down on the D-Pad will trigger photo mode. It’s a great way to capture intense fights scenes. It’s also a good way to pause the game and take a look at one’s current situation. That’s a helpful bonus tip.
3Worst: Dialogue Choices
Every once in a while the game will offer players dialogue choices. These choices won’t affectSifuin any large way — they’re more there as an aesthetic addition. In this way, most opportunities are useless. Some bossescan be spared, but it takes a lot of work and most players may not even realize this is a choice in the game.
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Maybe there were plans to integrate a more dynamic choice system into the game like in an RPG. Maybe this idea was scrapped late into development and these choices are mere remnants. It’s hard to say but for now, these random choices can feel pointless.
2Best: The Music
Players might be expecting the usual martial arts-type music to accompany the combat inSifu. However, the music is instead more intense with a heavy electronic background. It works well for a modern martial arts epic in modern times.
The best part about the music is the way it intensifies while in combat.Action RPGs tendto do this a lot like inFinal Fantasy 7 Remake. There are two versions of songs with one being mellow and the other being epic in that game. That’s sort of whatSifuhas going on, too.
1Worst: No Assist Options
There are no progressive reward systems inSifuand there are no assist options either. There isn’t even a difficulty mode. The lack of both of these features might be another reason why players bounce off of this game. It would be great if the game could at least get a reduction on damage as an option.
Roguelikes have done this in the past such asSkul: The Hero SlayerandHades. MaybeSifushould get this feature, and more, later. Itwould make bossesand the overall game more accessible.
Sifuwas released on July 11, 2025 and is available onPC,PS4, andPS5.
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