It’s hard to make sense of Disgaea Mayhem, but perhaps that’s part of its charm

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I’ve played a little Disgaea before, but I’m definitely no expert. I know the series is usually all about deep, tactical RPG battles. So when I started Disgaea Mayhem and realized it played more like a fast-paced, action-packed musou game, it was a total surprise! It’s a pretty big departure from what I expected, honestly.

It’s easier to understand why this game isn’t called a Disgaea title, even though it features characters and elements from the Disgaea series.

I’ve had a chance to try the Disgaea Mayhem demo from PAX East, and I think I understand the thinking behind it, even if it’s a bit different. It’s a big departure from the rest of the series, which makes me wonder if longtime fans will enjoy it, or if it will attract new players. Despite how unusual this approach might seem, it’s definitely a unique direction. So, what can you expect from Disgaea Mayhem?

I got to try out the PAX East demo, and it’s pretty straightforward. You pick your difficulty – basically easy, medium, or hard – and then your weapon, and you’re thrown right into the action! Seriously, the game just dumps you in an area swarming with enemies, and it’s all about blasting your way out – or hacking, slashing, whatever your weapon lets you do. They’ve got a pretty good selection of weapons too: you can choose from fists, a spear, a bow, a gun, an axe, a staff, or a sword.

I wasn’t sure if this would carry over to the final game, but it seemed like your weapon choice was tied to the difficulty level for each stage. I got to test three weapons – a fist, an axe, and a sword, which quickly became my favorite. I’ll explain more about the sword later.

Each weapon unlocks unique abilities. The sword, for example, has a powerful, swirling attack that’s great for quickly defeating enemies and moving through levels. There’s a special attack involving two Prinnies… but that’s another story. The levels themselves are usually short and focused, with a clear path leading to a boss. While there are platforms you can fall off of, there are always ways to recover and continue your progress.

The gameplay felt like a typical musou experience – enjoyable, action-packed, and with a decent range of weapons and abilities (though a full game would benefit from even more). It wasn’t overly challenging and was generally satisfying to play. Beyond the Disgaea characters and setting, it didn’t offer much that you wouldn’t find in other similar games. Whether that’s a good thing or not depends on what you’re looking for. If you’re a fan of the musou style and enjoy the Disgaea universe, Mayhem could be exactly what you want. As long as the developers expand on this foundation with more variety in the full game, it has the potential to be a great title.

Disgaea Mayhem is planned to launch in the summer of 2026 for Steam, Nintendo Switch, the next Nintendo Switch console, and Playstation.

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2026-04-09 06:56