Astral Chain (2019): Gameplay, Story, Sales, and Sequel Status in 2026

In August 2019, Astral Chain arrived exclusively on Nintendo Switch.

Developed by PlatinumGames, directed by Takahisa Taura (one of the lead gameplay designers behind NieR: Automata), overseen by Hideki Kamiya, and featuring character designs by Masakazu Katsura. On paper, it had all the ingredients of a major hit. However, according to the most recent official sales update, Astral Chain has sold roughly 1.3 million copies worldwide – a modest success, but its commercial performance never quite matched the praise it received from critics.

How did a game with strong critical reception end up becoming one of PlatinumGames’ most overlooked releases? What makes its Legion-based combat system so unique? Is it still worth playing in 2026? This article will cover the basics, core gameplay, story, market performance, and the current state of the IP for those who haven‘t played it.

I. Basic Info & Development Team

• English Title: Astral Chain
• Developer: PlatinumGames
• Publisher: Nintendo
• Platform: Nintendo Switch (exclusive)
• Release Date: August 30, 2019
• Genre: Action
• Director: Takahisa Taura
• Supervisor: Hideki Kamiya
• Character Designer: Masakazu Katsura

Key talent:

Takahisa Taura directed the game. Before this, he was the lead gameplay designer on NieR: Automata, handling much of the combat. Having him oversee the action was a strong indicator of quality.

Hideki Kamiya served as supervisor. His resume includes Devil May Cry, Viewtiful Joe, and Bayonetta – he is one of the most respected names in the action genre.

Masakazu Katsura provided character designs. Known for the manga I’s, ZETMAN, and Video Girl Ai, his distinct, stylish aesthetic stands out from typical anime designs.

The combination of these three immediately drew the attention of core action game fans.

II. Core Gameplay: Chains & Legions

The most unique feature of Astral Chain is the Legion – a tamed extradimensional creature. You play as a member of the special police unit Neuron, fighting alongside your Legion. A mental chain connects you to it, serving as both a weapon and a bond.

Combat revolves around simultaneous dual-unit control: you control the protagonist, while the Legion automatically attacks in coordination via the chain. The left trigger (ZL) controls Legion positioning and commands, while the face buttons handle the protagonist‘s combat actions. It requires both coordination and timing to master.

There are five Legion forms, each with a different fighting style:

Legion	Legions	Characteristics	Best for
Sword		Balanced melee	Beginners, all-purpose
Bow		Ranged attacks	Kite enemies
Beast		High speed + riding	Travel, combo extension
Arm		Heavy blows, break guard	Armored foes
Axe		High defense, high damage	Head-on clashes

Each Legion has its own skill tree, and you can switch between them mid-combat to adapt to different enemies. This gives strategic depth while keeping the game accessible.

III. Story & Dual Protagonist Setup

World premise: In the near future, Earth has been contaminated by extradimensional creatures. Humanity flees to a man-made floating island called the Ark. You play a rookie officer in Neuron, investigating cases and protecting citizens, slowly uncovering a larger conspiracy.

Dual protagonist system: At the start, you choose to play as either the twin brother or sister. The unchosen twin becomes a key character in the story – fully voiced, driving major plot points – while your controlled protagonist is silent, communicating through actions and expressions.

This split has drawn mixed reactions. Some find the silent protagonist immersion-breaking, especially when everyone else is fully voiced. Others argue that the stylish, fluid combat speaks for itself, and the silence doesn‘t hinder enjoyment.

Katsura’s character designs are distinctive – the outfits, colors, and overall look are clearly his style, setting them apart from typical anime aesthetics.

IV. Critical Reception & Sales Performance

Upon release, reviews were strong:

• Metacritic: 88/100
• IGN: 9/10 (“one of the best action games of its generation”)
• Game Informer: 9/10
• GameSpot: 8/10

An 88 Metacritic score places Astral Chain comfortably among the highest-rated action games of its generation.

However, sales did not reach the same heights:

• Japan first-week physical sales: 32,236 copies
• Last official global figure: approximately 1.3 million units

For context, other Switch games from around the same period: Fire Emblem: Three Houses sold about 3 million, Super Mario Maker 2 sold 5.89 million, and ARMS sold around 2.47 million. As a brand new IP, Astral Chain performed decently, but there was a clear gap between its critical acclaim and commercial performance.

V. Why Did It Underperform Relative to the Hype?

Three factors are often cited by analysts:

1. Brand new IP with no existing fanbase
Players are naturally cautious with original titles, and building word-of-mouth takes time. PlatinumGames is known for development, not marketing – most promotion relied on Nintendo‘s trailers and Treehouse streams, which had limited reach.

2. Switch exclusivity limited its potential audience
As a Switch exclusive, the game could not reach action game fans on PlayStation or PC, the primary platforms for comparable titles like Devil May Cry 5 or Bayonetta. Exclusivity came with Nintendo’s publishing support, but it also meant a smaller addressable market.

3. Action games have a relatively niche audience
PlatinumGames‘ brand is not as strong as Nintendo’s first-party IPs. The Bayonetta series, beloved by critics for over a decade, has only sold a few million copies total. The action genre itself is naturally smaller than RPGs or platformers.

That said, for a brand new IP, 1.3 million units is still a success – at least enough to convince Nintendo that the franchise has potential.

VI. Current State of the IP & Sequel Prospects

The game‘s world and systems were clearly designed with a sequel in mind. Numerous plot threads were left unresolved, and the ending was not fully closed.

Timeline:

• 2019: Director Taura said in interviews, “I still have many ideas I couldn’t use. If given a chance to make a sequel, I‘m totally up for it.”
• 2023: PlatinumGames studio head Atsushi Inaba confirmed that Taura was working on a new project, hinting that “it would be nice if we could announce it soon.” The same year, the IP rights were consolidated – Nintendo became the sole owner of Astral Chain.
• Rumors: Unverified online reports have claimed that Astral Chain 2 is in development, featuring new Legion types, an elemental fusion system, and even aircraft carrier battles. However, as of now, neither Nintendo nor PlatinumGames has officially announced a sequel, so such information should be treated as speculation.

Overall, the IP ownership is clear, and the core creative team has expressed interest, but a sequel remains unconfirmed.

VII. Is It Worth Playing in 2026?

If you haven’t played Astral Chain yet, here‘s what to consider.

Reasons to play:

1. Unique gameplay, still no substitute
   Even today, there really isn’t another action game that plays quite like Astral Chain. Controlling both your character and a Legion at the same time has no equivalent on the Switch.
2. Solid amount of content
   The main story takes about 15-20 hours; full completion and all S-ranks can take over 40 hours. Leveling up and customizing five different Legions provides plenty of replay value.
3. Low price now
   Physical used copies go for around $20-30, and Nintendo eShop sales offer digital versions at a discount. At this price, it‘s great value for a top-tier Platinum action game.

Notable drawbacks:

• Exploration can sometimes slow the pace, and certain levels feel less polished.
• The silent protagonist can be jarring during key story moments.
• Some high-intensity battles have minor performance dips on original Switch hardware (more noticeable in handheld mode).

Conclusion: If you enjoy Bayonetta, Devil May Cry, or NieR: Automata, Astral Chain is still worth experiencing. Even in 2026, few action games offer anything quite like Astral Chain.

Copyright Notice:
All game screenshots, character designs, and related materials referenced in this article are the property of Nintendo, PlatinumGames Inc., and their respective rights holders.