Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree Preview

At this year's Summer Games Fest, Bandai Namco presented a surprisingly strong lineup, blending familiar sequels and long-standing franchises with brand-new titles. Nestled amongst them was a colorful, eye-catching surprise: Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree.

Developed by Brownies, a studio formed by veterans from the classic Secret of Mana team at SquareSoft, Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree blends mythological storytelling and gorgeous aesthetics with roguelike mechanics.

Though it might look whimsical at first glance—with its musclebound koi-fish warriors and chubby Shiba companions—this is no lightweight adventure. Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree takes a page from Hades, both in style and structure, but refines the formula with a folklore-infused world and a dual-character system that opens new possibilities in narrative and combat.

You play as Towa, the child of the gods and the protector of Shinju Village, nestled peacefully beneath the sacred living tree known as Shinju. This village has flourished for generations; it is a vibrant and tight-knit community where you consider your family. However, peace doesn't last.

From beyond the mountains, the evil god Magatsu begins spreading a cursed miasma across the land, corrupting everything it touches and spawning grotesque creatures known as the Magaori.

When the miasma threatens to engulf Shinju, the sacred tree delivers a divine decree: you must recruit eight gifted villagers, referred to as prayer children, and revolt against Magatsu. These companions, divided into Surugi (sword wielders) and Kagura (staff bearers), set out across far-flung lands to challenge the darkness.

The mission is fraught with danger, and defeat is a recurring theme—but with Shinju's blessing, Towa gains the power to turn back time and retry, refining strategy and building bonds with each new attempt.

In Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree, every run starts with a choice: pick one character to be your AI-controlled companion and another to be your lead. Not only is their relationship strategic, but it also influences the conversation and dynamics of the trip.

Because each character has unique fighting skills and movement patterns, every run encourages experimentation and variation. Whether you're playing as the stoic buff koi-fishman or a nimble dual-dagger wielder, each attempt unfolds differently.

You'll journey through increasingly difficult zones, battling corrupted monsters and choosing your path room-by-room. Much like in Hades, each door ahead clearly indicates the reward—be it a stat boost, elemental upgrade, or health recovery.

The ease of understanding these options contributes to a smooth gameplay flow while the decision-making retains tension and depth. Some upgrades stack, while others force you to swap—such as choosing between a fire dash or a water dash—adding strategic considerations with every move.

There's a surprising amount of content variety to keep things fresh. You advance farther into damaged land and encounter more difficult obstacles with every room you successfully clear. The increasing history between characters, Towa's development as a leader, and the impending threat of Magatsu are all reflected in the narrative snippets that are uncovered through repeat runs and reinforce this cycle.

Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree features reactive, real-time combat. It's not just a matter of button-mashing—you need to manage positioning, dodge attacks, and synergize with your AI partner.

The Surugi delivers devastating melee strikes, while the Kagura offers support with mystical staff-based powers. Depending on who you're controlling and who you've brought as your companion, fights can feel completely different.

What makes the system click is how smooth and polished it feels. Unlike some games that mimic Hades only to suffer from clunky animations or stiff controls, Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree feels precise.

Attacks land with weight, movement is snappy, and transitions between abilities are seamless. This level of quality can be credited to the developers' decades of experience—there's a maturity to how the combat flows, even when you're dodging for your life.

The game doesn't lean into complex puzzles, but the synergy between lead and support characters creates organic tactical challenges. Do you lead with brute force or hang back and let your ally thin the crowd? Their skills often complement yours, encouraging adaptive playstyles mid-run. And since each duo has unique banter and relationships, there's a narrative reason to explore different combos, too.

While Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree features permadeath runs in the traditional roguelike style, it also embraces a narrative-driven loop mechanic. As you fall in battle, you're granted the power to rewind time—effectively retrying your quest but with greater knowledge, stronger bonds, and improved abilities. This approach encourages persistence, as defeat doesn't mean failure but an opportunity to regroup and re-approach with better strategies.

The sacred tree Shinju blesses you and your companions with divine gear and stat enhancements. You gather permanent enhancements over time, which makes each run easier to handle and gives you a real sense of accomplishment. The game's narrative of perseverance and learning from mistakes is interconnected with the grinding, which never seems overdone.

A sight to behold is Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree. Its art style draws heavily from traditional Japanese aesthetics, particularly in the styles of watercolor paintings and woodblock prints. The environments are bright, rich, and full of small details that give each area its own personality. Despite the dire nature of the story, the game radiates a warm, ethereal charm.

Character designs are equally expressive—ranging from adorable to downright bizarre. The comparison of cute, chubby Shiba-inus with stoic sword-wielding guardians adds flavor and variety.

But no character steals the spotlight quite like the buff Koi-Fishman—who somehow manages to be both hilarious and heroic. Everything on the screen feels handcrafted and vibrant, making each run a pleasure to look at.

The soundtrack is composed by none other than Hitoshi Sakamoto, best known for his work on Final Fantasy Tactics, Odin Sphere, and many Vanillaware titles. The moment you hear the opening strings or the layered percussion of a boss theme, his signature touch is unmistakable. The score is full and lush, providing both emotional weight during narrative moments and pulse-pounding energy during combat.

There's a subtle, atmospheric quality to much of the ambient music—complementing the mythic setting—while boss encounters ramp things up dramatically. You'll catch yourself sitting at the campfire between runs just to soak in the serene melodies. Even the sound design of attacks, abilities, and environmental effects is crisp and impactful. There's not a weak note to be found in Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree.

This is a game with ancestry—from the Mana veterans at Brownies to Sakamoto's masterful music—and it shows. The dual-character system adds a layer of tactical experimentation rarely seen in roguelikes, while the branching dialogue keeps things emotionally engaging. It's hard not to fall in love with the vibrant visuals or the simple joy of discovering how two characters interact in battle and in banter.

If you're searching for something that feels like Hades but brims with folklore and painterly soul, Towa is well worth your attention. It's charming, challenging, and clearly made with love.