One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4 sends Monkey D. Luffy and company into battle with a simple premise: move fast, hit harder, and repeat. The hack-and-slash action returns for the latest chapter in the series, and it mostly delivers on its promise.
Luffy leads the charge, joined by familiar faces from the anime and manga. Each character plays differently, thanks to distinct moves and attack styles. That variety keeps fights fresh across long sessions.
Fights against enemy waves form the core loop. Players build combos, trigger special attacks, and manage health bars that rise with each hit landed. The system rewards aggression, and matches rarely feel slow.
Story mode covers key arcs from the anime. Scenes between battles draw from the source material, giving longtime fans a reason to push past the combat. It runs long, though, and some players may find the pacing uneven.
Controls respond quickly once learned. Moves chain together cleanly, and timing windows are generous enough for newcomers to pick up without frustration. Boss fights test patience, especially against larger enemies that require precise positioning.
Performance holds up well across most systems. The game runs on Series X|S, PS4, Switch 2, and PC. Load times can vary depending on hardware, but PC players have the clearest picture, with scaling options that let them push beyond the base settings.
Not every mode feels fully realized. Some side content feels thin compared to the main campaign, and a few multiplayer modes lack depth. The difficulty curve also dips in spots, making late-game fights easier than expected.
The numbers tell the story:
- Title: One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4
- Platforms: Series X|S, PS4, Switch 2, PC
- Critical score: 7.6/10
One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4 succeeds because it knows what it wants to be: a fast, satisfying action game built around the world of Luffy and the Straw Hats. Story mode stumbles at points, and some modes feel unfinished, but the core combat remains strong throughout.
Trailer, via Bandai Namco Entertainment America.
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