Sonokuni Bursts Onto Steam

In 2020 Don Yasa Crew, a 7-person Japanese hip hop group, found booking live performances impossible due to COVID. Needing something else to do, they decided to make a video game. This project would unite their love of music and games and result in SONOKUNI, a new action game now available on Steam.

You are Takeru, a lone assassin fighting through an alternate feudal yet highly technologically advanced Japan. Your mission is to hack and slash your way through a surreal superpower empowered by biotechnology. Takeru is on a quest to save her people, but grapples with the morality of her mission. Don Yasa Crew’s music scores the entire game and keeps the pace frenetic.

Be warned that this is a one-hit-kill game, and bullets will come flying at you from everywhere — but Takeru’s abilities include a parrying shield and the power to bend time, so the challenge for her many enemies is just hitting her once at all. She’s also swift with a katana.

Sonokuni is available now on Steam in two forms. One is just the basic game, and the other is the Deluxe Edition that includes a separate 50-track soundtrack. That’s correct, Don Yasa Crew performed that many songs for this thing. COVID gave them a lot of time! The game is 10% off during its first week.

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Gaddo

New Member

44 messages 1 like

#1 Mar 27, 2025

A futuristic feudal Japan setting? I’m in. Cyber-samurai aesthetics have always been fascinating, and this sounds like a unique take on it. If the world-building is strong, I could see myself getting lost in it. I just hope it’s not all about fast-paced action—I want lore, atmosphere, and something deeper beneath the surface.

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Dang

9 messages 1 like

#2 Mar 27, 2025

This sounds cool, but I’m not sure I have the patience for a one-hit-kill game. I like action, but I also like making mistakes without immediately starting over. If it has good accessibility options or difficulty settings, I might try it. Otherwise, I’ll just listen to the soundtrack and enjoy it from a distance.

TCL

494 messages 29 likes

#3 Mar 27, 2025

One-hit kills and bullet hell action? This is the kind of high-risk, high-reward gameplay I live for. Games like this push players to master every mechanic, and I thrive on that. If it’s got tight controls and rewarding gameplay loops, I’m in. Just hope it has leaderboards—I want to see how I measure up against others.

Feels so real

Active Member

467 messages 25 likes

#4 Mar 27, 2025

10% off at launch? I might wait for a bigger discount. Indie games can be great, but I need to see some reviews first. If it’s just difficult for the sake of being difficult, I’ll pass. But if the gameplay and music are as strong as the article suggests, I’ll pick it up in a future sale.

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