“In a fast-paced fighter like Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact, poor netcode isn’t just frustrating; it breaks the core experience.”
Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact looked poised to be a standout anime fighter. Its vibrant characters, strategic combat, and faithful visuals checked all the right boxes. However, the game’s launch on July 17, 2025, hit a major snag. Online play has been riddled with rollback netcode issues, including high lag, sudden disconnects, and desyncs, which are making competitive matches nearly unplayable.
Despite these problems, the game still shows real promise if the developers can deliver on their promised fixes.
1. Netcode Fails Undermine Gameplay
Even after a delayed release to implement rollback netcode, players are still encountering excessive rollback frames, noticeable input lag, and frequent desyncs, even on stable connections. Feedback has been mixed, and some users have already requested refunds due to the broken online experience. The development team has acknowledged the issues, issued public apologies, and promised improvements through upcoming patches.
2. Sparse Player Base and No Cross play
The lack of cross-platform functionality means that each version of the game on PC, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation 5 has its own isolated player base. Steam reported approximately 277 concurrent players at the time of launch. Combined with the ongoing netcode problems and minimal marketing efforts, this has led to long matchmaking wait times and a rapidly shrinking community during non-peak hours.
3. Minimal Roster and Limited Modes
The base game launches with just 16 playable characters, with four additional fighters planned through downloadable content. The available game modes feel limited. The story mode doubles as a basic arcade tutorial and can be completed in under an hour. Other offerings include Time Attack, Combo Trials, and a Heavens Arena–inspired Survival Mode. Many fans feel the overall content is too thin for a full-price release.
4. Visual Presentation and Value Concerns
Visually, the game has received criticism for looking like a late PlayStation 3 or early PlayStation 4 title. In certain areas, animations appear rigid, and the environments don’t seem fully refined. For a game priced between $60 and $75, players expected a higher production value and more robust content. Coupled with weak online performance and a shallow single-player experience, these shortcomings have led to a surge in refund requests and mixed user reviews.
Thinking of Playing? What Your System Needs to Run the Game
Before playing Nen x Impact, it’s important to ensure your system meets the technical requirements. Although offline modes generally run well, netcode-related problems may affect performance during online play—even on higher-end machines.
Minimum System Requirements:
- Operating System: Windows 8 or Windows 10 (64-bit)
- Processor: Intel Core i7-3770 or AMD equivalent
- RAM: 8 GB
- Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 or better
- DirectX: Version 11
- Storage: Approximately 16 GB of available space
- Community Recommendations for Best Performance
- A mid-range or better gaming PC or laptop
- A controller or gamepad is recommended for optimal combo execution
Love the Design but the Netcode Needs Work
Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact doesn’t qualify as a defective game, yet it isn’t fully prepared for competitive gameplay. The core mechanics are engaging, character designs are faithful to the series, and the combo potential is there. It has been hindered by rollback netcode issues, a limited amount of content, and a less-than-strong initial launch. With continued patch support and meaningful content updates, it still has the potential to become the anime fighting game fans were hoping for.
Key Takeaways
• The combat system feels true to the Hunter x Hunter universe
• Online play is inconsistent due to unresolved netcode issues
• The absence of crossplay significantly limits matchmaking
• The base roster and overall content feel too limited for the asking price
• System requirements are reasonable, but performance issues persist during online play
FAQ
Q: Is Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact playable offline?
Yes. Offline modes such as Arcade, Training, and Survival run smoothly and are unaffected by the current netcode problems.
Q: What platforms is the game available on?
Nen x Impact can be played on PC (via Steam), PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch. Cross-platform play is not supported currently.
Q: Are the developers planning future updates?
Yes. The developers have acknowledged the online issues and are actively working on improvements, with multiple patches already released and more planned.
