Hanako: Honor & Blade Goes Free to Play on December 10th

Written by Brandon Hofer on December 08, 2021

News: An online multiplayer combat experience set in Feudal Japan will be free to play very soon.

+Mpact Games, a small team of developers united to make a very personal game, today announced that Hanako: Honor & Blade, its immersive online multiplayer combat experience set in Feudal Japan, is going free to play on December 10th. Recently awarded an Epic MegaGrant, the game has been meticulously developed over 14 years as a passion project to remember those lost to cancer.

In 2007, industry veteran and team lead, Matt Canei, made a teenage vow to honor the memory of his mother, Janie, following her tragic passing after her battle with breast cancer. He co-founded +Mpact in his free time, outside of his full-time roles, to help channel his grief and to commemorate his mother through his passion for creating games. Today, Matt works at ILMxLAB and his dedicated team has fulfilled his vow, with Hanako: Honor & Blade symbolizing the battle between life and death, as embodied by the game’s two warrior clans. The Hanako clan represents health and goodness in the spirit of Matt’s mother, and the Yamai clan symbolize the opposition to life inherent in cancer and other diseases. The natural balance of the opposing forces metaphorically represents real-life tragedies while seeking to honor those lost.

“We created Hanako: Honor & Blade to help us cope with the loss of loved ones through cathartic samurai multiplayer combat representing life and destruction,” said Matt Canei, Team Lead at +Mpact Games. “I know my mother would be proud, and I want to thank our community for sharing the journey with us. I wish all of you strength in your battles—in the game and in life.”

Beyond the symbolism, Hanako: Honor & Blade takes players online for immersive battles in a beautiful recreation of Feudal Japan between up to 24 players. Players can help decide the future of a nation by playing as one of four distinct warrior classes including the capable swordsman, powerful spearman, eagle-eyed archer, or nimble ninja. Each class has different build/skill options and features directionally driven combat, abilities, and spirit-based skills to get an extra edge. Players will play as one of two clans and seek to defeat opponents through multiple game modes and maps, with each game level presenting unique obstacles and mechanics that will require strategy and teamwork to defeat enemies

Some of the game’s features include:

Epic online battles set in Feudal Japan with up to 24 players

A symbolic struggle between the forces of life and death

Five game modes with unique features, including team deathmatch Battle, Capture the Scroll, Village Siege, Castle Raid, and new Duel mode

Directional-driven combat that encourages strategy and precision

Four distinct warrior classes with different skill options for multiple playstyles

Dynamic environment changes

Bots to fill out teams or provide practice opponents

Immersive audio and orchestral soundtrack

Hanako: Honor & Blade is developed and self-published by +Mpact Games. To stay up to date on the game, you can join their Discord at discord.playhanako.com and follow them at @PlayHanako, facebook.com/playhanako, and twitch.tv/hanakogame.