Bleach Rebirth of Souls review

Bleach games have been all over the place. Bleach: Dark Souls on the DS played like a real fighting game with tight mechanics, while Bleach: Shattered Blade on the Wii relied on motion controls that got old fast. So when Bleach Rebirth of Souls was announced, I wasn’t sure what to expect. A full-fledged fighting game based on Bleach’s unique combat styles? That sounded like a dream.

Now that it’s here, does it live up to that potential? That depends on what you’re looking for. At its core, Rebirth of Souls is a 3D fighter that feels more structured than a typical arena brawler. The combat has depth, the roster is diverse, and the game goes all in on Bleach’s lore. But as good as the gameplay is, some missing features and odd design choices hold it back. It’s a solid foundation, but it’s not quite complete.

Let’s take a closer look at what Rebirth of Souls does right—and what could have been better.

Bleach Rebirth of Souls details

Platform(s):  PlayStation 5 , Xbox Series X|S, PS4, and PC
Developer(s): Tamsoft
Publisher(s): Bandai Namco Entertinament
Genre: Fighting
Modes: Single-player, multiplayer
ESRB Rating: T (Teen)

Bleach’s story returns—with some bumps

Bleach Rebirth of Souls covers the Substitute Shinigami Arc through the Arrancar Arc, giving you a sizable portion of the anime’s story. It even features fully animated 3D cutscenes—a step up from the slideshow-style storytelling seen in some other anime games. On paper, that sounds great. In practice, the execution is shaky.

The biggest issue is pacing. Some scenes drag on too long, while others rush through major moments without enough buildup. Key events are either skimmed over or not explained well, making it a weak introduction for anyone new to Bleach. The cutscenes also feel stiff, with minimal character movement and awkward pauses between dialogue. Instead of fully animating big moments—like a dramatic attack or transformation—the game often cuts away, undercutting the impact.

I was looking forward to reliving some of my favorite moments from Bleach, but the excitement didn’t last. Watching characters stand around while slow-moving dialogue played out took me out of it. The menus and artwork look stylish, but they can’t make up for the lackluster story presentation.

The battles don’t do much to mix things up either. Most story fights play out like standard matches, with a few Hollow encounters that feel like filler. There’s no unique mission design or mechanics to add variety—it’s just one one-on-one fight after another. That’s fine in theory, but it starts feeling repetitive fast.

If you’re a big Bleach fan, you might still enjoy seeing the story unfold, even if it’s not the strongest adaptation. But if you were hoping for cinematic battles and an engaging retelling, this version falls short.

More than just an anime fighter

Jumping into Bleach Rebirth of Souls felt different from other anime fighters. Right away, it was clear this wasn’t just another flashy arena brawler. Instead, it leans into a structured 3D fighting game design, closer to something like Soulcalibur. Movement is locked to your opponent, forcing you to be more mindful of positioning. At first, it felt awkward that pushing up on the stick moves forward while left and right circle around the opponent instead of moving freely, but after a few matches, it started to make sense. Still, an option to swap the controls would have been welcome.

Combat mechanics and strategy

The core combat revolves around a rock-paper-scissors system of quick attacks, flash attacks, and breaker attacks. Each has a counter, encouraging smart play instead of just spamming buttons. Special moves require spiritual power, which also fuels defensive options like teleporting behind an enemy or breaking out of combos. The system rewards careful management—burning through resources too quickly leaves you vulnerable.

One match stood out in particular. Playing as Stark, I struggled at first, trying to balance gunplay, summoning wolves, and switching between his forms. Against a well-timed awakening, my health was melting fast. But once I got into a rhythm, I started spacing my opponent out, saving my special moves for the right moment, and making a comeback with a last-second keycon move to deplete their final Kaku. It was a reminder that this game is more about strategy and control than just execution-heavy combos.

Character variety and match pacing

Character variety is one of the game’s biggest strengths. Every fighter plays differently, not just in moves but in core mechanics. Some have unique awakenings, like Ichigo’s second transformation or Zylopro’s ability to steal a chunk of health from his opponent. Others, like Renji, use their weapons to control space, while characters like Aizen can completely negate an enemy’s finishing move under the right conditions. This kind of variety keeps fights interesting and makes switching characters more than just learning new attack strings.

That said, matches can feel long due to the Kaku system, which makes it harder to steamroll opponents. Comebacks are possible, but the length of battles—combined with unskippable special move animations—can drag things out. Seeing the same cutscenes multiple times per fight gets old fast, especially if you main a single character.

Still, the gameplay itself is solid. It has more depth than most anime fighters, rewarding smart play while keeping things accessible. It’s a strong foundation, and with some refinements, it could be one of the best in the genre.

Stylish but inconsistent

Visually, Bleach Rebirth of Souls nails the look of the series. In-game character models are detailed, animations are smooth, and special attacks have plenty of flair. Each move feels ripped straight from the anime, with some even incorporating unique mechanics that fit a character’s personality and abilities. Aizen’s Kyoka Suigetsu ability, for example, completely nullifies an enemy’s attack, staying true to how it works in the series while adding a strategic layer to fights.

The game’s overall style also deserves praise. The menus, UI elements, and loading screens have a sleek, energetic design that captures the series’ aesthetic. Even small details, like the way music changes depending on the situation, add personality.

Unfortunately, the same effort wasn’t applied to the story mode’s presentation. While it avoids the usual static slideshow format seen in many anime adaptations, the in-engine cutscenes feel lifeless. Character animations are stiff, pacing is slow, and any moment that should be dynamic is often skipped with a simple camera cut. It makes big story beats fall flat, especially for anyone unfamiliar with Bleach. Some sequences look impressive, but overall, the storytelling lacks impact.

Another issue is the frequent, unskippable special move animations. While they make fights feel cinematic, watching the same cutscenes multiple times per match gets old fast, especially in longer battles. Other fighting games, like Dragon Ball FighterZ, let you skip long super move animations after seeing them once. Rebirth of Souls could really use an option like that—watching the same attack play out repeatedly slows down the match and breaks the pacing. A simple option to speed them up or skip them after the first viewing would have been a welcome addition.

Despite these flaws, Rebirth of Souls looks great in motion. It’s clear that care was put into making the combat visually exciting, even if the story presentation doesn’t match that same level of quality.

A fun online experience with missing pieces

Online matches feel like a mixed bag. Finding a match sometimes takes longer than expected, but once a game loads, the connection is mostly smooth. Occasional lag occurs, but it isn’t common enough to ruin the experience. The biggest issue is the lack of a ranked mode. Without it, matches have no real stakes or progression. You might dominate one opponent and then get completely outclassed in the next, with no indication of how skill levels are being matched.

This became clear after a few matches. I barely scrape by with a win, landing Ichigo’s Getsuga Tenshō at the last second. Feels great. Then the next match starts, and I run into a Yamamoto player who blocks everything, counters every move, and wipes me out before I can even think. With no ranked mode, there’s no way to tell if I’m up against someone at my level or just about to get demolished. Every match feels like a coin flip.

The lack of a spectator mode also makes setting up matches with friends less engaging. There’s no way to watch other fights while waiting in a lobby, which feels like a strange omission for a competitive fighting game. Right now, online play works, but without ranked or proper matchmaking, it lacks structure to keep competitive players invested.

Bleach Rebirth of Souls has solid gameplay but is held back by missing features

Bleach Rebirth of Souls nails the fundamentals of a fighting game. Combat feels engaging, characters play uniquely, and the mechanics encourage strategy over mindless button-mashing. It’s easy to pick up but offers enough depth to keep matches interesting. If nothing else, the game proves that Bleach deserves a proper fighting game.

But as much as I enjoy the combat, the rest of the game struggles to keep up. Story mode follows the anime but lacks polish. Single-player content is thin, with mission mode offering little replay value. Online play works, but with no ranked mode or proper matchmaking, every match feels like a gamble. Without meaningful progression, it’s hard to stay invested long-term.

I can’t shake the feeling that Rebirth of Souls could have been something more. The mechanics are strong, and Bleach fans will appreciate the attention to detail in character abilities and transformations. But without more content or online structure, it’s hard to say how long the game will last.

Overall assessment of Bleach Rebirth of Souls

Gameplay: 4/5
Graphics: 3.75/5
Sound: 4/5
Lasting appeal/Replayability: 3/5

Overall rating: 3.7/5 (74%)

For now, I’m still playing, still jumping into matches, and still enjoying the combat. If Bandai Namco wants this game to thrive, it needs more than just good gameplay—it needs a reason to keep people coming back. A ranked mode, balance updates, and new content could go a long way toward giving Rebirth of Souls the longevity it deserves.

Purchase Bleach Rebirth of Souls