Isometric · Co-op · 1–4 players
Draw your blade. Gather your party. Survive the yōkai.
An isometric action roguelike inspired by Japanese folklore. Wield a katana, time your counters, collect supernatural scrolls, and descend through ever-changing floors. Play solo, bring AI companions, or fight alongside friends in co-op.
Play free in your browser. Prefer a desktop download? Get the Windows, Linux and macOS builds for $7.99 or more and support development.
Quick start: WASD to move · X to draw your katana · C to attack · Z to defend · E to dodge. Keyboard and gamepad controls can be remapped in Settings → Controls.
Development status: This is a playable prototype in active development. Try the browser build before buying; the purchase provides the downloadable desktop builds.
Features
- Fast isometric katana combat
- Procedurally assembled floors and encounters
- Playable female kitsune warriors with multiple appearances
- Solo play with up to three configurable AI companions
- Local multiplayer for up to four players
- Online co-op across browser and desktop builds
- Draw and sheath your katana during combat
- Blocking, timed counters, dodging, jumping, and stealth
- Charged strikes and stamina management
- Collectible supernatural scrolls and temporary powers
- Character upgrades between floors
- Day-and-night gameplay effects
- Distinct AI behaviours: Aggressive, Defensive, Stealth, and Passive
- Revive fallen companions—or temporarily take control of an AI ally
- Environments including sakura gardens, bamboo forests, abandoned shrines, desert ruins, and frozen passes
- Dynamic weather, including rain, snow, petals, and sandstorms
- Full music, combat effects, ambience, and character voices
- Remappable keyboard and gamepad controls
- Windows, Linux, macOS, and browser versions
Choose how you fight
Keep your katana drawn for direct, aggressive combat or sheath it to move more cautiously. Sprint through danger, dodge incoming attacks, raise your guard, and time your defense correctly to create an opening for a counterattack.
Stealth reduces the distance at which enemies can detect you. Approach unnoticed and strike before the yōkai can react—or bring a full party and face the supernatural horde together.
Break objects and explore each floor to discover scrolls, healing items, charms, food, and other useful resources. Survive long enough to reach the stairs, choose your upgrades, and descend further.
Controls
Controls can be completely remapped under Settings → Controls.
| Action | Keyboard | Gamepad |
|---|---|---|
| Move | W A S D | Left stick or D-pad |
| Run | R | LT |
| Draw or sheath katana | X | Y |
| Attack or charge attack | C | B |
| Defend or counter | Z | X |
| Dodge | E | LB |
| Jump | F | RT |
| Stealth | G | RB |
| Interact | Space or Enter | A |
| Pause | Esc, Backspace, or Q | Back |
| Use scroll slots | 1–6 | Select with right stick; use with L3 |
The bottom face button confirms menu selections regardless of the controller’s button labels.
Multiplayer and AI companions
Katana Kitsune supports parties of up to four characters.
Play with other people locally, connect through online co-op, or fill empty party slots with AI-controlled kitsune. Each AI companion can be assigned a combat style:
- Aggressive: actively hunts nearby enemies
- Defensive: protects the party and responds to threats
- Stealth: follows your sneaking approach and attempts surprise attacks
- Passive: stays close and only fights when necessary
Companions can navigate around hazards, defend against attacks, revive fallen teammates, and receive upgrades between floors.
Play free or support development
The browser version is free to play. A purchase of $7.99 or more unlocks downloads for Windows, Linux and macOS. Choose your platform in the download list below.
Buy the desktop downloads · Follow 9-K9 on itch.io for new builds and devlogs.
Browser players may need to click or press a key before sound begins. Allow the initial download to finish, then use the fullscreen button for a larger view. If an older build is cached, try a hard refresh. You can also play at play.9-k9.io.
Tell me about your run
How deep did you descend? Leave a comment with your favourite moment, a bug you found, or the feature you would most like to see next. For bugs, include your browser or operating system and what happened.
A supernatural journey through Japanese folklore
Kitsune are mysterious fox spirits known for their intelligence, magic, shapeshifting, and connection to the spirit world. In Katana Kitsune, you play as one of these supernatural warriors, standing against an army drawn from the darker corners of Japanese mythology.
Face creatures such as:
- Yuki-onna, the deadly woman of the snow
- Jorōgumo, a spider yōkai that takes the form of a woman
- Kasha, a fiery supernatural cat associated with death
- Kappa, dangerous river spirits
- Tengu, proud avian warriors and masters of combat
- Oni, brutal demons of immense strength
- Karasu Shinobi, swift crow-like assassins
- Yōkai Lords commanding powerful supernatural forces
Perfect for Halloween, this is a world of haunted shrines, corrupted spirits, monstrous folklore, shifting shadows, and beautiful environments where danger waits beyond the lantern light.
The night belongs to the yōkai
Enter the lantern-lit darkness, gather your party, and find out how deep you can descend before the spirits claim you.