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The Seven Deadly Sins: Knights of Britannia – Anime Action Stumble
The Seven Deadly Sins: Knights of Britannia adapts the beloved anime into PS4 combat but stumbles with shallow systems and poor pacing. Metacritic 55; series fans only.
Game Info
Verdict
Shallow anime adaptation with good local co-op but weak story, poor pacing, and limited mechanical depth; series devotees only.
Pros
- Local 2v2 co-op captures anime team-up fantasy effectively
- Character roster covers major Seven Deadly Sins cast faithfully
- 60+ hour campaign provides substantial content
- Japanese voice acting preserves original anime performances
- Familiar Britannia locations recreate anime settings
- Character-specific movesets encourage roster experimentation
Cons
- Truncated story skips crucial anime arcs (Fighting Festival nearly absent)
- Repetitive combat becomes tedious by midgame
- Poor pacing due to excessive side quests interrupting main story
- Magic resource balance broken; some characters (Merlin, King) suffer artificial difficulty
- Glitchy enemy AI sometimes clips through obstacles mid-fight
- Online multiplayer suffers severe lag and matchmaking delays
- No English voice option; Japanese-only subtitled dialogue
- Development abandoned post-launch; zero content updates since 2018
Performance Notes
PS4 native: 1080p/30fps with occasional dips during hectic battles. PS5 backwards compatibility maintains 1080p but frame pacing remains inconsistent; no native PS5 upgrade released. Stable overall but dated visual presentation.
The Seven Deadly Sins: Knights of Britannia arrived in February 2018 as one of anime’s most anticipated video game adaptations. Bandai Namco had the license, the franchise momentum, and resources to deliver something special. Instead, what shipped was a technically functional but creatively hollow action game that squanders the source material’s charm. The anime’s seven-sin ensemble and Britannia’s fantastical setting deserved better. What players received was repetitive combat, truncated storytelling, and glitches that soured boss fights. Seven years later, this remains a cautionary tale: anime IP alone cannot carry a game lacking depth, and rushed development shows in every unpolished edge.
How to Play The Seven Deadly Sins: Knights of Britannia
Knights of Britannia is a straightforward action beat-’em-up where you select characters from the anime’s roster and fight through story missions and optional duels. Combat relies on light attacks, magic abilities, charging mechanics, and super moves. Each character has distinct movesets; learning their nuances separates competent play from button-mashing.
- Controls – PS4 controller maps attacks to standard buttons; learning curves vary by character. Melee-heavy characters (Meliodas, Ban) feel intuitive; pure magic users (Merlin, King) require more strategic positioning since they share the same magic pool as physical fighters, creating artificial difficulty.
- Progression – Complete story missions to unlock characters and advance through Britannia’s regions. Character levels increase through story progression; no meaningful grinding exists. Unlocking the full roster requires substantial story completion.
- Combat/Mechanics – Dodge enemy attacks, unleash combo strings, manage magic reserves, and time super attacks (built through damage taken). Co-op battles allow team attacks where both players trigger synchronized moves for burst damage. Timing these correctly rewards skill.
- Tips – Meliodas and Ban are beginner-friendly with straightforward combos. Experiment with every character in practice mode before story commitment. Team fights are the game’s highlight; focus on co-op attack synergy. Take breaks during extended play; repetition sets in fast.
Who Should Play The Seven Deadly Sins: Knights of Britannia
Knights of Britannia targets series devotees, not general action game fans. The story truncates major anime arcs and pacing crawls under side quest weight. Newcomers will struggle to appreciate the source material’s characters without anime familiarity.
- Series Superfans – You’ve watched the anime multiple times and crave any interactive Britannia experience. The game delivers character moments anime fans will appreciate, even if mechanically shallow.
- Local Co-op Enthusiasts – The 2-player local versus and cooperative modes are the game’s strongest feature. Couch multiplayer with friends elevates the experience beyond solo campaign.
- Casual Anime Action Seekers – If you enjoyed games like Dragon Ball Z Kakarot but don’t demand mechanical depth, there’s value here. The 60+ hour campaign provides quantity, even if quality wavers.
- Skip if – You want challenging combat depth, coherent story pacing, or an introduction to Seven Deadly Sins. Non-fans will find the narrative incomprehensible; mechanically, the game offers no hooks.
The Seven Deadly Sins: Knights of Britannia Platform Performance
The game runs stably on PS4 with inconsistent visuals. Environmental detail is adequate but uninspiring. Frame rate holds 30fps in most scenes but dips during hectic battles. PS5 backwards compatibility adds stability but no visual improvements.
| Platform | Resolution | FPS | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| PS4 | 1080p | 30 | Stable performance; occasional drops during multi-enemy fights |
| PS5 (BC) | 1080p | 30-60 | Backwards compatible; inconsistent frame pacing, no native upgrade |
| PS4 Pro | 1440p | 30 | Minimal visual uplift from standard PS4 |
| PC (Emulation) | Variable | Variable | PCSX4 emulation possible but not officially supported |
The Seven Deadly Sins: Knights of Britannia System Requirements
Not applicable; this is a console exclusive. PlayStation Store digital purchase or physical copies remain the only way to play legitimately.
| Component | PlayStation 4 | PlayStation 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Storage Required | ~50 GB | ~50 GB |
| Backwards Compatibility | Native | Supported (no enhancements) |
| Network | PSN account for multiplayer | PSN account for multiplayer |
| Controller | PS4 DualShock 4 | PS5 DualSense (supported) |
| Notes | Disc or digital; no regional locks | Plays via PS Plus Collection or disc |
Similar Games to The Seven Deadly Sins: Knights of Britannia
Knights of Britannia inhabits an anime action game niche. Other adaptations succeeded by doubling down on story (like Kakarot) or mechanics (like Jump Force); this game does neither well.
- Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot – Better story pacing, richer character interactions, and more polished combat. Recommended over Knights of Britannia for action-adventure anime fans.
- Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 – Superior fighting game mechanics, larger roster, and genuine competitive depth. Better-realized anime translation overall.
- Jump Force – Ambitious crossover featuring multiple manga properties; similar shallow story but more forgiving mechanics and roster variety.
- One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4 – Dynasty Warriors-style action with better-paced story missions and more satisfying combat loops.
The Seven Deadly Sins: Knights of Britannia vs Competitors
Knights of Britannia struggles in comparison to its peers. Weaker story execution, shallower mechanics, and less satisfying progression plague the game. Only local co-op provides competitive advantage.
| Feature | Knights of Britannia | Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot | Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $49.99 (now $19.99-$29.99 discounted) | $49.99 | $49.99 |
| Story Length | 60+ hours (padded with side quests) | 30-40 hours (tightly paced) | 20-30 hours (fighting-focused) |
| Multiplayer | Local 1v1, Local 2v2 co-op, Online battles | None | Competitive online 1v1 battles |
| Combat Depth | Basic combos, limited mechanics | Rich side-activity systems, RPG progression | Deep fighting game mechanics, frame data |
| Metacritic | 55 | 76 | 77 |
The Seven Deadly Sins: Knights of Britannia Story and World
The game’s story adaptation is catastrophically truncated. Key anime arcs vanish (the Fighting Festival arc, which anime fans adore, is nearly absent). Character development happens via side quests and travel dialogue, forcing players to speed-read Japanese voice acting without English dubs. The narrative pacing drags: side quests interrupt the main story’s momentum constantly, making it feel like a chore. However, the game does nail Britannia’s visual aesthetic. Familiar locations feel recognizable, and character models capture anime likenesses convincingly. Environmental storytelling hints at kingdom politics, but the game’s writing never explores these threads. For anime fans, there’s fan-service value in exploring Britannia firsthand and hearing original Japanese voice talent. For everyone else, the story will confuse and bore.
The Seven Deadly Sins: Knights of Britannia Multiplayer and Online Features
Multiplayer is Knights of Britannia’s strongest system. The game encourages couch co-op and provides online options for distance play. However, online matchmaking is barebones.
- Local 1v1 Duel – Two players on one PS4; fight head-to-head using their favorite characters. No AI scaling needed; pure PvP mechanics.
- Local 2v2 Co-op – Four players (or two players controlling two characters each) team up against tough enemies. Cooperative super attacks steal the show.
- Online 1v1 Battles – Ranked matchmaking exists but is laggy and unpopular. Finding opponents takes minutes; wait times kill momentum.
- Online 2v2 Co-op – Team hunts against the AI using online partners. More stable than PvP but still suffers matchmaking delays. No cross-play.
The Seven Deadly Sins: Knights of Britannia DLC and Expansions
Post-launch content is minimal. Bandai Namco released a handful of cosmetic DLC packs (character costumes, emotes) but no substantive story expansions or character additions. The game’s online infrastructure suggests development halted post-launch.
- Costume Packs – Character skins priced $1.99-$3.99 each (various anime outfits). Purely cosmetic; no gameplay impact.
- Character Emotes – Victory celebration animations; $0.99 each. Trivial additions.
- No Story DLC – No new story campaigns, characters, or substantive content beyond cosmetics.
- Updates – Bug fixes and balance patches in the first six months; support ended by mid-2018. Game remains static today.
The Seven Deadly Sins: Knights of Britannia Community and Support
The community is small and aging. Most players are series diehards who enjoyed the game despite its flaws. Official support from Bandai Namco ended years ago.
- Reddit Community – r/nanatsu has ~30k members, but few discuss this game. Posts about the anime and manga dominate; game discussion is sporadic.
- Official Forums – Bandai Namco’s official forums exist but haven’t been updated since 2018. Dead community infrastructure.
- No Mod Support – PS4 exclusivity prevents user modifications. The game is locked in time exactly as shipped.
- Backwards Compatibility – PS5 support ensures the game remains playable on modern hardware, but no active development or patches.