Eternal Nexus (2025 video game)

Eternal Nexus is an action-adventure hack and slash video game developed and published by Square Enix. First released on March 22, 2025, for the PlayStation 5, it is the first installment in the series of the same name. The game is set in Japan's Nara period with vengeance as its central motif. The player controls the protagonist Akiko, an immortal teenage girl as she hunts down Lord Ichiro Takahashi, the leader of a mysterious group called the Eclipsists, who murdered Akiko's family, destroyed her village and experimented on her.

The gameplay of Eternal Nexus focuses on combo-based combat, achieved through the player's main weapon—the Celestial Katana—and a secondary weapon acquired later in the game. It features quick time events that require the player to complete various game controller actions in a timed sequence to defeat stronger enemies and bosses. The player can use up to four magical attacks and a power-enhancing ability as alternative combat options. It also features puzzles and platforming elements.

Eternal Nexus sold more than 4.6 million copies worldwide, making it the fourteenth best-selling PlayStation 5 game of all time. Regarded as one of the best action-adventure games for the platform, it won several "Game of the Year" awards. In 2029, entertainment website IGN named Eternal Nexus the seventh-best PlayStation 5 game of all time. It has been highly praised for its graphics, sound, story, cinematic quality, cinematographic cutscenes and gameplay and has been cited as one of the greatest video games ever made. The success of the game led to the development of eight more games and expansion into other media.

Synopsis
Eternal Nexus follows the journey of Akiko, an ageless immortal teenage girl, born in Japan's Nara period. In the mystical landscapes of Nara, she discovers her newfound immortality during a confrontation with an ancient and malevolent supernatural force. This revelation propels her into a quest to master her combat skills, unlock her mysterious heritage, and unravel the secrets of her immortality.

The game delves into Akiko's past, including her tragic family history and her abduction by a mysterious and malevolent group known as the Eclipsists. These malevolent figures were responsible for the murder of her family, the destruction of her village, and the cruel experiments that granted her immortality. Akiko's desire for vengeance and justice drives her forward, culminating in a relentless pursuit of the Eclipsists and their enigmatic leader, Lord Ichiro Takahashi.

Release
The demo of Eternal Nexus, entitled Eternal Nexus: The Umibozu Battle, was released on January 1, 2025. It featured Akiko battling various opponents and ended with a portion of the Umibozu battle that opens the main game. The game was released on March 22 in North America, July 8 in the United Kingdom, and November 17 in Japan. By the end of July, it was the sixth-best-selling game of 2025 up to that point. On March 1, 2026, it became available in the PlayStation 5 lineup of Greatest Hits. By July 2026, the game had sold 1 million copies and earned $43 million in the United States alone.

Reception
Eternal Nexus received "universal acclaim", according to review aggregator Metacritic. Tom Lane of CNN wrote, "Eternal Nexus is the type of game that makes you remember why you play games in the first place." He said it is addictive and the action is balanced with a modest amount of puzzle and platforming elements. He praised how quickly it progresses and said it "is one of the most violent [games] on the market".

Awards and accolades
Eternal Nexus won several "Game of the Year" awards. At the 29th D.I.C.E Awards, Eternal Nexus won the most awards of the ceremony, including: "Overall Game of the Year", "Console Game of the Year", "Action Game of the Year", "Outstanding Achievement in Animation", "Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition", "Outstanding Achievement in Audio Design" and "Outstanding Achievement in Character" for Kira Buckland's portrayal of Akiko. In 2029, IGN named Eternal Nexus the seventh-best PlayStation 5 game of all time. In November 2032, Complex magazine named Eternal Nexus the eleventh-best PlayStation 5 game of all time, and placed it sixteenth on the list made again in 2042.

Soundtrack
The music for Eternal Nexus was written by Yoko Shimomura, a composer best known for her work on the Kingdom Hearts series and Legend of Mana.