Arcaea
 |
| Arcaea | |
|---|---|
 Logo | |
| Developer | Lowiro |
| Publisher | Lowiro |
| Producer | Anton Prydatko (Guy) |
| Designers | Alexander J. Lin (Toaster), Vernon Tan (Nitro), Alice Prowse (Popo), Ken Tang (k//eternal) |
| Artist | シエラ (cierra) |
| Writer | Terrence Smith |
| Composers | ak+q, N² (ANTIREAL), Puru |
| Engine | Cocos2d-x |
| Platforms | iOS, Android, Nintendo Switch |
| Release |
|
| Genre | Rhythm |
| Modes | Single-player, multiplayer |
Arcaea is a rhythm video game developed and published by the British company Lowiro (stylized in all lowercase), first released for iOS and Android devices in 2017, and ported to Nintendo Switch in 2021.[1]
The game functions as a vertical scrolling rhythm game with an accompanying story displayed in visual novel format. The visual novel features illustrations covering the two main female heroines, Tairitsu lit. 'conflict' and Hikari lit. 'light'. It is also considered a three-dimensional music video game, whose mechanics allow for uniquely challenging gameplay.
Gameplay
[edit]
The main gameplay of Arcaea uses three-dimensional chart lanes that are split into two parts: the top lane and the bottom lane.[2] The bottom lane is divided into four and consists of two note types: floor notes and long notes. Floor notes are basic single-tap notes, and long notes require the player to hold them throughout their duration. The top lane has two different note types: arc notes that require the player to hold the note throughout its duration (arcs can vary in direction, including left, right, up, and down), and sky notes, which are floating single-tap notes.[3][4] The Nintendo Switch version has an alternative mode with Joy-Con controls.[5] The note types used differ with the selected difficulty: Past, Present, Future,[3] Eternal,[6] or Beyond.[7] The game also presents a difficulty scale from 1 to 12, including "+" variants.[8] Each player has a Potential score that increases based on the user's best performances.[9]
As they play, users collect an in-game currency, fragments, which can be used to unlock more songs.[3][10] Besides Music Play, the game includes other game modes.[5] In World Mode, players progress through a grid to unlock songs and characters, referred to as partners.[3][10][11] When selected, a partner can change some gameplay aspects, and its supporting statistics can be leveled up through playing using the partner[10] or spending Ether Drops obtainable in World Mode.[3] In Story Mode, players read storylines with the game's characters; sections of the story are unlocked by clearing specific songs.[12] Course Mode features series of four songs each to be completed in a row, akin to boss rushes, to unlock special nameplates.[13][14]
Development
[edit]Arcaea began as a single-developer project by Anton Prydatko, inspired by Japanese arcade rhythm games.[12] Prydatko had a background in iOS development at Dischan Media and Rakuten before starting Lowiro in 2016. Despite being founded in the UK, the Lowiro team prominently includes illustrators and musicians in Japan, where the majority of its player base is from, as well as employees in the US and Singapore.[11]
Arcaea includes a variety of music styles in its track library, such as Vocaloid and traditional Eastern music. Many of the musicians involved in Arcaea are Japanese indie or doujin composers.[11] The game also includes songs from professional composers, such as Swedish musician Rasmus Faber.[2] Prydatko stated that the team leaned into creating original songs since the original launch rather than only license from popular media, as was common in rhythm games, to "surprise" players.[11]
The levels were designed so that the difficulty would not strictly depend on each track’s genre or beats per minute.[11] Floating "Arc" notes were implemented to add immersion in contrast to the simple 2D top-down design common in mobile rhythm games.[2]
Lowiro often commissioned Japanese illustrators for the visuals to maintain cohesiveness in the style and worldbuilding.[14] Japanese illustrator Cierra (シエラ) created the key visuals and early character and world designs.[12][2] The idea to add a story mode was made late in development; Prydatko said that he and writer Terrence Smith aimed for a "very flexible and open-ended story" without borrowing "any direct inspiration".[12] To achieve a balance between the gaming experience and plot, Prydatko told artists to arrange the track vocals, tempo, rhythm, and cover artwork to match the story's themes and characters.[2]
Using a free-to-play model to remain the game accessible, it was important to the developers that the game's monetization method allow players to "own" their purchased content. Players can buy songs individually or in "packs" and play them an unlimited number of times, unlike the "stamina" model commonly used in mobile game monetization, which restricts play time. Arcaea's separate World Mode, where players can unlock new songs, limits progress via time-based "gates" to help "keep it fair", according to Prydatko.[11]
Release and update history
[edit]| 2017 | Official Release |
|---|---|
| Eternal Core | |
| Crimson Solace | |
| Memory Archive | |
| Dynamix Collaboration | |
| Ambivalent Vision | |
| Vicious Labyrinth | |
| 2018 | Lanota Collaboration |
| Binary Enfold | |
| Luminous Sky | |
| Tone Sphere Collaboration | |
| 2019 | Groove Coaster Collaboration |
| Absolute Reason | |
| CHUNITHM Collaboration | |
| Adverse Prelude | |
| Sunset Radiance | |
| 2020 | Black Fate |
| Extended Archive 1: Visions | |
| Ephemeral Page | |
| Ephemeral Page: The Journey Onwards | |
| O.N.G.E.K.I. Collaboration | |
| 2021 | maimai Collaboration |
| CHUNITHM Collaboration Chapter 2 | |
| Esoteric Order | |
| Esoteric Order: Pale Tapestry | |
| Esoteric Order: Light of Salvation | |
| WACCA Collaboration | |
| Binary Enfold: Shared time | |
| Divided Heart | |
| Muse Dash Collaboration | |
| 2022 | Lanota Collaboration Chapter 2 |
| Final Verdict | |
| Final Verdict: Silent Answer | |
| O.N.G.E.K.I. Collaboration Chapter 2 | |
| 2023 | Extend Archive 2: Chronicles |
| maimai Collaboration Chapter 2 | |
| CHUNITHM Collaboration Chapter 3 | |
| Cytus II Collaboration | |
| Cytus II Collaboration Chapter 2 | |
| Lasting Eden | |
| Severed Eden | |
| Lasting/Severed Eden: Shifting Veil | |
| WACCA Collaboration Chapter 2 | |
| 2024 | World Extend 3: Illusions[15] |
| Groove Coaster Collaboration Chapter 2 | |
| Absolute Nihil | |
| Rotaeno Collaboration | |
| Lucent Historia | |
| O.N.G.E.K.I. Collaboration Chapter 3 | |
| CHUNITHM Collaboration Chapter 4 | |
| 2025 | maimai Collaboration Chapter 3 |
| UNDERTALE Collaboration | |
| DJMAX Respect Collaboration | |
| Extant Anima | |
| Extant Anima: Chapter Experientia | |
| Liminal Eclipse | |
| Arcaea: Next Stage | |
| 2026 | MEGAREX Collaboration |
| UNDERTALE Collaboration Chapter 2 | |
| Virtual Singers | |
| Divine Oblivion |
Arcaea was released on the App Store and Google Play on 9 March 2017[16] and for the Nintendo Switch on 18 May 2021.[17] While the mobile version is free with additional songs requiring in-app transactions, the Switch release is paid with some of those additional songs available with the base purchase.[7] Due to the mobile version's live service model, it has received more frequent updates than on the offline Switch version.[11]
On launch, the mobile game had about 20 songs[11] and a paid song pack, "Eternal Core".[16] It was the first of a series of packs that include content for the Story Mode's main plot; its first act was concluded with the release of the "Final Verdict" pack in version 4.0 on 13 July 2022. The version also introduced Course Mode.[13] Act II of the main story began with the release of the "Severed Eden" pack in September 2023.[18]
The main story was released alongside side stories featuring additional characters.[12] Arcaea includes songs from collaborations with other rhythm games such as Lanota, Chunithm, and Cytus II, as well as series including Maimai and Groove Coaster.[7][19] In 2025, a pack with songs from the soundtrack of Undertale was added, as well as a Camellia remix of "Megalovania" by Toby Fox.[20] As of 2026, the game's library contains over 500 tracks.[21]
Reception
[edit]Eric Ford of TouchArcade says that it has "an awesome art style combined with very upbeat songs and a nice twist to the traditional rhythm formula". But he also mentioned that some of the gameplay elements could make the game potentially difficult.[22]
Digitally Downloaded's Mike S. praised the game's aesthetic and music, and described its character art as "impeccable", though not memorable compared to other rhythm games. He disliked the game's requirements for unlocking new songs, considering them to be inappropriate for the game's paid release on the Nintendo Switch.[10]
Dani Maddox of Siliconera said the game's music was "just amazing", with a large range of songs and genres. However, she found the game's story mode to be poor, and encountered issues with controls in the Nintendo Switch version, such as the console's size when playing in touchscreen mode and the game being "finicky" with a controller.[5]
References
[edit]- ↑ "lowiro". www.lowiro.com. Retrieved 2022-07-21.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Fukatsu, An (7 July 2022). "終焉を迎えるストーリーと新たなチャレンジ。『Arcaea（アーケア）』のディレクターが明かす本作に込められた想い". Famitsu App (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 7 July 2022. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Joy-Con操作が快感！初心者から猛者まで楽しめるリズムゲーム「Arcaea」のSwitch版を先行プレイ". Gamer.ne.jp (in Japanese). 14 May 2021. Archived from the original on 14 January 2026. Retrieved 2 September 2026.
- ↑ Asuka (7 September 2017). "上下のラインで音楽を奏でる。スマホ向けリズムゲーム「Arcaea」を紹介する「（ほぼ）日刊スマホゲーム通信」第1516回". 4Gamer.net (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 22 August 2025. Retrieved 2 September 2026.
- 1 2 3 Maddox, Dani (31 May 2021). "Arcaea's Nintendo Switch Port Holds Up, Somewhat". Siliconera. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
- ↑ @arcaea_en (29 February 2024). "To improve the early experience of Arcaea further and to make progressions smoother to people of all skill levels, 5.4 delivers a 4th new difficulty: Eternal (ETR)" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 2 September 2026. Retrieved 2 September 2026 – via X (formerly Twitter).
- 1 2 3 Agawa, Ryo (1 May 2021). "幻想リズムゲーム『Arcaea』のNintendo Switch版が5月18日発売へ。書き下ろし楽曲や新ヒロインとともに少女たちの物語がふたたび". Automaton (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 26 August 2026. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
- ↑ @arcaea_en (1 March 2024). "With the introduction of the 4th new difficulty 'Eternal' in v5.4, song level ratings have been adjusted to clarify progression at intermediate levels" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 2 September 2026. Retrieved 2 September 2026 – via X (formerly Twitter).
- ↑ @arcaea_en (23 August 2026). "In v7.0, significant changes are made to Potential, including the removal of Top Rated Recent Plays" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 23 August 2026. Retrieved 2 September 2026 – via X (formerly Twitter).
- 1 2 3 4 S., Matt (21 May 2021). "Review: Arcaea (Nintendo Switch)". Digitally Downloaded.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Astle, Aaron (28 July 2022). ""Players really appreciate having constant access to what they've paid for"". Pocket Gamer. Archived from the original on 21 May 2024. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Lawton, Tilly (29 June 2022). "Arcaea reaches a crescendo with its 'momentous finale'". Pocket Tactics. Archived from the original on 16 January 2026. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
- 1 2 Dellosa, Catherine (7 July 2022). "Arcaea launches its highly-awaited conclusion to the main narrative along with new songs". Pocket Gamer. Archived from the original on 26 August 2026. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
- 1 2 Hisamura, Ryuji (24 July 2022). "世界で800万以上ダウンロードされた大人気リズムゲーム「Arcaea」のルーツは日本の〝創る〟文化にあった！". Dime (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on 15 April 2026. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
- ↑ "Arcaea on the App Store". apps.apple.com. Archived from the original on 2024-11-28.
Version History.
- 1 2 "lowiro、超感覚リズムゲーム『Arcaea(アーケア)』が配信開始…タップ・長押し・スライドで今までにない音楽ゲームを体験せよ". Gamebiz (in Japanese). Bushiroad. 9 March 2017. Archived from the original on 26 August 2026. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
- ↑ Romano, Sal (30 April 2021). "Rhythm game Arcaea coming to Switch on May 18". Gematsu. Archived from the original on 30 April 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
- ↑ @arcaea_en (27 September 2023). "'Severed Eden' has arrived as the first Main Story Pack of a new epoch in Arcaea: Main Story Act II Catastrophe" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 26 August 2026. Retrieved 26 August 2026 – via X (formerly Twitter).
- ↑ Shigeta, Yuichi (29 June 2023). "音ゲー『Cytus II』×『Arcaea』の相互コラボがスタート 『Cytus II』ではコラボキャラ配信、ゲーム本体は期間限定で無料に". IGN Japan (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 26 August 2026. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
- ↑ Yawaragi (5 March 2025). "リズムゲーム「Arcaea」が「UNDERTALE」とコラボ。作曲家・かめりあ氏によるリミックス楽曲も登場". 4Gamer.net (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 26 August 2026. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
- ↑ "Profile". arcaea.lowiro.com. Select PST/PRS/FTR difficulty. Retrieved 25 August 2026.
.../541 CLEAR
- ↑ Ford, Eric (February 23, 2017). "Futuristic Rhythm Game 'Arcaea' Looks Not For the Faint of Heart – TouchArcade". Archived from the original on February 23, 2017. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
