Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet is a third-person shooter action RPG set in the Gun Gale Online virtual world. Players create a custom avatar and engage in gun-based combat mixed with melee options while progressing through an original story supervised by series author Reki Kawahara.
Gameplay
The core loop centers on third-person shooting combined with role-playing progression. Avatars level up, unlock skills, and customize loadouts that include a range of firearms alongside photon swords for close-range engagements. A wire mechanic enables rapid repositioning during fights, while the Bullet Line system provides defensive assistance by highlighting incoming threats. Dual-wielding a gun and photon sword becomes available as players advance, adding tactical variety to encounters against enemies and bosses. The included Season Pass Bonuses expand weapon options with the Photon Sword Pink, Photon Sword Green, and Guitar Launcher, each offering distinct visual styles and combat applications in both single-player and group scenarios.
Game Modes
Single-player content follows a branching narrative with player choices that influence outcomes, including multiple endings and a canon True Ending. Cooperative play supports parties of up to four for questing and boss encounters. Competitive matches pit teams of four against each other in deathmatch formats that also incorporate computer-controlled opponents. Additional content from the Season Pass introduces Defense Quest, a mode where players summon units to hold positions against advancing enemies in a tower-defense style setup, alongside new high-difficulty dungeons and story segments featuring characters such as Alice and Eugeo.
Story and Progression
The campaign places the player character at the center of events in Gun Gale Online, with opportunities to interact with familiar series figures and original companions. An AI companion called ArFA-Sys assists throughout the journey. Side content and DLC additions extend the experience with extra quests, dungeons like Lost Gate, and affinity events that deepen relationships with supporting cast members. Weapon crafting and skill customization encourage repeated playthroughs to optimize builds for different challenges.
Is It Worth Playing?
The game appeals to players who enjoy third-person shooters blended with RPG leveling and customization in an anime-inspired setting. The Complete Edition bundles the base campaign with all major DLC packs, providing the full range of story expansions, modes, and weapons such as those added in the Season Pass Bonuses. Steam user reviews for the base game stand at Mostly Positive based on over 15,000 ratings. Player counts remain modest in recent years, suiting those comfortable with smaller online communities or focused single-player runs. It suits fans of the Sword Art Online franchise seeking gunplay-focused gameplay rather than pure melee or open-world exploration.
