The recently released Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact brings the long-running series to life in a new fighting game. With a beloved franchise and a respected developer at the helm, you might expect a seamless launch.
However, since its release, Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact has faced significant criticism within the fighting game community. Its core gameplay embraces the chaotic, high-powered battles many fans enjoy, but several problems are holding it back—most notably, its netcode.
Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact is a tag-team fighting game that launched five days ago on July 16. At the time of writing, it has just over 140 reviews on Steam. While positive reviews outnumber negative ones, the ratio is roughly 2:1, leaving the game with a "Mixed" overall rating.
Many reviews, including positive ones, specifically highlight netcode issues. Although players have also noted a limited single-player mode and other concerns, the netcode remains the primary complaint.
On the other hand, most positive reviews praise the core combat. One player wrote, "I can't help it, man—it's my favorite fighting game ever. Nothing else comes close in terms of freedom, explosive action, and how satisfying it feels to play well."
netcode broke https://t.co/ukuyS7K9Ep pic.twitter.com/J6NDWuJEzP
— Broskі (@broskiFGC) July 15, 2025
Across the broader fighting game community, Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact is receiving similar feedback. Even players excited about its competitive potential are frustrated with online performance.
Nen impact has some 2011 netcode lol what is this
— dekillsage (@dekillsage) July 15, 2025
just to clarify i still really like the core gameplay of nen impact, had a lot of fun labbing stuff, but the netcode constantly fluctuates 3-6f of rollback even against people close to you, it doesnt work right and i dont think its a good consumer product as of the current patch
— Broskі (@broskiFGC) July 15, 2025
It's disappointing because Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact has considerable potential. The game is based on a popular anime with a diverse cast, each possessing unique abilities that could create varied and engaging gameplay. Seeing characters like Biscuit Krueger, Hisoka, and Kurapika clash is already a treat, especially since shonen fighting games can vary greatly in quality.
Nen x Impact also benefits from its developer, Eighting, known for its work on acclaimed titles like Marvel Vs. Capcom 3. Watching gameplay clips makes the MvC3 influence evident.
ｂ pic.twitter.com/3f7ecEN9TM
— PO1 | ピチカート (@pizzicatokai) July 19, 2025
This collaboration should have been a dream for Hunter x Hunter fans. Instead, online frustrations have hindered Nen x Impact's launch. As fighting game commentator Sajam noted, such issues are rare today but can severely impact a game's ability to retain players. While local play remains vital, online functionality is crucial for sustaining an active community. Interestingly, Bushiroad and Eighting delayed the original 2024 release specifically to implement rollback netcode.
On July 16, the developer acknowledged problems with "excessive rollback frames during matches" and "matches ending abruptly due to desynchronization errors." The team is investigating and working on a fix. In the meantime, they recommend using a stable internet connection and plan to add a feature displaying detailed connection and region data for opponents.
The key question is whether these fixes will arrive before other games capture players' attention. The tag fighter genre is becoming more competitive, with Riot's 2XKO and Arc System Works' Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls on the horizon. MvC3 and Hunter x Hunter fans would love to see Eighting stabilize Nen x Impact, but the path to improvement may take longer than hoped.
