The iconic Hunter x Hunter franchise has recently expanded with its latest video game installment, Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact. Despite the series' enduring popularity and the involvement of a renowned fighting game developer, the launch hasn't been as smooth as fans anticipated.
Since its release, Nen x Impact has sparked considerable debate and criticism within the fighting game community. While its chaotic, high-octane combat resonates with fans of the genre, technical shortcomings—particularly concerning its netcode—have overshadowed the experience.
Released on July 16, this tag-team fighter currently holds a "Mixed" rating on Steam, with positive reviews slightly outweighing negative ones at roughly a 2:1 ratio. Even favorable reviews frequently highlight the game's netcode issues, which remain the primary complaint among players.
That said, those who enjoy the game praise its combat system enthusiastically. One reviewer gushed, "This is hands-down my favorite fighting game—nothing else matches its freedom of expression, explosive action, and sheer visual spectacle when you pull off impressive combos."
netcode broke https://t.co/ukuyS7K9Ep pic.twitter.com/J6NDWuJEzP
— Broskі (@broskiFGC) July 15, 2025
The broader FGC has echoed these concerns. Many players drawn to Nen x Impact’s potential—particularly its deep gameplay mechanics—find themselves frustrated by its unstable 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 particularly disappointing because Nen x Impact had all the ingredients for success. The Hunter x Hunter universe is teeming with diverse characters, each possessing unique abilities ripe for creative fighting game mechanics. From Biscuit Krueger to Hisoka, seeing these fan-favorites clash should have been a dream come true for fans of anime fighters.
Eighting, the developer behind Nen x Impact, has a sterling reputation in the fighting game scene—most notably for their work on Marvel vs. Capcom 3. The influence of MvC3 is unmistakable in Nen x Impact’s fast-paced, combo-heavy gameplay.
ｂ pic.twitter.com/3f7ecEN9TM
— PO1 | ピチカート (@pizzicatokai) July 19, 2025
Yet despite its pedigree, Nen x Impact’s troubled online experience has hindered its momentum. As FGC commentator Sajam noted, while netcode issues are increasingly rare in modern fighters, they remain a critical barrier to player retention—especially when online play is essential for sustaining a community. Ironically, Bushiroad and Eighting had already delayed the game’s original 2024 release to implement rollback netcode.
On July 16, Eighting acknowledged the problems, citing "excessive rollback frames" and "desynchronization errors" as known issues. While promising fixes, the studio currently advises players to use stable internet connections and plans to introduce better connection quality indicators in a future update.
The real challenge now is timing. With competitors like Riot’s 2XKO and Arc System Works’ Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls on the horizon, Nen x Impact risks losing its window to shine. For fans of both Hunter x Hunter and classic tag fighters, the hope remains that Eighting can stabilize the game before it's eclipsed by the competition.
