Instead of only pushing you from one fight to the next, Towa slows things down at just the right moments. Between runs I found myself chatting with villagers, upgrading buildings, or just fishing for fun before diving back into battle. Moving between village tasks and the hectic dungeon fights kept things from ever feeling repetitive.
Life in Shinju Village
Between dungeon runs, Shinju Village quickly became one of my favourite parts of the preview. It’s more than just a place to rest. It’s where much of the game’s progression happens. Talking to villagers often rewards you with ore and items, and these small interactions help bring the world to life.
Fishing was another surprise highlight. It isn’t just a side activity; the points you earn can be traded for unique items and Inscriptions that give you an edge in dungeons. I spent more time casting a line than I expected, just to see what I could bring back.
The village also houses the dojo, shrine, and shop, each offering different upgrades. Spending ore on character improvements or discounted items felt worthwhile every time. Combined with the option to play in Story Mode for a gentler difficulty, the village gives you plenty of ways to prepare before heading out again.
Teamwork at the Heart of Combat
Combat in Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree is built around two roles: the Tsurugi and the Kagura. The Tsurugi handles close-range swordplay while the Kagura supports with spells. You directly control the Tsurugi, but you’ll always need to keep your partner in mind since their abilities can turn the tide of a fight.
One detail that stood out right away was sword durability. Each weapon only lasts so long before its damage output drops, forcing you to swap to your backup blade. It feels harsh at first, but it keeps fights active. Pair that with spells on cooldown timers, and battles quickly become about timing and smart positioning.
Graces add another wrinkle. These run-based buffs push you to experiment with different builds, and I enjoyed seeing how each one changed my approach. Trying out new Tsurugi and Kagura combinations made every run feel distinct, and I found myself wanting to see how different duos handled tougher encounters.
Forging Swords and Finding Growth
Outside of combat, Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree gives you plenty of ways to shape your journey. Sword forging stood out right away, offering a detailed process where you craft and refine blades for your Tsurugi. Each step affects the final result, and while it took a little practice, creating a weapon that matched my style felt satisfying.
Character growth is just as flexible. At the dojo, ore can be spent to boost stats, unlock new skills, and even add extra dashes. Kaguras benefit from early health upgrades, which gave them more resilience while I focused my Tsurugi’s growth on damage. Support spells like speed boosts or protective barriers also added variety, giving me options to adapt between runs.
Requests in the village provided smaller challenges with rewards such as crafting materials. Paired with upgrades to shops and new buildings, there was always a sense of steady progress, even when a dungeon run ended abruptly.
Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree Shows Early Promise
After spending four hours with Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree, I came away surprised by how much it managed to show me in such a short time. The combination of dungeon crawling and village life gave the game a rhythm that felt easy to settle into, with each part of the loop feeding into the other.
I especially liked how even smaller activities, like fishing or browsing the shop for a sale, felt like they mattered. Nothing I did ever felt wasted. Unlocking an extra dash at the dojo or walking away from the forge with a blade I built myself gave me small but satisfying victories that carried into the next run.
What stuck with me most was the freedom to experiment. Trying new character pairings and swapping different upgrades kept things interesting, and I never felt locked into a single approach. After just a preview, I’m looking forward to returning and seeing how much deeper the gameplay goes.
Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree launches on September 19, 2025 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam.
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