This Anime Soccer RPG Series is Set to Debut on Xbox

Level-5 Inc., the well-known creators behind beloved Japanese game series like Professor Layton, Ni No Kuni, and Yo-Kai Watch, not to mention their collaboration on Dragon Quest VIII and IX, has exciting news. They’re bringing their Inazuma Eleven series to Xbox consoles for the first time with Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road.

The announcement came during a special showcase stream, where they gave a comprehensive look at the game’s exciting gameplay, captivating story, and nailed down the release date for August 21, 2025.

For those who may not be familiar, Inazuma Eleven is a unique blend of a soccer video game with RPG elements, starting off in 2008. Over time, it has blossomed into a significant multimedia franchise, including video games, manga, and even anime TV shows and movies.

Unlike other soccer games like FIFA or EA Sports FC, which stick closely to realism, Inazuma Eleven offers a whimsical, cartoonish take on the sport, where characters essentially wield superpowers to secure victory. The upcoming Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road promises to stay true to this imaginative style.

In the game, players can dive into soccer matches through a single-player story mode and Chronicle modes, or face off with others in the online multiplayer Competition mode.

The Story mode centers around Destin Billows, a young high school student determined to make his soccer team the best in Japan. This mode ropes you into various mini-games and camaraderie sessions with classmates to identify who’d make valuable teammates. It’s set to be an epic tale brimming with humor, emotion, and action.

In Chronicle mode, players have the chance to relive iconic matches and moments throughout the entire Inazuma Eleven saga, aided by Victorio, the time traveler. The challenge is to recruit over 5,200 characters to forge the ultimate dream team in Inazuma Eleven.

The game introduces all-new ‘Manual Mode’ and ‘Commander Modes’ for match play. Manual Mode allows you to control one character at a time, much like traditional soccer video games. On the other hand, Commander Mode lets the AI handle the characters while you offer tactical support and formations for your squad.

Between matches, Bond Town mode offers a social hub where you can create a personal avatar and interact with other players online. There’s even the exciting option to partner with others in special two-player tag matches.

With the arrival of yet another popular RPG franchise on Xbox, this move by Level-5 is anything but ordinary. According to the promotional material, the game looks downright wild, even to those unfamiliar with the series until now. Although soccer isn’t my game of choice (I’m more into wrestling games like WWE 2K25), I can see why Inazuma Eleven has captured hearts for more than a decade. The super moves are nothing short of a spectacle and are absolutely entertaining to watch.

For fans of both sports anime and soccer, this is definitely a title to keep on your radar. Be sure to mark your calendars for August 21, 2025, when Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road hits Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC via Steam.