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KILL la KILL -IF Review: A Faithful Anime Fighter With Limited Depth

An anime-faithful alternate story and striking presentation make KILL la KILL -IF appealing to fans, though critics questioned its length, roster and depth.
Length4 min Posted Quest giverVGSources Team
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KILL la KILL -IF is an anime-faithful 3D action fighter with an original alternate-story route, dramatic presentation and approachable arena combat. Critics generally responded more warmly to its style and story than to its length, roster or staying power. It is easiest to recommend to fans looking to play through a new chapter of the anime; players seeking a deep fighter for long-term competition should temper expectations.

What is KILL la KILL -IF?

Developed by APLUS and published by Arc System Works, KILL la KILL -IF is a 3D action fighter based on the anime. It released on July 25, 2019, for PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch and Steam. The official product page describes a new “IF” story supervised by the anime’s original scenario writer, Kazuki Nakashima. Rather than simply retelling the series, it follows an alternate route branching from its events.

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The publisher describes the game as having simple controls, dramatic scenes and songs, and a Gallery Mode. Those are official feature descriptions, not independent proof that every player will find the combat easy to learn. The core appeal is the combination of recognizable characters and presentation with arena-style fighting.

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What do reviews say?

The review consensus favors the adaptation’s look, music and story, while raising concerns about how much there is to do and how much depth the fighting offers over time. Metacritic’s PS4 critic page showed a 68 Metascore from 22 reviews when accessed on October 8, 2026: 11 positive, 11 mixed and none negative. That is a dated, platform-specific snapshot, not a current score for every version. GameSpot lists a score of 7 for its 2019 review.

#1 Best Overall
Kill la Kill - IF - PlayStation 4
  • Kill la Kill - IF is an action fighting game based off of the popular, cult anime series, features popular characters from the series, and includes the original voice actors in Japanese as well as the original voice actors who voiced the US anime series.
  • Action fighting gameplay lets you re-live the excitement and adrenaline of the Anime!
  • New untold story from original Kill la Kill scenario writer, “Kazuki Nakashima”!
  • Experience Kill la Kill in stunning 3D visuals created with supervision from Studio TRIGGER!

Individual review excerpts capture the divide. TheSixthAxis, in a review displayed as dated July 15, 2019, praised the art, music and fresh story for anime fans. Shacknews, in a review displayed as dated July 26, 2019, called the game short and somewhat shallow while praising its presentation and closeness to the anime. DarkStation’s July 26, 2019 excerpt also pointed to the limited playable roster and weaker reasons to keep playing after completing the story.

Steam’s all-time user-review snapshot showed 72% positive from 1,646 reviews when surfaced on October 8, 2026. That figure reflects changing user feedback, not critic reviews; it may change over time. Steam also lists features such as online PvP, shared or split-screen PvP, achievements, cloud support and Remote Play Together, but those store labels do not establish how active matchmaking is today.

Rank #2
Kill LA Kill - If PS4
  • Action fighting gameplay lets you re-live the excitement and adrenaline of the anime!
  • new untold story from original kill LA kill scenario Writer, "kazuki nakashima"!
  • experience kill LA kill in stunning 3D visuals created with supervision from studio trigger!

Is KILL la KILL -IF worth it?

It suits fans who want more of the anime

If the main draw is seeing the characters, tone and visual style translated into an interactive story, the game has a clear case. Its alternate “IF” route offers a new narrative hook, and critics singled out the presentation and anime fidelity as strengths. Versus options also give fans ways to fight beyond the story.

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It is a less certain pick for competitive depth

If you want a large roster, extensive modes or a fighter to study and revisit for a long competitive tail, the recurring criticisms matter more. Reviews questioned the game’s length, roster size, supporting content and depth. The available evidence does not establish a precise story completion time, so claims of a specific number of hours would be misleading.

Rank #3
Kill LA Kill: If (PS4)
  • Kill LA kill the game: if - from the makers of Dragon Ball fighters and the original writers relive the anime - Battle systems to relive the various heated scenes in the original anime! What if? - ragyou triggers an entirely new storyline of this inexplicable series of events! A brand new story - Discover this new plot through the eyes of satsuki for the very first time manoeuvre around the 3D Battlefield - perform devastating combos with ease and destroy your opponents
  • practice modes galore! - Enjoy 6 different types of practices to train in all the looks and feels of the original anime - Your favourite scenes revived!
  • a European release - The game will be subtitled in English and French, with more to come!
  • enjoy the ketsui testament - Engage in a heated Exchange of words during combat to receive massive power-ups
  • simple yet engaging - evasion and evasion catch attack to deepen the gameplay!

For a quick comparison with another anime fighter, weigh adaptation and story against combat depth, roster variety, and the amount of content after the campaign. Also check whether the intended platform has the local or online options you want.

Platforms and features

The official site lists PS4, Nintendo Switch and Steam, as well as one- to two-player support. Its platform-specific technical and online details come from a launch-era page, so confirm current capabilities in the relevant storefront or platform documentation. The page says PS4 and Switch online multiplayer requires the respective paid platform membership and lists no online multiplayer for Steam in its platform table. Steam’s own listing separately labels online PvP and shared or split-screen PvP among its features.

The official page lists English and Japanese voices and multiple text languages, including English, Japanese, Simplified and Traditional Chinese, Korean and French. Its note that Italian, German and Spanish were planned is historical; it does not confirm current availability for those languages. The page’s feature and language information should not be treated as a substitute for checking the edition currently offered in your region.

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Content advisories

GameSpot lists blood, language, partial nudity, suggestive themes and violence. Steam specifically warns that costumes with moderate nudity appear frequently. If sexualized imagery is a concern, look at the platform’s content advisory before buying.

Quick Recap

Bestseller No. 1
Kill la Kill - IF - PlayStation 4
Kill la Kill - IF - PlayStation 4
Action fighting gameplay lets you re-live the excitement and adrenaline of the Anime!; New untold story from original Kill la Kill scenario writer, “Kazuki Nakashima”!
$48.98
Bestseller No. 2
Kill LA Kill - If PS4
Kill LA Kill - If PS4
Action fighting gameplay lets you re-live the excitement and adrenaline of the anime!; new untold story from original kill LA kill scenario Writer, "kazuki nakashima"!
$44.99
Bestseller No. 3
Kill LA Kill: If (PS4)
Kill LA Kill: If (PS4)
a European release - The game will be subtitled in English and French, with more to come!; simple yet engaging - evasion and evasion catch attack to deepen the gameplay!
$44.99
Bestseller No. 5
Serial Mom
Serial Mom
$14.99

What to check before buying

  • Confirm the game is currently offered for your platform and region; current physical stock, used prices and region compatibility are not established here.
  • Check your platform’s live listing for current price, language support and online requirements rather than relying on launch-era product details.
  • Choose it for the anime adaptation and alternate story first, not on the assumption that it offers a large roster or substantial post-story competition.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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