Attack on Titan 3 retells full story; preview describes it as an Action RPG

Attack on Titan 3 retells the full Attack on Titan story as an Action RPG, launching Dec. 10, 2026, on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC via Steam.

Planning for Attack on Titan 3 began seven years after Attack on Titan 2: Final Battle, while the anime was still airing. Producer Hideo Suzuki said covering only the new anime episodes felt insufficient for a full game, so the team chose to tell the entire storyline from beginning to end. Suzuki explained that when planning started, the anime was ongoing and a partial retelling would not carry a full product, but once the anime ended, covering everything became the priority.

The player creates an original squad leader whose unit is destroyed on its first mission. Too traumatized to fight Titans, the character remains as an engineer and ODM gear talent, assigned to teach Eren Jaeger, Armin Arlett and Mikasa Ackerman at the 104th Cadet Corps alongside instructor Keith.

RPG Site, by contrast, describes the game primarily as an Action RPG even though Koei Tecmo does not advertise it as one. The outlet’s writer sampled Motivation attributes, skill trees and target-based Titan combat during a demo of about one and a half hours. The writer found the number of systems overwhelming but said they establish an Action RPG identity beyond the series’ combat roots.

The redesigned ODM gear lets players anchor to buildings or trees, control altitude precisely and slide under arches, replacing a system that once required knowing where left and right anchors would go. Producer Hideo Suzuki called the prototype the most difficult to finish in the series after extensive testing. The new setup is simpler for newcomers while offering more precision for advanced players, who can target individual Titan body parts before grappling in. Some Titans do not expose their nape right away, forcing damage elsewhere first.

Omega Force wants Titan fights to remain meaningful, so the Titans carry improved algorithms and battle patterns that keep them threatening despite the enhanced gear. Suzuki explained that if the gear improved without corresponding Titan upgrades, the Titans would no longer threaten players. Combat includes healing tonics, self-replacing blades and Combat Arts. IGN’s writer described the War Hammer Titan encounter as a battle of patience that ended just short of victory after dodging, parrying and chipping away at the Break Gauge.

Progression runs through Bravery, Knowledge and Leadership attributes earned by different activities, with points spent on skill trees for skills and traits. Equipped parts carry stats and three specification ranks, each rank unlocking special abilities. The RPG Site preview described these as several progression systems contributing to the game’s Action RPG design.

Buddy Arts let players perform cooperative combat skills with comrades, growing stronger as relationships deepen through gifts, mess-hall meals and conversations in private rooms. Better relationships produce more effective Buddy Arts during exterior missions. Players can also invite characters to their room for conversations to build friendship.

Advice Events build bonds with crew members, linking social play to combat performance. The Survey Corps Headquarters acts as home base, where players manage squads and upgrade equipment and abilities.

Suzuki said showing daily life alongside combat creates a tension-and-release dynamic that mirrors the manga and anime. The team also created original sub-stories and events with IP holder Kodansha, and Mappa produced the opening anime sequence. Suzuki described the work-in-progress opening movie as phenomenal.

Koei Tecmo says the franchise’s core audience is anime fans who are not inherently skilled at action games, so base controls stay simple. Advanced players asked for more freedom, prompting body-part targeting, dodging and countering options.

RPG Site noted that the full-story adaptation lets newcomers jump in without any backstory or previous knowledge of the series. Story-only playthroughs are estimated at up to 40 hours, while players seeking everything will clock closer to 60.

IGN’s writer discovered a gender selection option in the character creator only after naming the character John Titan. RPG Site’s previewer concluded that the sheer number of systems clearly establishes the game as an Action RPG first and foremost, even without explicit marketing from Koei Tecmo.