Fighting games are a lot of fun. But playing them on a mobile phone can be a bit cumbersome because of the screen size and the twitch-based gameplay. Crossing Void, however, merges the experience of a fighting game with a turn-based gameplay and enhances it with characters from your favourite anime.

Crossing Void is a 3v3, turn-based fighting game. Every character has a set of moves you can upgrade. To make the gameplay fair, the turn order is randomised. Every move you make requires energy and the stronger moves require more energy. You have to strategise if you want to save up energy for a stronger move or just keep the low- energy attacks going. The team that you pick while going into the game also matters because some characters work well as a team. The game becomes more challenging as you rise through it and face stronger enemies.

The standout aspect is the game’s presentation. The narration is top notch with the original actors giving voice to the characters and you the feeling of watching an anime. Even the UI screens are lively and have the feel of an anime. The in-game animations are extravagant and fun to watch. Every character has a special move and the animation associated with it is over the top. You look forward to unlocking new characters just to see the special animation associated with them.

Crossing Void, as the name suggests, is a place where characters from Dengeki Bunko [a publishing imprint which had many of its novels turned into anime series] cross paths in an entertaining story. There are around 25 characters now and each of these have multiple customisation options. Every character has a star rating that can be pushed up using crystals. This allows you to upgrade your skills. You can also upgrade skills by using a character more so that it levels up. All characters also have a passive skill. The fun part is the cross skill option which is activated when you pair your character with certain other characters. This unlocks interesting opportunities, strategies and experiences. You can also equip your characters with items that increase their stats or dress them up.

The main mode is the story mode where you fight increasingly difficult bosses while staying within a storyline. You can also take part in limited time events that give you huge rewards. The friends that you make in the game can help you out of a tough spot while the guilds functionality lets you be part of a group and tackle quests together. The variety of experiences keeps you going even when the story ends.

VERDICT: Crossing Void is a charming game with anime references. It is for a niche audience that loves this genre. It can be frustrating to not get the character you want as characters are unlocked only through the chance-based mechanics of the gatcha system. However, for those who enjoy anime, this is a fun experience. I would rate it eight out of 10.