Crossed Swords

A hack-and-slash action RPG video game series developed by ADK and published by SNK for the Neo Geo platform.

Games

1991–1995

Years

Platforms

$310.00

Ø CIB

+47.9%

24M change

About

The Crossed Swords series began with the release of the original 3D-perspective hack-and-slash game Crossed Swords in 1991 for arcades and the Neo Geo AES/MVS. It was followed by the sequel Crossed Swords II, released exclusively for the Neo Geo CD in 1995 (often associated with 1994 development). The games are known for their unique behind-the-back perspective where the player's character is rendered as a wireframe to allow visibility of oncoming enemies.

Developed by Alpha Denshi (later ADK) and published by SNK, the franchise expanded the hack-and-slash genre by incorporating light role-playing elements. Players navigate the fantasy kingdom of Belkana, collecting gold from defeated enemies to purchase weapon upgrades, shields, and magic spells from traveling merchants.

Following the initial success of Crossed Swords (1991) in arcades, SNK published Crossed Swords [AES] (1993) and Crossed Swords (1993) for home consoles, bringing the cooperative two-player experience to living rooms. The series maintained its presence through subsequent ports and regional editions, including Crossed Swords (1994) for the Neo Geo CD. The sequel, Crossed Swords 2 (1994) (also known as Crossed Swords II), expanded the gameplay formula by introducing three distinct playable characters—the balanced Knight, the agile Ninja, and the magic-focused Valkyrie—alongside branching paths that increased replayability. While the franchise remained niche compared to SNK's fighting game properties, its combat mechanics influenced later first-person and behind-the-back action titles.