Stellar Blade

Stellar Blade is Shift Up's calling card in the triple A space, and it arrived on PC via Steam in June 2025 after its PlayStation 5 debut, cementing its global reputation. Combat draws openly from Nier Automata and Bayonetta, with parries, dodges and technical combos that won over critics, pushing the game to a solid 83 on Metacritic and a record user score for an East Asian action production. What sparked the most discussion, though, is the design of protagonist Eve, an aesthetic that pays homage to Japanese anime action heroines, with dozens of unlockable outfits, many of them extremely revealing, from skin-tight suits to battle bikinis to seasonal festival dresses.

The crossover with Goddess of Victory Nikke added even more themed outfits, pushing the fanservice close to parody while always staying within non-explicit bounds, consistent with its 18+ rating for violence and suggestive themes. Several critics noted the contrast between the seriousness of the post-apocalyptic story and the emphasis on the heroine's looks, but that bold balancing act is exactly what turned the game into a cultural phenomenon. Discourse aside, Stellar Blade remains the best recent example of how a carefully crafted ecchi aesthetic can coexist with a top-tier combat system and a memorable art direction, without ever tipping into pornography.

It is the title that best represents 2025-2026 for anyone looking for tasteful fanservice, real action, and triple A production values.