Developed by Morefun Studios and published by Tencent, The Hidden Ones is a fighting game version of the Hitori No Shita: The Outcast series that balances tight action and impressive visuals. Based on the webcomic Under One Person and the subsequent adaptations, the series introduces a mystical martial arts used by college students, criminal gangs, and mysterious warriors. The game isn't a strict adaptation of the source material, but an expansion that brings new depth to the setting. This is a real blessing for The Hidden Ones, with fantastic graphics and tight gameplay dragging players into a vivid world.

For longtime fans of the original series and newcomers alike, The Hidden Ones' execution is impressive and immersive. During a demo event for The Hidden Ones attended by Screen Rant, I got the chance to dive into the game's combat and see first-hand how strong the title's transition from anime cinematics to fast-paced brawls is. I also got the chance to speak to some of the creatives behind the game, which highlighted the mechanics at play and set the stage for the game's future.

The Hidden Ones Brings Players Into An Anime World

Tencent's Expansion Of Under One Person Has A Bright Future

One of the best elements of The Hidden Ones' game design is the way it maintains tight control even when the action shifts into anime-style duels. The camera and pacing of the fight can shift briefly to highlight a technique that feels pulled directly from an action-packed anime. It's an effective means of engrossing the player in every fight, especially when fighting your way through story mode. The story mode features numerous unique animations and battles, as well as a shift to a beat-em-up style of gameplay that works incredibly well.

The game will launch with nine playable characters, but the scope of the original anime and the live-service model sets the stage for future additions to the roster. As explained by Senior Game Designer Stan Fan:

"This game is based on the original manga. It has a long story, like 400 to 500 chapters. We have a lot of things to do. I don't think it will be a problem to find out what [characters] we want to do next."

This scope also allowed the designers to expand on minor characters, building the universe in a natural way.

The PvP gameplay tasks players with making teams of three fighters, sending one out right after another in an effort to defeat their opponent. As with any fighting game, the execution comes down to the controls and graphics of the title. The Hidden Ones succeeds with flying colors in this regard, with player characters moving with deceptive speed around the battlefield. Each character has basic attacks, special movies, and an ultimate ability. However, as I discovered during the hands-on preview of the game, the real trick to winning in The Hidden Ones is in the movement.

Players can dodge attacks, maneuver across the field, and even chain attacks by strategically pulling back before continuing the onslaught of blows. It's a clever way to approach a classic fighting game format, keeping players on their toes with a straightforward but tight gameplay style. Dodges, counters, and grabs are baked into the back-and-forth of combat. It's easy to pick up and understand but presents a challenge in perfecting map awareness and maneuverability. The tight controls never let the player feel like they're out of control, even as the combat takes unexpected turns.

How The Hidden Ones' Focus On PvP Expanded Into A Story Mode

The Hidden Ones' Solo Mode Turns The Fighter Into A Brawler

That focus on combat was a key element of The Hidden Ones' development, according to Lead Game Designer Fox Lin — although it eventually evolved in different ways. As Lin explains:

"The team decided to develop the combat first. We spent a lot of time researching how to make the combat style really fun and fun to watch. It needs to be visually pleasing, but at the same time very fun. That took a couple of years. After that, we moved into the PvP and the story side of the game."

However, giving the game an adventurous solo mode opened up new possibilities for overwhelming players without breaking the tighter character balance that had been established.

"When we were developing the game, we noticed that with the combat, the bosses cannot possess the same abilities as a player. They have to be harder and tougher, so people will be in the game like, 'Okay, I'm not beating them up so fast.' Under our design concept of both story and combat, one thing is the same — you have to predict your opponent, whether it's the boss or a real person.

"You have to predict their moves. You have to think of a way to quickly react and how to counter their next move... we think of ourselves as a live service game. The combat is really crucial, it's critical to engage all of the players for a long time. We think the story mode will be a really good add-on, something we can dedicate to our fans who want to learn more about the lore and the original narrative. It helps add to the value in the long run."

- Lead Game Designer Fox Lin

Even if it didn't have tight fighting mechanics at the core of the title, The Hidden Ones' effective presentation should ensure it's a memorable release. During the hands-on preview event, I got the chance to play as Wang Te, a young man seeking to broker peace with a dangerous group of criminals for the sake of his family. The single-player mode boasts impressive cutscenes that flow easily into the action, and its emphasis on movement during combat lends itself well to a larger-scale exploration when players go into the story.

While the world may expand to accommodate the story, the artistry of the anime setting blends easily into the game itself.

"Our producer is an artist. He's very good at making movies, so he has a very good understanding of the fighting scenes and the narrative in balance between cinematics. He adapted that into the game development. The next point that we figured out is how when we are reading the manga, and it's telling the stories of different characters, it is switching from people to people.

"Sometimes a reader can just feel away from them, like I'm just watching someone else's story. We wanted to create an experience, where you are this character. You control them, you fight as them, and you experience what they did — what you did. When you are set up, you feel like you are doing the moves rather than the characters themselves. I think that creates an immersive experience. That's exactly what we were looking for."

- Senior Game Designer Stan Fan

The Hidden Ones enters Alpha and Beta Testing in early 2025, and the full game is estimated to launch on PC, Android, and iOS in Q3 2025.