Phantom Kingdom (Makai Kingdom) pushes NIS tactics further with huge fields, vehicles and giant beasts. Messy but bursting with ideas, easy to lose hours in the chaos.
Your verdict
Category
Tactics1 player12+
Description
An original Japanese edition by Nippon Ichi released in 2005, distributed as "Phantom Kingdom" (the "Makai Kingdom" Western counterpart). The demon overlord Zetta, transformed into a walking grimoire, must reconquer his infernal kingdom. An innovative Mana tactical combat system and free building creation. A Japanese Nippon Ichi niche.
Phantom Kingdom review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
4/5
Music
★★★★★
"Excellent"
4/5
Story
★★★★★
"Captivating"
Gameplay
"Solid"
Fun
"Mild"
Addictiveness
"Captivating"
Difficulty
"Difficult"
Lifespan
"Massive"
Building your own demonic kingdom turns this Nippon Ichi tactical RPG into a sandbox where you summon, equip and unleash your troops without limit. Beyond the story, an outsized endgame of extreme levels and items to farm devours hundreds of hours. That excess, the studio's hallmark, founds a time-devouring longevity dear to fans.
Limited Genteiban edition of the Japanese original of Makai Kingdom, a Nippon Ichi tactical RPG where demon lord Zetta becomes a walking grimoire. A cult studio of the genre, Nippon Ichi takes care over its limited boxes, and this one, ahead of the Western localisation, gathered bonuses prized by fans. Value lies in the game's place in the Disgaea lineage and the completeness of this Japanese limited run.
Is Phantom Kingdom still worth playing in 2026?
A Nippon Ichi tactical RPG known as Makai Kingdom, Phantom Kingdom blends the studio's offbeat turn based battles with free unit deployment from a grimoire, without a fixed grid, in the studio's signature absurd humour. The excess of the damage, the depth of the customisation mechanics and the parodic tone appeal to fans. The dense technicality, the kitsch aesthetic and the Japan exclusivity call for commitment. A singular tactical to recommend for fans of Nippon Ichi strategy and systems to exploit endlessly.
