A fast-paced 3 vs. 3 fighter
One Piece Burning Blood is a fighting game built around Monkey D. Luffy and the cast of the Grand Line. Fights run as a 3 vs. 3 rumble: you pick three characters and can switch between them at any point during the match, so a round is as much about choosing who to bring in as it is about landing hits. Devil Fruit and Haki abilities are the big tools in your kit, and they're what let you fire off massive special moves against tough opponents. The roster runs past 40 playable characters drawn from across the Grand Line and beyond, which gives you plenty of team combinations to experiment with.
Playing it with friends
The game supports local multiplayer and split screen, so two people on the same machine can fight each other directly. Remote Play Together is also listed as a Steam feature, which means friends who aren't in the same room can join in through that. Beyond fighting each other, the tags include co-op and PvP, so there's room for both teaming up and going head to head. Expect quick rounds and fast decisions rather than long drawn-out matches — the switching mechanic keeps the pace up, since you can pull in a fresh character the moment the one you're controlling is in trouble.
Story mode and what to expect before starting
There's a singleplayer story mode that retells the Marineford War through fights and cutscenes, so if you're coming in for the narrative you can play through it on your own before touching multiplayer. The game is tagged as story rich alongside its fighting and beat 'em up elements, which means there's a real chunk of content outside of versus matches. It's a 3D fighter with RPG-flavoured progression, so expect to spend time unlocking and building out your roster rather than having everything available from the first boot. Worth knowing: the Gold Edition bundles the Wanted Pack and Wanted Pack 2, adding 4 new playable characters, 6 alternate versions of existing characters, 14 costumes, 5 customized HUDs, and the exclusive Platinum Luffy costume. If you're playing with a group, having those extra characters and costumes on hand gives everyone more to choose from when building a team.