ANTHEM#9 review: International espionage, now with color coordination

The big picture

Some secret organizations destabilize governments. ANTHEM#9 has its agents sort colored gems until somebody takes an alarming amount of damage. It's an admirably transparent operating procedure: if the mission goes badly, the paperwork can simply say that everyone involved needed more green. Developer koeda turns that unlikely premise into a single-player roguelite built around matching gems, arranging skills and coaxing separate decisions into one extravagant combo. The espionage theme provides an excuse for the violence, while the board handles the actual diplomacy.

The Windows PC release belongs to February 2026: Steam displays February 4, while Shueisha Games dates its launch February 5. Earlier demonstrations were demos, rather than a commercial Early Access release. Those calendar labels matter less to the appeal than the central invitation: construct an attack sequence so neatly that your enemies effectively lose an argument with your filing system.

Three different ways to cause a gem-related incident

The playable agents approach the shared board differently. Rubit's ability to spend AP changing gem colors creates a useful form of flexibility. Her dagger-and-poison style comes with a way to correct an inconvenient distribution, which is a reassuring qualification for someone whose workday apparently involves international stability and a very aggressive craft project.

Phannie can split double gems, making additional pieces available to support skills that trigger repeatedly. His gambler identity fits the temptation to chase a bigger sequence. Beni, meanwhile, consumes gems for benefits such as shielding, healing and attack boosts. That sets up a different question: should this resource remain available for a combo, or become immediate protection? Sometimes the sensible move is to stop planning the spectacular finish and purchase the right to still be there when it happens.

Those differences give repeat runs a purpose beyond swapping portraits. The appealing decision is how to use a character's tools to change the value of the same basic resources. Players who prefer a single reliable routine may find that broader invitation less compelling, but the game clearly has room for people who hear “different approach” and immediately open another mental spreadsheet.

The clock has an off switch

ANTHEM#9 originally placed considerable emphasis on assembling combos within a limited window. That introduces a lively tension between knowing what would be clever and managing to do it before the game politely closes the suggestion box. Planning and quick recognition become partners, although partners who may occasionally blame each other after a failed meeting.

Crucially, the March 20 update added a timer-free mode. Treating speed as an unavoidable requirement would miss a substantial part of the current game's appeal. Removing the clock lets the puzzle breathe for players who prefer to inspect their choices without also negotiating with a countdown. It's a welcome distinction between a demanding decision and a hurried decision. Those can produce very different kinds of enjoyment, even when the gems are wearing exactly the same colors.

After the standard missions

Clearing Missions 1 through 4 unlocks Extra Mission challenges, with successive stages strengthening enemies and adding restrictions. This is the point where a decent combination is invited back for further questioning. For players who enjoy refining a system against increasingly awkward conditions, that structure gives the deckbuilding somewhere to go after basic familiarity sets in.

The May update also expanded the available skills, Blessings and charms. More options make the most sense here when they encourage fresh combinations, rather than turning the collection into a museum of objects you refuse to use. ANTHEM#9's strongest idea is the relationship between the pieces, and its longer-term appeal depends on whether that relationship keeps you curious.

The verdict

ANTHEM#9 is an inviting proposition for puzzle-minded roguelite fans who enjoy making a plan, adjusting it and then watching several modest choices develop unreasonable ambitions. Its character-specific tricks and timer-free option give that proposition useful range. Anyone seeking a grand espionage drama should keep expectations centered on the systems. This organization settles global affairs through gem management, and the most important confidential document is probably your next combo.