Since then, NISA has produced several distinct titles following the same mold established by Disgaea but set in new worlds, such as Makai Kingdom, Soul Nomad & the World Eaters, and Phantom Brave, whose most recent installment, Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero, I had the pleasure of reviewing for DualShockers.
On 23 July 2026, we will see the release of Disgaea Mayhem, an action RPG that builds on the foundation of Disgaea while completely changing the gameplay loop. However, what caught my attention the most is that, despite being called Disgaea Mayhem for its overseas release, its original title in Japan is entirely different, suggesting that it isn't, technically speaking, a spin-off of the strategic JRPG franchise.
At NISA's invitation, I had the opportunity to interview the development team behind Disgaea Mayhem and ask various questions about the upcoming action game, ranging from the shift in the title to the difficulty of balancing an action game compared to strategy titles, and also how it felt about adapting Disgaea's well-established mechanics into a brand-new genre.
Disgaea Mayhem Development Team Interview
Q: The game is called Kyouran Makaism in Japan, right? Why did you decide to title it Disgaea Mayhem for the international release?
We are hoping to attract players who simply enjoy action RPGs, whether or not they have played Nippon Ichi Software (NIS) titles or the Disgaea series. It's our hope that the title doesn't create preconceptions, but rather communicates its appeal as a new game.
On the other hand, the setting and systems of Disgaea Mayhem are built upon the elements and playfulness we've cultivated in the Disgaea series. For that reason, it's important to us that existing fans feel that this game fits the image of NIS and Disgaea.
Regarding the title itself, we intend to have new players engage with it as a fresh title that stands apart from the Disgaea series, but we also aimed for a name that would resonate with fans of NIS and Disgaea. We hope that the title "Disgaea Mayhem" communicates the unique appeal of this game to both new and longtime fans.
[The word "Kyouran" in the Japanese title also involves a bit of wordplay, and "Mayhem" is one potential translation of that phrase.]
Q: The story seems to follow the light-hearted, comedic tone of the Disgaea series, while the game feels very focused on action. Is it right to call Disgaea Mayhem primarily an action-driven game rather than a narrative-focused one, or do players who favor story over gameplay still find something appealing for them?
There is more of an emphasis on action than story this time. However, we focused most on the character progression systems that are the signature of the Disgaea series, so it would be best to call this a game that lets you enjoy Disgaea with action gameplay, rather than a pure action game. It isn't about grappling with difficult action mechanics so much as it is about giving the player the satisfaction of walloping enemies with the powerful abilities they've built up.
Q: Disgaea Mayhem will also break the standard 99 level and feature insane high attribute stats, much like the Disgaea series. How hard was it to balance the action gameplay with all these humongous numbers going on?
Balancing the difficulty of this game was more difficult than any other Disgaea title so far. The frequency with which the player attacks and receives attacks differs a lot between strategy RPGs and action games, and is also strongly influenced by the player's skill. We were excited to see what we could produce, and we've done our best to integrate action game design with Disgaea-ness.
Q: You can reincarnate N.A and reset its level back to 1. Will this hinder the main story's progress? In mainline Disgaea games, since you always had a party, you could reincarnate one member, but the others could still carry battles.
In Disgaea Mayhem, because the player only controls a single character, N.A., the reset does temporarily affect your progress. Some elements, such as equipment, items, and unlocked abilities, will carry over and will not be completely reset. That's something to be aware of when using the reincarnation system.
Q: N.A can wield seven different weapon types. Are those weapons just up to the player's taste, or is there something extra that motivates their use, like advantage against certain types of enemies and bosses, or bonuses that can be acquired in the Dark Assembly to promote the use of a specific weapon type?
Feel free to use whichever weapons you like. Your weapon can have some action-based affinity with various enemy types, but they won't grant any special bonuses, such as extra damage. We designed the controls to be uncomplicated enough that anyone can master any weapon. When you pick up a strong weapon, go ahead and try it out.
Q: Will the game feature endgame or post-game content for those who just want to level and take their power to the max?
We'd like to keep the details of that a secret, but yes, we have prepared some post-game content.
Q: In addition to sharing lore with the Disgaea series, can fans expect to find Easter eggs or references to other Disgaea titles?
Disgaea Mayhem shares a setting and gameplay systems with the rest of the series, so there will be a variety of things (stories, abilities, character progression systems, etc.) for fans of the series to enjoy.
Q: Anything you want to add about Disgaea Mayhem that you haven't mentioned elsewhere?
Tichelle features quite prominently in the Chara World. We hope you'll enjoy the way she reacts to your actions.
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