Last Updated on Jun 16, 2026 @ 15:31:42 PM.
Have you ever wanted to enjoy the purest Sword Art Online experience, similar to Kirito from the anime? Well, we have some good news for you, as Echoes of Aincrad now has a demo available for players to enjoy, without the fear of getting stuck in the game until you complete it or perish at the hands of monsters.
Echoes of Aincrad Players Can Jump Into the Game Early With Its Active Demo That Carries Over Upon Release
It isn’t too long before Echoes of Aincrad officially releases for gamers to enjoy, but for those who cannot wait until July, the developers have you covered, as a demo has now been released, allowing players to jump into the early sections of the game and explore the game world.
For those who are fans of the original anime, this is quite entertaining to see, as the main character Kirito from the anime was known as a “beater” within the game world as someone who played Sword Art Online early during a beta period, and the game leans into this with the demo taking place in a “beta phase” that provides players with 5 missions to complete as well as trying out all the different weapon types currently in the game.
Along with playing through these missions and trying out the various weapons in the game, players will be able to explore the game world in their own way as they battle monsters, find loot, and just generally enjoy exploring the game’s vast and beautiful world.
Although the game does offer various game modes/difficulties upon release, it has been revealed that the hardcore mode/permadeath will not be available during this demo, but other difficulties will be, so if you are looking for a challenge, then there is good news for you.
If you are afraid of spending your time within the Echoes of Aincrad demo and then resetting your progress on release, then worry no longer, as your progress during the demo will carry over upon release, allowing you to jump in right where you left off in the demo.
As of now, the demo is live on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, with the full game set to release on July 10th.
For more Thumb Wars Gaming coverage, check out our article about the Hellraiser: Revival release date, or check out our article about the comments made by Dan Houser at Tribeca Festival.
Liam is a Senior Editor, Writer, and Critic for Thumb Wars and has been working with the team since day one. Liam is a big fan of all things gaming, as you will catch him playing all of the new releases from every genre you can imagine. Whether you find Liam gaming just for fun or spending his free time streaming, you will always find a smile on his face when it comes to all things gaming.
