First Cut review: one strike is all it takes

By jolene · 10 October 2026

★★★★☆ · 4/5

First Cut is a ridiculously good skill-based sword-fighting game. Unlike games where you can take hit after hit from a sword, one clean strike here is enough to end the round. That makes every duel tense: you can’t afford to get careless.

I had a lot of fun playing it with my boyfriend. Trying to land that one hit before he did was easily the best part for me.

A couple of things held it back. I couldn’t get fullscreen working, which was annoying, and the fights started to feel a little repetitive after a while. For me, it’s a game that’s much more fun with someone else than on my own.

That’s why I’m giving it 4/5. The sword fighting is excellent, and I’d love an online version so I could play with people who aren’t sitting next to me.

This review is of the original free First Cut on itch.io, rather than First Cut: Samurai Duel on Steam.

Get First Cut from Drasnus

Play on Mac

Install portfinch, then add your Windows game and press Play.