CounterSide in IOS

Urban Graphic Novel RPG

Walkthrough, Guilds, Tips on this special game

Our Site Score

87/100

CounterSide is a powerhouse in the urban fantasy RPG genre. It differentiates itself from other gacha games with its 'Graphic Novel' approach to storytelling—the plot is genuinely deep and mature, focusing on the conflict between 'Counters' and 'Corrupted Objects.' The Live2D animation is some of the best I've seen on mobile, giving every character a sense of life even during dialogue scenes.

The 'Line Battle' gameplay requires more strategy than just tapping skills. You have to consider squad composition, deployment costs, and the timing of your ultimate moves to turn the tide of battle. The production value is sky-high, featuring a grandiose BGM and fully voiced characters. If you're looking for an RPG that treats its story and tactical depth with as much respect as its character designs, CounterSide is an easy recommendation.

Reviewed on: Wed Feb 25 2026
Dinsun Avatar

Dinsun Review

Dinsun here. I usually avoid gacha games like the plague, but CounterSide has some genuine meat on its bones. The strategy isn't just about who has the higher level; unit placement and timing actually matter in the real-time battles. The story is surprisingly well-written, too—it’s a dark, corporate-themed sci-fi that doesn't just rely on anime tropes.

However, it is *dense*. The UI is a cluttered mess of red dots, currencies, and sub-menus that take hours to learn. And at the end of the day, it's still a gacha. You will eventually hit a wall where you either need to grind for weeks or open your wallet. If you can handle the corporate-mandated grind, there’s a very competent strategy game buried under all the flashing 'buy' buttons.

Overall Stats

Pros & Cons

  • Excellent art and Live2D animation
  • Genuinely engaging strategy and unit management
  • Deep, high-quality story and world-building
  • Overwhelmingly cluttered UI
  • Significant 'gacha' grind and monetization pressure
  • Very steep learning curve for new players

Technical Report

Performance: Very heavy on resources. Can run hot on older devices. Long load times.

Accessibility:
  • Auto-battle mode
  • Skip/Fast-forward story

Audience Fit

Buy if: You enjoy complex strategy RPGs and don't mind navigating gacha mechanics.

Skip if: You want a simple, pick-up-and-play experience or hate microtransactions.

Similar Games:
  • Arknights
  • Epic Seven
  • Girls' Frontline

Reviewer Context

  • Reviewer: Dinsun, 40yo Male, Strategy Specialist
  • Hardware: iPhone 15 Pro Max
  • Playtime: 20 hours
  • Status: Finished Chapter 5 of Story

The Game

Available on: iPhone, iPad, iPod

Version 9.0Tue Jan 27 2026

1. [New Episode] Omen - Charade

2. [New Counter Pass] Doctor Macy

3. [Event] Great Expedition Season1

4. [Raid] Inhibitor, Guardian of Sephira

5. [Awaken Exclusive Gear] Orochinagi Nanahara Chifuyu

6. [Punch-In] Kim Hana’s Special Bonus

7. [Shop] Add New Products

8. [System] QoL and System Improvement

9. [System] Fixed Minor Issues


Everything has another side

Urban Graphic Novel RPG "CounterSide"

A world where conflict never ends between Counters and Corrupted Objects after the Administration Failure

We invite you to a journey to save the Reality

■ Attractive Characters and Illustrations

High-end Live2D quality illustrations with Korean and Japanese voices!

Save the ruined world with these charming characters.

■ A True Masterpiece

A magnificent SF noir saga, [Mainstream]

[Counter Case] and [Substream] to enhance each character's charm

Don't miss out on the CounterSide's urban fantasy ensemble!

■ High Quality 2D Animation Line Battle

Brilliant motions and skill cut-ins spice up the breathtaking line battles!

Lead the squads to victory with your strategy and your team's brilliance.

■ Beautifully Composed Grandoise BGM

Grand yet exquisite BGMs to every situation in the story to enhance the immersion!

Why not play CounterSide with unique BGMs?

□ Available text language

- English, Germany, French, Korean, Japanese

□ Official Community

- Official Website: https://counterside.com/

- Twitter: https://twitter.com/CounterSideGBL

- Discord: https://discord.com/invite/CounterSideGlobal

- Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/CounterSideglobal

- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@countersideglobal2422

- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CounterSideGlobal

□ Recommended

- iOS 12 or above

□ Permissions

- None


Requires iOS 12.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.

Everything has another side

Urban Graphic Novel RPG "CounterSide"

A world where conflict never ends between Counters and Corrupted Objects after the Administration Failure

We invite you to a journey to save the Reality

■ Attractive Characters and Illustrations

High-end Live2D quality illustrations with Korean and Japanese voices!

Save the ruined world with these charming characters.

■ A True Masterpiece

A magnificent SF noir saga, [Mainstream]

[Counter Case] and [Substream] to enhance each character's charm

Don't miss out on the CounterSide's urban fantasy ensemble!

■ High Quality 2D Animation Line Battle

Brilliant motions and skill cut-ins spice up the breathtaking line battles!

Lead the squads to victory with your strategy and your team's brilliance.

■ Beautifully Composed Grandoise BGM

Grand yet exquisite BGMs to every situation in the story to enhance the immersion!

Why not play CounterSide with unique BGMs?

□ Available text language

- English, Germany, French, Korean, Japanese

□ Official Community

- Official Website: https://counterside.com/

- Twitter: https://twitter.com/CounterSideGBL

- Discord: https://discord.com/invite/CounterSideGlobal

- Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/CounterSideglobal

- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@countersideglobal2422

- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CounterSideGlobal

□ Recommended

- iOS 12 or above

□ Permissions

- None


Ratings & Reviews

4.7 out of 5 with 7704 Counts
Age Rating 13+

Screenshots

CounterSide screenshot 1CounterSide screenshot 2CounterSide screenshot 3CounterSide screenshot 4CounterSide screenshot 5CounterSide screenshot 6CounterSide screenshot 7CounterSide screenshot 8CounterSide screenshot 9CounterSide screenshot 10CounterSide screenshot 11CounterSide screenshot 12

CounterSide is a high-quality Urban Graphic Novel RPG where you command a team of 'Counters' to fight against mysterious 'Corrupted Objects.' Experience a magnificent SF noir saga across multiple story paths like [Mainstream] and [Counter Case]. The game features breathtaking 2D line battles with brilliant skill animations and high-end Live2D illustrations. With its beautifully composed BGM and deep tactical gameplay, CounterSide invites you on an immersive journey to save reality.

Features

1

High-end Live2D quality illustrations

2

Immersive SF noir story and lore

3

Dynamic 2D animation line battles

4

Grandiose and exquisite original BGM

5

Deep squad-based tactical strategy

Tips

Promotion Videos

Counter:Side - Will Studio Bside Save The SEA Server? - YouTube

Related Videos

News on this game

Studiobside Announces Its New Mobile Game ‘StarSavior’

SEOUL, South Korea--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Studiobside Co., Ltd, a mobile game developer renowned for its hit mobile game CounterSide,...

Business Wire - Sat Aug 16 2025

CounterSide by Studio B Side Co.ltd.,

Urban Graphic Novel RPG "CounterSide" A world where conflict never ends between Counters and Corrupted Objects after the Administration Failure.

AppAdvice - Mon Jan 16 2023

Counterside HoloMyth Collaboration Adds Your Favorite Hololive Vtubers Into The Game

Counterside Global has announced a special collab with HoloMyth, the English-speaking branch and first generation of Hololive EN.

GamerBraves - Sun Jul 16 2023

Gameplays

Q&A

The game features high-quality Korean voice acting with localized text for a global audience.

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