Azur Lane
Side-scrolling shoot 'em up with shipgirls from major WWII participants.
Azur Lane is a side-scrolling shoot 'em up video game created by Shanghai Manjuu and Xiamen Yongshi, released in 2017 for iOS and Android. Set in an alternate World War II timeline, players use female moe anthropomorphic characters based on warships to engage in shooter gameplay.
- Key Members
- Eagle Union, Royal Navy, Dragon Empery, Sakura Empire
- Associated Factions
- Iron Blood, Vichya Dominion (Iris Orthodoxy), Northern Parliament
Lore & Background
The game features the military alliance "Azur Lane," comprising Eagle Union (United States), Royal Navy (United Kingdom), Sakura Empire (Empire of Japan), Iron Blood (Nazi Germany), Dragon Empery (Republic of China), Northern Parliament (Soviet Union), Iris Orthodoxy (France), and Sardegna Empire (Kingdom of Italy). The alliance is split in two because of an alien intervention, with the Iron Blood, Sakura Empire, and Sardegna Empire separating from the rest.
In Their Own Story
The game begins with a recreation of the Battle of the Denmark Strait, where the personification of HMS Hood is sunk by German forces. Players collect shipgirls from nations including the United States Navy, Royal Navy, Imperial Japanese Navy, Kriegsmarine, French Navy (Vichy and Free France), Republic of China Navy, People's Liberation Army Navy, Regia Marina, Soviet Navy, Imperial Russian Navy, Imperial German Navy, and Royal Netherlands Navy. Later additions include ships from the Age of Sail under the faction named Tempesta.
Reader's Guide
Players organize fleets of six shipgirls into a front row (destroyers, light cruisers, heavy cruisers) and back row (battleships, aircraft carriers, etc.). Gameplay involves navigating grid-like maps to reach bosses while managing fuel and ammo. Battles allow manual control of the front row via joystick for torpedoes, while the back row fires shells or airstrikes. The game includes a Dormitory feature for passive experience gain and morale recovery, an Oath system using promise rings for stat bonuses, and a player-versus-player mode refreshed every 15 days.
Did You Know?
- The game reached five million players in Japan within four months of its September 2017 release.
- Starter ships include the American destroyer USS Laffey, British destroyer HMS Javelin, and German or Japanese destroyers Z23/Ayanami depending on the region.
- As of October 2024, more than 600 characters representing nine countries have been introduced.
- The English version was formally released in May 2019 after an open beta in August 2018.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is the Azur Lane faction?
It serves as a multinational coalition of naval shipgirls dedicated to combating the Siren threat. Major powers such as Eagle Union and Royal Navy unite under this banner to preserve human history.
Who commands the Azur Lane fleet?
Operations are directed by a human Commander who oversees strategic coordination between member nations. This leader acts as the central authority linking diverse groups like Dragon Empery and Sakura Empire.
What is the primary role of Azur Lane in the war?
The alliance functions as humanity's unified front for both defensive and offensive military operations against enemy forces. They are essential for maintaining hope while fighting to prevent civilization from being erased.
Are all shipgirl nations part of Azur Lane?
Not every faction belongs to this coalition, as groups like Iron Blood operate as independent sovereign entities. Others such as Vichya Dominion also exist outside the main alliance structure entirely.
Has the Azur Lane story reached a final conclusion?
Current canon lore does not provide a definitive ending to the ongoing conflict with the Sirens. The narrative continues to expand through new game updates and event chapters without a resolved finale.
More in Factions & Groups
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Elsewhere in the Azur Lane universe
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