# HAYATE: Katana Racer — Slice or dodge. Race to win.

> Slice or dodge. Race to win. (iPhone/iPad app by Kenji Kobayashi.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hayate-katana-racer/id6775771603 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Kenji Kobayashi](https://appshunter.io/developer/535002271)
- Category: Games, Action, Racing
- Price: Free
- Age rating: 12+
- Requires: iOS 16.0 · 314 MB
- Languages: American English, French (France), German (Germany), Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, European Portuguese, Russian and 2 more
- Released: 2026-06-03
- Data updated: 2026-07-31
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hayate-katana-racer/id6775771603/reviews.md

## What is HAYATE?

HAYATE is a 3D katana speed-racer. Race down the highway, through space, under the sea, across the sky and over the grasslands. Anything that flies at you, you do one of two things: dodge it, or throw your katana and slice it clean. Ride fast. Slice clean. Finish first.

THE STORY
HAYATE is the sequel to ISSEN. The same lone swordsman has time-slipped into a near-future and rebuilt himself as a neon street rider. The discipline of the blade is still there - now it screams past at full throttle, with a katana you can throw.

HOW IT PLAYS
- Steer by dragging; flick up to jump over low obstacles.
- Tap ATTACK to throw your katana at a target ahead - it homes in and slices it. Each throw uses one blade.
- Pick up coins and spare katanas to keep your blades stocked.
- Hold TURBO to surge faster - but it burns energy quicker.
- Tap BARRIER to shrug off one hit. Barriers carry over between stages.
- Keep your energy up. If it hits zero, the run is over.
- Chain slices for combos, and pass rival riders to climb the finish rank.

FIVE WORLDS, FIFTY STAGES, PLUS ENDLESS
- Five distinct worlds: Highway, Space, Underwater, Sky, and Grassland - each with its own look, hazards and rivals.
- Fifty stages with a rising difficulty curve.
- Unlock an Endless run for each world and chase your best distance.
- Beat your best time and finish rank on every stage.

GEAR UP
- Spend coins in the Garage on permanent upgrades: extra starting katana, longer barrier, better turbo economy, and longer throw range.

MORE TO ENJOY
- Real-time 3D racing with a sense of speed
- 12 languages supported
- Plays in portrait or landscape
- Sound and haptics on/off, anytime
- Plays offline after install
- Made by an independent studio (PixelRyu)

Free to play, supported by ads. Watch an optional ad to revive, double your coins, restock, or boost your next run. Optional ad-removal.

Ride fast. Slice clean. Finish first.


## Version history (last 4 releases)

### 1.0.5 — 2026-07-26

Smaller download size and smoother performance.

### 1.0.4 — 2026-06-06

NEW: More rivals in every race — a fuller pack and a tighter fight for 1st.
IMPROVED: Rivals keep pace the whole way, so you're never left racing alone late in a run.
IMPROVED: Cleaner overtaking — brushing past a rival no longer crashes you.
IMPROVED: Stronger sense of speed — the world rushes toward you harder as you ride.

### 1.0.3 — 2026-06-05

NEW: Added a privacy consent prompt where required (EEA/GDPR).
IMPROVED: Stability and minor under-the-hood fixes.

### 1.0 — 2026-06-03

No release notes.

## More apps by Kenji Kobayashi

- [CounterParts](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/counterparts/id535002008)
- [HOTARU: The Lost House](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hotaru-the-lost-house/id6770427114)
- [Mole Whack](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mole-whack/id6770864132)
- [ISSEN: Samurai Slash](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/issen-samurai-slash/id6772437281)
- [Parcel Pals](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/parcel-pals/id6772976470)

All apps by Kenji Kobayashi: https://appshunter.io/developer/535002271

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-07-31.*