Bayonetta

Bayonetta
Genres
DeveloperPlatinumGames
Publishers
CreatorHideki Kamiya
Platforms
First releaseBayonetta
October 29, 2009
Latest releaseBayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon
March 17, 2023

Bayonetta (Japanese: ベヨネッタ, Hepburn: Beyonetta) is an urban fantasy action-adventure game franchise created by Hideki Kamiya. It is developed by PlatinumGames, owned by Sega, and, since the release of Bayonetta 2 in 2014, published by Nintendo. The franchise was introduced in 2009 with Bayonetta, which was followed by two sequels, Bayonetta 2 (2014) and Bayonetta 3 (2022), as well as a prequel, Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon (2023). The games follow the titular character, a witch who wields dual pistols, shooters in her high heels, and long, magically transforming hair which becomes a supernatural weapon. The series has been met with strong critical reception, is considered PlatinumGames' flagship series, and is one of Sega's most well-known franchises.

Video games

Release timeline
2009Bayonetta
2010–2013
2014Bayonetta 2
2015–2021
2022Bayonetta 3
2023Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon

Bayonetta (2009)

The first game in the series was directed by Hideki Kamiya, who created the Devil May Cry and was involved with the Ōkami franchise while he was working with Capcom. It was the third title in Platinum's four-game contract with Sega. The game was released on October 29, 2009, in Japan, and was released worldwide in January 2010 for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. The game received generally positive reviews upon release. More than 1.35 million units of the game were shipped. Although it was Platinum's most commercially successful game at that time, the company was disappointed with its sales. A 4K remastered version of the game featuring anti-aliasing, anisotropic filtering, SSAO lighting, scalable texture and shadow quality, and more was released on PC in April 2017. The game was ported to Nintendo Switch in 2018, and was bundled alongside Vanquish for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in February 2020.

Bayonetta 2 (2014)

Bayonetta 2 was announced in 2012 during a Nintendo Direct for the Wii U. The decision received backlash from fans, since the game would not be available on other platforms. Platinum was initially working with Sega to create the sequel, but Sega decided to cancel the game during the game's development. Nintendo subsequently revived the project. According to producer Atsushi Inaba, the game would not have been possible if they did not get the funding and the support from Nintendo. Sega remained as the game's consultant. The game was directed by Yusuke Hashimoto, and Kamiya has a supervision role. The game was released in 2014 to very positive reviews. While sales for the Wii U version have not been fully disclosed, by March 2018, Nintendo confirmed the Switch version had sold 400,000 copies during its first nine weeks, compared to the 300,000 copies the Wii U version sold during the same period. As of December 2021, the Switch version has sold 1.04 million copies worldwide.

Bayonetta 3 (2022)

A third game in the series was announced by Nintendo at The Game Awards 2017. A gameplay trailer was shown at the September Nintendo Direct 2021. It was released for the Nintendo Switch on October 28, 2022, and opened with positive reviews from both critics and fans. The game went on to win Best Action Game at the Game Awards 2022. The game also features a playable teaser for Cereza and the Lost Demon as a secret level and unlocks a special skin once found.

Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon (2023)

A prequel companion game to Bayonetta 3, focusing on Cereza as a young girl, was announced by Nintendo at The Game Awards 2022. It was released on Nintendo Switch on March 17, 2023.

Other video games

An action/shooter 16-bit-style browser minigame called "8-Bit Bayonetta" was released on February 16, 2015, and later on Steam on March 31, 2017.

Outside of the Bayonetta series, Bayonetta characters have made guest appearances in other Sega and PlatinumGames releases. Bayonetta appears as a downloadable character in the multiplayer fighting game Anarchy Reigns. She, Jeanne, and Rodin also appear a special guest characters in the action game The Wonderful 101. Bayonetta was added as a downloadable character to Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U, later returning as an unlockable character in the sequel Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Both games also feature a stage based on the falling Umbra Clock Tower which appeared in the first two Bayonetta games. Rodin also appears as an Assist Trophy in Ultimate. Bayonetta will be added to Sonic Racing CrossWorlds as a playable character via a forthcoming free update.

Other media

An anime film based on the first game, titled Bayonetta: Bloody Fate, was produced by Gonzo and released in 2013 in workings with Sega.

In 2014, Udon Entertainment released a book titled The Eyes of Bayonetta, which included a list of her abilities.

Reception

Sales and aggregate review scores
Game Year Units sold Metacritic OpenCritic
Bayonetta 2009
  • PS3: -
  • X360: -
  • WIIU: -
  • PC: -
  • NS: 1.24 million
  • PS4: -
  • XONE: -
  • PS3: 87/100
  • X360: 90/100
  • WIIU: 86/100
  • PC: 90/100
  • NS: 84/100
  • PS4: 81/100
  • XONE: -
 92% recommend
Bayonetta 2 2014
  • WIIU: -
  • NS: 1.23 million
  • WIIU: 91/100
  • NS: 92/100
 94% recommend
Bayonetta 3 2022 1.04 million 86/100 85% recommend
Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon 2023 < 1.00 million 81/100 86% recommend

Bayonetta, Bayonetta 2, and Bayonetta 3 each received generally positive reviews from critics according to review aggregator Metacritic. Bayonetta 2 was nominated for Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2014, though it ultimately lost to Dragon Age: Inquisition. The release of Bayonetta 3 was preceded by controversy after Hellena Taylor, who voiced the character in the first two games, publicly accused PlatinumGames of offering her an "insulting" sum to reprise the role and called on fans to boycott the game. Taylor was subsequently replaced by Jennifer Hale. Reports subsequently disputed Taylor's account of the compensation offered, and Taylor later confirmed she had been offered a larger sum than initially stated, though she maintained the overall offer was unfair given the game's anticipated commercial success.

References

  1. ↑ Hashimoto, Yusuke (November 6, 2009). "Bayonetta Released in Japan". PlatinumGames. Archived from the original on January 19, 2010. Retrieved November 9, 2009.
  2. ↑ Staton, Rich (February 7, 2016). "A brief history of one of gaming's greatest studios". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on May 1, 2016. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  3. ↑ Graft, Kris (May 14, 2010). "Sega Sammy Post Profits As Bayonetta Ships 1.35 Million". Gamasutra. Archived from the original on September 24, 2016. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
  4. ↑ Matulef, Jeffery (April 17, 2013). "Platinum Games president rates its sales as a "C or even a D."". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
  5. ↑ "Bayonetta on Steam". store.steampowered.com. Archived from the original on 2023-08-03. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
  6. ↑ "Bayonetta™ for Nintendo Switch - Nintendo Official Site". www.nintendo.com. Archived from the original on 2024-08-17. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
  7. ↑ Kurchea, Ben (February 19, 2020). "Bayonetta and Vanquish get classy, bare-bones 4K updates in new collection". Polygon. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
  8. ↑ Good, Owen (September 21, 2012). "Actually, It is Kinda B.S. That Bayonetta 2 is a Wii U Exclusive". Kotaku. Archived from the original on September 22, 2020. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
  9. ↑ McWhertor, Michael (September 22, 2012). "'Bayonetta 2' would not exist without Nintendo, says Platinum Games". Polygon. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved May 26, 2016.
  10. ↑ Reilly, Jim (September 14, 2012). "Sega Consulting On Bayonetta 2". Game Informer. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved May 26, 2016.
  11. ↑ Fogel, Stefanie (February 15, 2019). "'Bayonetta 2' Director Leaves Platinum Games After 13 Years". Variety. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
  12. ↑ "The Switch Port Of Bayonetta 2 Has Outsold Its Sister Version On Wii U". Nintendo Life. April 27, 2018. Archived from the original on November 12, 2020. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
  13. ↑ Wales, Matt (December 8, 2017). "Bayonetta 3 is coming exclusively to Switch". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on November 28, 2021. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
  14. ↑ Romano, Sal (July 13, 2022). "Bayonetta 3 launches October 28". Gematsu. Archived from the original on July 13, 2022. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  15. ↑ Doolan, Liam (9 December 2022). "Bayonetta Origins Announced Exclusively For Switch, Coming March 2023". NintendoLife.com. Archived from the original on 17 August 2024. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
  16. ↑ Crimmins, Brian. "8-bit Bayonetta". Hardcore Gaming 101. Retrieved June 1, 2025.
  17. ↑ Spencer (April 9, 2013). "Now, Everyone Can Play As Bayonetta In Anarchy Reigns". Siliconera. Archived from the original on October 23, 2014.
  18. ↑ McMinn, Kevin (September 1, 2013). "Three Secret Bayonetta Characters Confirmed For The Wonderful 101". Nintendo News. Archived from the original on September 12, 2014. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  19. 1 2 "Final New Smash Bros Character Will Be Bayonetta". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 2016-04-04. Retrieved 2020-08-21.
  20. ↑ Green, Jake (October 12, 2018). "Bayonetta Super Smash Bros Ultimate Guide - Unlock, Moves, Changes, Bayonetta Alternate Costumes, Final Smash". USgamer. Archived from the original on November 5, 2021. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
  21. ↑ Hilliard, Kyle (June 12, 2018). "84 Things We Learned About Super Smash Bros. Ultimate". Game Informer. Retrieved September 28, 2026.
  22. ↑ Tailby, Stephen (2026-09-16). "Bayonetta Will Join Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds in a Free Update 'Soon' on PS5, PS4". Push Square. Retrieved 2026-09-16.
  23. ↑ "Bayonetta: Bloody Fate Anime Film's Full Trailer Posted". Anime News Network. 2013-10-23. Archived from the original on 2018-11-22. Retrieved 2013-11-08.
  24. 1 2 3 2023 CESAゲーム白書 [CESA Games White Paper 2023] (in Japanese). Japan: Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association (published July 2023). 2023. ISBN 978-4-902346-47-3.
  25. ↑ "Bayonetta for PlayStation 3 Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on February 3, 2019. Retrieved April 25, 2019.
  26. ↑ "Bayonetta for Xbox 360 Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on November 9, 2009. Retrieved April 25, 2019.
  27. ↑ "Bayonetta for Wii U Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on September 27, 2014. Retrieved October 30, 2014.
  28. ↑ "Bayonetta for PC Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on April 14, 2017. Retrieved April 13, 2017.
  29. ↑ "Bayonetta for Switch Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on February 14, 2018. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
  30. ↑ "Bayonetta for PlayStation 4 Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on May 13, 2020. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
  31. ↑ "Bayonetta". OpenCritic. 14 February 2018. Retrieved November 8, 2025.
  32. ↑ "Bayonetta 2 for Wii U Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on October 2, 2023. Retrieved October 14, 2014.
  33. ↑ "Bayonetta 2 for Switch Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on August 17, 2024. Retrieved March 2, 2018.
  34. ↑ "Bayonetta 2". OpenCritic. 12 October 2014. Retrieved November 8, 2025.
  35. ↑ "Bayonetta 3 for Switch". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 25 October 2022. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  36. ↑ "Bayonetta 3". OpenCritic. 25 October 2022. Retrieved November 8, 2025.
  37. ↑ "Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 17 August 2024. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  38. ↑ "Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon". OpenCritic. 14 March 2023. Retrieved November 8, 2025.
  39. 1 2 "Sources dispute Bayonetta voice actor's claims over pay offer". Video Games Chronicle. October 19, 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2026.
  40. ↑ Warren, Tom (October 19, 2022). "Sources dispute Bayonetta voice actor's claims over pay offer". Video Games Chronicle. Retrieved 27 February 2026.
  41. ↑ LeBlanc, Wesley (October 24, 2022). "Update: Former Bayonetta 3 Voice Actor Clarifies That She Was Offered More Than $4000 To Return". Game Informer. Retrieved 27 February 2026.