REVIEW - Onimusha: Way of the Sword
Game Name: Onimusha: Way of the Sword
Release Date: 4 September 2026
Genre: Action / Swordplay / Dark Fantasy
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC and Nintendo Switch 2
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
Review
After more than 20 years, Onimusha is finally back
There are some game franchises that you never really forget.
Onimusha is definitely one of them.
After more than two decades without a brand-new mainline entry, Capcom has finally brought the series back with Onimusha: Way of the Sword.
And the first thing I noticed is that this doesn't feel like a game trying to completely reinvent what Onimusha was.
Instead, Capcom takes the elements that made the original games special and combines them with modern technology and much more detailed combat.
The result is a game that feels familiar, but at the same time feels like a proper new chapter for the series.
The story takes us to Edo-era Kyoto, which has been transformed by Malice and overrun by the grotesque Genma.
This time, the protagonist is the legendary samurai Miyamoto Musashi, equipped with the Oni Gauntlet and thrown into a supernatural battle that quickly becomes much bigger than simply surviving against demons.
The sword combat is the star of the show
If there is one thing that makes Onimusha: Way of the Sword stand out, it is the combat.
The swordplay feels heavy, precise and incredibly satisfying.
Every attack has impact, and you really feel like you are controlling a samurai rather than simply moving a character around and pressing attack.
But the most satisfying part for me is the timing.
Blocking an attack is one thing.
Perfectly deflecting it and immediately responding with a devastating counter is something completely different.
The game rewards you for paying attention to enemy movements instead of simply attacking as quickly as possible.
And when you finally understand an enemy's attack pattern, the combat becomes incredibly satisfying.
Issen makes every fight more intense
One of the mechanics that really captures the spirit of classic Onimusha is Issen.
Landing the timing correctly and cutting through an enemy at exactly the right moment feels fantastic.
It creates those moments where you stop thinking about buttons and simply react to what is happening on screen.
This is especially effective during boss battles.
The best encounters are not simply about having enough health or dealing enough damage.
They are about learning the enemy, recognising openings and understanding when you should attack and when you should wait.
That makes victories feel earned.
The bosses are some of the best moments
The boss fights are easily one of the strongest parts of the game.
Many encounters force you to change your approach and pay attention to the enemy's attacks.
There is a real sense of progression when you go from being completely overwhelmed by a boss to understanding exactly what you need to do.
The fights can be demanding, but that makes finally defeating a difficult opponent even more rewarding.
This is one of those games where a boss can make you think:
"Right, now I understand."
And then everything suddenly starts to click.
The Oni Gauntlet is more than just a weapon
The Oni Gauntlet isn't simply there because it looks cool.
It is an important part of the gameplay and connects Musashi to the supernatural side of the story.
The ability to absorb souls from defeated enemies also returns, giving exploration and combat another layer.
Those souls can be used to improve Musashi and help prepare for increasingly difficult encounters.
It creates a nice reason to keep fighting enemies rather than simply running past everything.
Exploring Kyoto
The world of Onimusha: Way of the Sword isn't a huge open world.
And honestly, I think that works in the game's favour.
Instead of filling a gigantic map with endless activities, the game keeps the focus on its story, combat and carefully designed environments.
You move through areas filled with temples, villages, dark forests and locations corrupted by Malice.
The atmosphere is one of the game's strongest elements.
There is always something unsettling about the world, especially when the traditional Japanese setting is mixed with grotesque supernatural creatures.
The visual presentation is fantastic
Capcom has done an excellent job bringing the world of Onimusha into the modern era.
The characters look detailed, the environments are atmospheric and the Genma are suitably disturbing.
The contrast between beautiful Japanese architecture and the horrifying creatures invading this world works extremely well.
The cinematics also help give the story a much bigger sense of scale.
There are moments where it genuinely feels like you are watching a samurai film mixed with dark fantasy.
Miyamoto Musashi is a great protagonist
Choosing Miyamoto Musashi as the main character was an interesting decision.
He is obviously a legendary figure, but the game doesn't simply use his name as decoration.
Musashi works well as the centre of the story because his personality and fighting style fit perfectly with the game's focus on swordsmanship.
He also has a strong presence on screen, which makes the more dramatic moments of the story much easier to follow.
The supporting characters also help give the adventure more personality.
The story has a great atmosphere
The story mixes historical Japan with demons, supernatural powers and dark fantasy.
That combination is exactly what I want from an Onimusha game.
There are serious moments, strange characters and plenty of supernatural elements, but the game never loses that feeling that this is a dark samurai adventure.
The story also does a good job of giving the player a reason to continue through the different locations and encounters.
That said, the pacing isn't perfect.
Some sections slow the experience down, especially when compared with the excellent rhythm of the combat.
The pacing can be uneven
This is probably my biggest criticism.
When the game puts you in a fight, it is usually fantastic.
But there are sections where the momentum drops.
Some missions can feel longer than they need to be, and the transition between major combat encounters and slower sections isn't always perfect.
There are also moments where enemy encounters don't feel quite as challenging as the boss fights.
This creates a noticeable difference between the game's highest points and some of its quieter moments.
Enemy variety could be better
The Genma look great and there are some memorable enemies, but I sometimes wanted more variety.
Once you understand certain enemy types, some regular encounters become much easier to deal with.
The boss battles provide a much greater challenge, which makes the standard encounters feel slightly less exciting by comparison.
It doesn't ruin the experience, but it is one area where the game could have offered a little more.
The game understands what made Onimusha special
What I appreciate most about Onimusha: Way of the Sword is that Capcom didn't forget what made the original series work.
The focus is still on swordplay, demons, samurai, atmosphere and that unique mixture of Japanese history and supernatural horror.
At the same time, the combat has been modernised enough to feel comfortable for a 2026 release.
It doesn't feel like a simple nostalgia trip.
It feels like Onimusha has finally returned.
✅ Positive Points
- Excellent sword-based combat
- Extremely satisfying parries and Issen attacks
- Fantastic boss battles
- Miyamoto Musashi is a strong protagonist
- Beautiful Japanese-inspired environments
- Great mixture of historical and supernatural elements
- Excellent atmosphere
- Strong visual presentation
- Soul collection and upgrades add depth to combat
- Faithful to the spirit of the original Onimusha games
- Focused structure without unnecessary open-world padding
❌ Negative Points
- Some sections hurt the overall pacing
- Regular enemy encounters can become predictable
- Enemy variety could be better
- Difficulty isn't always consistent
- Some missions feel longer than necessary
- The game can take a little too long to return to its strongest combat moments
🎯 Conclusion
Onimusha: Way of the Sword had a lot to prove.
Bringing back a franchise after more than 20 years is never easy, especially when the original games still have such a passionate fanbase.
But after playing it, what stands out to me is that Capcom understood something very important.
Onimusha didn't need to become something completely different.
It simply needed to become a better, modern version of itself.
And that's exactly where Way of the Sword succeeds.
The sword combat is fantastic, the Issen system creates some incredible moments, the bosses are memorable and the combination of samurai action with dark fantasy works extremely well.
It isn't perfect.
The pacing can be uneven, some regular encounters lack variety and certain sections don't have the same impact as the game's best fights.
But whenever the game puts you in front of a dangerous enemy and asks you to rely on your timing, everything comes together.
And those are the moments that make Onimusha: Way of the Sword special.
After more than two decades, Onimusha finally has a new chapter.
And for me, this feels like a return that was worth the wait.
What did you think of the game?
Did you play Onimusha: Way of the Sword?
And if you've played the original Onimusha games, do you think Capcom managed to capture what made the series special?
Leave your opinion in the comments. I really want to know what you think!
🎮 My Gameplay
Watch my Onimusha: Way of the Sword gameplay on YouTube:
