Long waits for new games in video game series are not common, but 20 years? That's how long "Onimusha" fans had to wait for the first mainline entry to the series since "Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams" was release in 2006.
But has "Onimusha: Way of the Sword" been worth the wait?
'Onimusha: Way of the Sword'
Released on September 4, 2026, "Onimusha: Way of the Sword" is developed and published by Capcom.
Set in early Edo-period Kyoto, where malevolent forces have transformed the historic city into a land overrun by monstrous creatures called Genma, players take on the role of legendary samurai Miyamoto Musashi, whose face is modeled after Japanese film icon Toshiro Mifune.
Armed with the mystical Oni Gauntlet, Musashi must confront supernatural threats while discovering his purpose as a warrior. According to Capcom, the game introduces a standalone story that does not require familiarity with previous Onimusha titles.
Gameplay centers on intense, close-quarters sword combat that emphasizes timing, precision, and defensive techniques rather than button-mashing. Players can parry and deflect enemy attacks, execute powerful counterattacks, and absorb the souls of defeated enemies using the Oni Gauntlet.
The game also features supernatural Oni abilities that allow Musashi to unleash devastating attacks against formidable Genma. As detailed in PlayStation's interview with the developers, the experience combines challenging swordplay with exploration of Kyoto's atmospheric streets and locations steeped in Japanese folklore.
The game's official launch trailer can be found below.
What Do the Critics Say?
To say that "Onimusha: Way of the Sword" has been a hit with critics is an understatement.
IGN's Will Borger gave it a perfect score of 10 out of 10, noting that "For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to be perfect for 10 seconds. 'Onimusha: Way of the Sword' understands that desire."
"Each time I landed a perfectly timed Issen, pulled off a risky deflect, or landed a combo at just the right time, I felt like I had accomplished something," Borger explained. "I had put myself to the test, and I'd succeeded."
On Metacritic, the game has a score of 85 based on 102 critic reviews as of press time.
"'Onimusha: Way of the Sword' isn't just an excellent series revival from a company that has seemingly mastered them, taking a proper understanding of the early entries' appeal and matching it perfectly to modern sensibilities," covergeek said in its review, where it gave the game a perfect score of 100. "It's also just plainly the best action game this year, and probably for the past few years."
Oyungezer gave the game a score of 90, saying it a review that "'Onimusha's' return was significant in its own right. But the real value of 'Way of the Sword' lies in the fact that it doesn't simply bring the Onimusha name back. Capcom understood what made the series so beloved and has blended those qualities with the evolution of modern action game design.
'Very Positive' Reviews
As of press time, "Way of the Sword" has more than 25,000 user reviews on Steam, which the platform as categorized as "Very Positive."
"It's a very good action game that allows for both passive and aggressive playstyles, but the main highlight are the boss battles which really test your knowledge of the game's mechanics," Manhattan Cafe said in a Steam review. "The story is pretty straightforward, but the characters are well written and it's a great start for more to come if the game sells well."
"'Onimusha' is genuinely one of the most fun games I have played," Dwight Schrute said in a separate review. "The combat is easily the biggest reason for that. It is one of those games where the combat is clearly the main attraction and everything else is built around it."
Schrute added, "The story is decent, the characters are memorable, the bosses are great, and even though there are some obvious flaws, none of them really took away from how much fun I was having."
