Onimusha: Way of the Sword

Onimusha: Way of the Sword is a single-player action game set in Kyoto during the early Edo period, where a supernatural outbreak has brought the Genma back to the human world. The game is a comeback that seems very deliberate. Capcom has taken a series that was heavily associated with the PS2 era and rebuilt it around modern third-person combat, cinematic presentation, and the sort of fast, brutally satisfying swordplay that makes you want to immediately retry a boss after losing.

It is the first new mainline Onimusha game in more than 20 years, and it puts Miyamoto Musashi at the center of a dark-fantasy version of Kyoto. The city is being corrupted by Malice, while demonic Genma creatures and dangerous human swordsmen turn Musashi's journey into a succession of bloody duels. Capcom released the game on September 4, 2026, for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC.

What stands out is that this isn't trying to become a big open-world samurai RPG. Its strongest identity is still combat. You attack, guard, parry, deflect, dodge, and most importantly, attempt the series' trademark Issen counter: striking an enemy at the last possible instant before their attack connects.

The Oni Gauntlet is the other major pillar. Musashi can absorb souls from defeated enemies and use them for recovery and supernatural abilities, while special Oni Armaments give him additional offensive options. The soul-absorption mechanic also creates a nice risk-reward decision during fights because stopping to collect what you need isn't always safe.

Visually, Capcom has leaned into Japanese cinema and period drama. Musashi's appearance is modeled on actor Toshiro Mifune, while Kyoto itself shifts between beautiful historical architecture and a much more sinister supernatural version of the city. The game uses RE Engine for modern rendering and animation.

Way of the Sword sits somewhere between old-school Onimusha and modern action games. It has the focused mission structure and arcade-like satisfaction of the older games, but adds broader explorable areas, equipment, optional activities, and modern progression systems.

While the swordplay and boss encounters are widely considered the game's standout features, some critics have noted that the pacing can occasionally falter due to repetitive exploration and enemy encounters throughout Kyoto, which can disrupt the otherwise excellent momentum of the combat.

So the actual pitch is simple: stylish samurai combat, supernatural enemies, cinematic presentation, and a relatively focused campaign rather than an 80-hour RPG.