Onimusha: Way of the Sword Takes a Bold Swing at Reviving a Dormant Franchise

Capcom’s Onimusha: Way of the Sword brings back a samurai action series that had been largely dormant for about two decades, and early critical reaction suggests the revival has landed. The game released on September 4, 2026 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2 and PC.

A franchise returns

The last new mainline Onimusha was Dawn of Dreams in 2006. Since then, the series survived through remasters and a free-to-play browser game, while Capcom’s other franchises moved to the RE Engine era. Way of the Sword is the first new entry built for modern hardware, directed by Satoru Nihei.

Players control Miyamoto Musashi, whose likeness is modelled on the actor Toshiro Mifune, in a dark fantasy version of Edo-period Kyoto overrun by Genma demons.

Combat, bosses and structure

Combat centres on swordplay with parrying, blocking and special moves such as Break Issen, an instant-kill counter tied to precise timing. As in the classic games, Musashi absorbs three types of souls from defeated enemies, used for healing, upgrades and special weapons. Oni Vision helps detect hidden enemies.

The boss line-up draws heavily on Japanese history and folklore. It includes Yoshioka Seijuro and Sasaki Ganryu, two of Musashi’s famous historical rivals, the demon Shuten Douji, and Minamoto no Yoshitsune, known in the game as the Man in White. A full playthrough runs about 20 hours, mixing linear stages with more open areas and side quests.

How it compares

Coverage around launch drew a comparison with Beast of Reincarnation, Game Freak’s recent action game, arguing that Way of the Sword succeeds where that game fell short. Onimusha is not a sequel to it; the comparison reflects how crowded the Japanese action space has become and how hard it is to stand out.

Critics have been broadly positive. Metacritic averages at the time of writing sit at 90 for Switch 2, 85 for PS5 and 83 for PC and Xbox Series X|S, and 94 percent of critics on OpenCritic recommend it, although individual scores ranged widely, from 3 out of 5 to perfect marks.

Why it matters

For long-time fans, Way of the Sword is the proper new Onimusha they waited 20 years for, with the parry-focused combat and soul collection that defined the originals. For newcomers, its 20-hour length and clear structure make it an accessible entry point to Japanese action games without the time demands of a large open world.

The Switch 2 version is worth noting. It has the highest Metacritic average of the four platforms, which makes it a strong option for players who want a portable way to play. For Capcom, a well-received revival adds another classic name back into active rotation alongside Resident Evil, Devil May Cry and Monster Hunter.