Onimusha: Way of the Sword – Everything We Know

Games like the upcoming Onimusha: Way of the Sword are the proof you need that we never say never in the gaming industry. Even when it’s been 18 years since the last title, Capcom is now hellbent on bringing the Samurai series back. I bet this is fantastic news for veterans who played the Soulslike OG on the PlayStation 2, except the combat was easier on you and generally capitalized on fun. The first three games, still being absolutely thrilling demon-slaying entries, ascertain just how great the series was and, likely, how the new title will be a blast just the same, perhaps more. Let’s take a look at everything we know about Onimusha: Way of the Sword so far. 

What is Onimusha: Way of the Sword?

Onimusha: Way of the Sword is an upcoming samurai demon-slaying game from the Onimusha series. That’s right. Even though the last title was launched in 2006, Capcom is determined to flood back nostalgic memories of past times. As a result, you’ll be returning to the Ominusha world, likely controlling returning characters and some new ones.

It also seems the genre will remain the same: action-adventure with a balance of third-person hack-and-slash combat and puzzle elements. The latter had better be present owing to how great they were, and generally a faithful but modern trip down memory lane of what used to be a heck of a blast on the PS2.

Story

Onimusha: Way of the Sword will take place in Edo-era Kyoto, which is a historic Japanese capital city. In the past, the Onimusha series has cultivated a storytelling culture of adopting historical figures and retelling their stories using the supernatural. So, it’s possible you’ll spot some familiar places and characters. We’ll probably also meet old and new characters.

Further, the setting will be enshrouded in mysterious and destructive clouds of Malice. Your mission will be to rid the world of monstrous entities from the underworld known as Genma. Thanks to the powerful artifact, the Oni Gauntlet, your samurai character will be able to destroy the Genma, one torturous beast at a time.

Gameplay

Onimusha: Way of the Sword will be a single-player action game. It’ll focus on a story-based campaign, where each stage will take you to blood-soaked battlefields. Through intense swordplay action, you’ll destroy the Genma you come across. There’ll be the exploration of a historical setting but enshrouded in the supernatural. This will infuse your playthrough with plenty of mystery-chasing quests.

You’ll constantly be in danger of the numerous threats in the world, but all along, your journey will remain an intriguing, energy-packed adventure. You can look forward to a dark fantasy tale, what with the Genma demons at every turn and the world sinking into darkness. The battles also will be harsh and brutal, with gritty and gore-packed enemy encounters.

Yet, your samurai will struggle with purpose. Amid all the battles, you will strive to find the reason to keep fighting. Where will fate lead you?

Development

Capcom will be both developing and publishing Onimusha: Way of the Sword. The studio hails from Japan and has an impressive portfolio under its belt. From console games to mobile games and arcades, they have developed them all. The company was founded in 1983 by Kenzo Tsujimoto, who remains the chairman and CEO. It’s interesting that the company is known for Resident Evil, which is very similar to Onimusha: Way of the Sword, except with swords.

However, the company has worked on many more games, including Dragon’s Dogma, Lost Planet, Monster Hunter, Marvel vs Capcom, and much more. Because of their deep history, the studio has a whopping ton of the classics. You can even play the Capcom Classics Collection, which compiles the classic arcade games from the PS2 era. It has as many as 22 titles of the greatest hits. They are clearly committed to keeping the retro gaming culture intact, and we couldn’t be more grateful.

With Onimusha: Way of the Sword, however, we’re looking at the resurrection of an old-time classic for current and next-gen consoles. It’ll be a brand-new game that makes the most of more powerful hardware and software that could possibly lead to many more titles to come.

Trailer

You can watch Onimusha: Way of the Sword world premiere trailer from The Game Awards 2024 right here. Just seeing the souls floating at the beginning of the trailer sends chills down the spine. It still feels unbelievable that Onimusha is making a comeback, but that’s Capcom for you, striving to bring back the classics in the modern age. The trailer barely dives into the story. However, it does showcase quite a bit of the gameplay. It’s as fascinating as you remember, as your sharpened blade cuts through flesh. 

You’re solely swinging your sword through Genma’s enemies, cleansing the world one bodied foe at a time. There’s a boss, I assume, shown in the trailer, too, who, oddly enough, seems to be a walk in the park to beat. It’s interesting, seeing as the combat also gives off a Soulslike vibe.

However, there’s a chance the battles won’t be as difficult as FromSoftware or nearly as fast-paced; you’re hardly catching your breath. Overall, I cannot wait for Onimusha: Way of the Sword to walk in the shoes of whoever the samurai will be this time.

Release Date, Platforms, & Editions

Onimusha: Way of the Sword will be launching sometime in 2026. Unfortunately, we cannot be any more precise than that, with Capcom still holding out on the actual release date. Further, the game will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC platforms. However, editions are unconfirmed at this time.

For now, you can add it to your Steam wishlist to receive a notification when it drops. You can also follow the official social media handle here to stay on top of new announcements.

So, what’s your take? Will you be grabbing a copy of Onimusha: Way of the Sword when it drops? Let us know over on our socials here.