Onimusha: Way of the Sword Reviews
Onimusha: Way of the Sword marks a triumphant revival for a franchise that has remained in the shadows for far too long, demonstrating how a classic formula can evolve without betraying its original essence. While it stumbles over the typical weaknesses of modern blockbusters—such as an overly convoluted hub and side activities that feel like filler—Capcom’s game shines brightly thanks to a consistently satisfying combat system. Musashi’s commanding presence, the choreographed tension of the epic duels, and the sumptuous art direction powered by the RE Engine crown this return as a must-play for fans of pure action.
Review in Italian | Read full review
A testament to Capcom's years of refining action gameplay, Onimusha: Way of the Sword is a game any action fan can pick up and love — series veteran or not.
Review in Korean | Read full review
A stylish return to classic action, blending feudal Japan’s mysticism with fast-paced combat and cinematic flair.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
So what do we make of Onimusha: Way of the Sword? Well, it’s a solid game. The core of its gameplay isn’t groundbreaking: it’s classic, knows what it’s doing, and does it well.
Review in French | Read full review
Onimusha: Way of the Sword gets it right that the best moments are putting a sword in your hand and fighting an ever more intriguing series of monsters. Onimusha is back after over two decades, and it’s a game worthy of the name. It’s not flawless, but it’s great combat, great bosses, an amazing presentation, and a great samurai feel, making it one of Capcom’s most successful reboots.
Onimusha Way of The Sword is a return to form for a dormant Capcom franchise, boasting an incredible combat system, albeit one held back by a lack of difficulty options to really take advantage of it, and a middling open ended Kyoto area that overstays its welcome towards the end.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Onimusha: Way of the Sword is a home run for Capcom. It’s an amazing way of bringing the series back into the forefront of gamers' minds. The series has always had a bit of a struggle with its identity, often just resembling a samurai version of Resident Evil or even, confusingly, a Smash Bros clone at one point. I think Capcom drawing influence from the soulslike style of game couldn’t have worked better; it has all the cinematic flair you would come to expect from the developer while not doing the obvious thing of just copying and leaning on a certain Dante-led series. Much like a rose, Onimusha: Way of the Sword is a beauty with a few barbs. The difficulty is going to be mixed for some, and the fluff of the open world can really do a number on the pacing. But all in all, Capcom has once again put the gaming world on notice with a very strong contender for Game of the Year 2026 and has done an amazing job of resurrecting another long-forgotten franchise. I can only hope that one day I can see them bring back another of their dormant series as spectacularly as they have with this one.
Its vague open world in no way detracts from a spectacular combat system, a more-than-interesting story, magnificent and varied boss battles, dreamlike graphics and optimization, and much more. Don’t miss the chance to revisit one of the most important hack-and-slash franchises in history—one that even served as inspiration for the first *God of War* on the PS2—in what is likely a once-in-a-lifetime year for the great Capcom.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Onimusha: Way of the Sword manages to impress at times thanks to its fluid animations and deep mechanics. While it could have benefited from more focused project management to fully realize its potential, it is still a game that demonstrates that things are going in the right direction at Capcom.
Review in Turkish | Read full review
This is how you revive a dormant series. Capcom did not rely on nostalgia or imitate every modern action game around it. It found an identity in the physical clash of swords, then built a funny, bloody, surprisingly heartfelt adventure around that foundation. I started with no history with Onimusha and finished convinced that Way of the Sword belongs beside Capcom's very best work.
Onimusha: Way of the Sword is a successful revival of a franchise that had been dormant for 20 years, thanks to its utterly addictive and rewarding combat, a cast of characters that really captivated me, and superb animations that raise the bar for games in this genre. Whilst there is still room for improvement in a potential sequel, this is nonetheless an action title that continues the winning streak for the Japanese studio, which had already enjoyed a historic year full of successes with players, thus adding yet another hit to its portfolio.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Powerhouse Capcom has been knocking it out of the park with its releases this year, and Onimusha: Way of the Sword is no exception. This game has it all: stunning cutscenes and character models, phenomenal Japanese voice acting, impressive performance on the Switch 2, and an incredibly smooth combat system that makes it hard to put the controller down. So, free up your schedule and sharpen your swords, because there is Genma to slay!
Onimusha: Way of the Sword is an excellent revival of Onimusha. The strengths of the franchise's modernization easily stand out, elevating the game to a level that makes it a great title in its genre. The combat system's potential is formidable, turning challenging boss battles into moments of pure tension that deliver immense satisfaction upon completion. Musashi is also one of the series' best protagonists; his mannerisms are entertaining, and his character development is a major highlight of the narrative.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Onimusha: Way of the Sword is an excellent and bold reinvention of Capcom’s iconic franchise. The game more than rewards fans for the long wait with one of the most impressive and satisfying combat systems the series has ever seen, complemented by a superb technical presentation and a charismatic, deeply engaging reinterpretation of its story.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Way of the Sword is a game with great fighting, exciting boss fights, an interesting lead character, and great presentation, the kind of game that can keep you riveted to the screen despite its limitations. If you ask me what’s the most important thing about this new Onimusha, my answer is simple: this game knows sword fighting.
Capcom essentially "issen"-ed its way back into every action gamer fan's heart with this fifth mothership samurai-versus-demons-and-soul-vacuuming action entry. With a likeable protagonist, beautiful aesthetics, spot-on controls and fighting, and memorable boss encounters, there's never a better time to get into Onimusha than with this big-budget samurai supernatural combo.
Onimusha: Way of the Sword is a truly excellent comeback, as it demonstrates once again how purely action-oriented games can evolve without losing their soul.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Capcom has another solid title on its hands. Onimusha: Way of the Sword sounds at odds on paper. A goofy rice bun eating samurai amidst a sea of dead villagers and ferocious Genma sounds like tonal whiplash but Capcom nails this balance. Musashi is now one of my favourite protagonists in the action genre and the moment to moment combat, despite a slow start, builds into some of the best boss battles I’ve seen in some time. There is some run of the mill padding that detracts from the spectacle and visuals that don’t hold up outside of cutscenes. But these issues don’t get in the way of what Onimusha does best: a goofy character that I’ll continue to follow into hell, with my own rice bun in hand.
With sharp combat and a story mixing humor and weight, Onimusha: Way of the Sword is the kind of well-written, stylish revival fans have waited decades for.
Onimusha: Way of the Sword is a masterclass of action, blending fast-paced swordplay with graceful character movement for an experience that feels both fantastical and grounded. Rather than sticking to the formula of its predecessors, it takes bold risks and delivers an unforgettable story about the greatest swordsman who ever lived. Capcom couldn’t have closed out its stellar year on a higher note.