Onimusha: Way of the Sword Reviews
So, if you weren't sure where to play it, wonder no more: the Switch 2 is as good an option as any other, especially if you want to play it anywhere, because it also runs beautifully in handheld mode...
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Capcom dusts off one of its longtime franchises in “Onimusha: Way of the Sword,” featuring fantastic characters and bosses and a fun combat system that balances risks and rewards. It isn’t perfect as the pacing can get uneven once exploration is thrown in. Sometimes, though, you just need a stepping stone to get back on the right track after losing your way. In that sense, I feel quite confident that Onimusha is back on solid ground.
It's hard not to think about what Onimusha: Way of the Sword could've been in the context of prior entries - especially the first game. What is here, though, is still a thrilling action game (once it takes the training wheels off) with a loveable cast of characters and unique identity amongst CAPCOM's other goliath franchises.
Onimusha: Way of the Sword is one of those games where, whilst playing, I found myself thinking time and again: “Blimey, this is phenomenal.” The combat, in particular, left a lasting impression on me. The combination of parries, dodges, Issen attacks and spectacular boss battles ensures that you’ll want to draw that sword time and time again. The Japanese atmosphere, music and visual splendour also make this a particularly atmospheric adventure. Unfortunately, the repetitive Malice and Rift missions, recurring sub-bosses and the inevitable back-and-forth running mean the game doesn’t quite reach perfection. But I thoroughly enjoyed it. Even when I got thoroughly beaten as Musashi, I found myself staring at the screen with a smile. Following Resident Evil 9: Requiem and PRAGMATA, Capcom proves once again that it still knows how to deliver top-class games. With Onimusha: Way of the Sword, the company has hit the bullseye once more.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
That kind of comeback after twenty years makes up for the wait. The dynamic combat and boss fights are the best thing that happened to action games this year. It’s just a shame that, in between them, the game makes you do the exact same thing for a few hours too long.
Review in Polish | Read full review
Onimusha: Way of the Sword delivers a truly immersive experience, featuring breathtaking visuals that vividly bring its fantastical world to life, alongside engaging gameplay that keeps players captivated throughout. Its compelling storyline adds depth and emotional weight, showcasing Capcom's skill in creating a masterpiece that stands as a strong contender for Game of the Year.
Onimusha: Way of the Sword is a bloody and satisfying return for a series that has been missing for far too long. The brutal sword-fighting, interesting story, incredible environments and entertaining dialogue kept me hooked, even when the camera decided to fight me harder than the Genma. Onimusha is finally back, and it was well worth the wait.
If you’re a fan of action games, samurai, Japanese history, demonic fantasy, or simply great sword combat, Onimusha: Way of the Sword should definitely be on your radar. An excellent comeback that further confirms Capcom’s impressive form.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
Onimusha: Way of the Sword is a must-play because Capcom has managed to recapture its essence and adapt it to the modern era. The combat system is undoubtedly its greatest strength, delivering some spectacular moments. Add to that a fantastic setting, memorable boss battles, and top-notch audiovisuals. Not everything is on the same level, but it proves that the franchise has an excellent foundation for the series’ future.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Onimusha: Way of the Sword is an action-packed welcome back that’ll give fans both new and old something to be excited about. It’s a game that respects the past with its familiarity while also inserting its own flavor to make it stand on its own against other single player narrative games while even paying homage to action games that more or less could’ve replaced it.
Capcom has modernised the formula without sanding off its personality, combining deliberate swordplay, grotesque demons, and a rather rollicking adventure marked with dark twists and turns. The end result is a bloody, stylish and surprisingly amusing-in-spots slasher that understands the appeal of cutting through Genma demons with increasing degrees of supernatural bullshit. It’s not trying to be Warlords again. It’s forging its own blade. And after nearly two decades of waiting, I’m more than happy to be storing it up on my katanakake with the older ones.
Onimusha: Way of the Sword is an incredible action game with an excellent story to match.
A sublime mix of classic Capcom action and weighty physical swordfighting. The only enemy it can't overcome is its own pacing.
Though some of the connective tissue that binds Onimusha: Way of the Sword together is a bit weak, though some of the pacing and padding is a bit thin, Capcom has once again shown us it is a master of its craft here.
Capcom’s willingness to return to old franchises is continuing to pay off, because Onimusha: Way of the Sword is yet another banger from a developer that just cannot stop winning.
The uninspired semi-open-world is a misstep that doesn’t justify its existence, yet Way of the Sword is still a fantastic and welcome return for the series, led by outstanding combat that firmly places it in the upper echelon of modern action games. Fighting is everything, after all, and there’s nothing else quite like Musashi’s brand of calculated violence.
Onimusha: Way of the Sword properly carries the mantle of the original games. Delivering exciting and satisfying combat swordplay in combination with an engaging story, Way of the Sword continues Capcom’s hot streak through 2026.
Overall, Onimusha: Way of the Sword may be the best game in the series and by quite a large margin. Definitely start out on Story difficulty to find your feet and get used to the game’s pacing of enemy attacks, but once you’re in the zone, it is a genuinely wonderful game from start to finish.
Onimusha: Way of the Sword is a supremely satisfying samurai action game with some of the best video game boss battles this side of Sekiro. Pulling off perfect parries always feels great and makes the few flaws easy to overlook, like the wonky difficulty curve. Time-poor players will also appreciate the game's more approachable size. $69.99 at Amazon $69.99 at Amazon $69.99 at Walmart(Switch) Check Best Buy
Onimusha: Way of the Sword is a successful revival of Capcom's samurai franchise that pushes its gameplay in an exciting new direction while still retaining its core identity. The slower, more deliberate combat feels great, especially when you manage several deflections in quick succession before slicing your foe in half. Glorious.Not everything works. The English voiceover doesn't quite fit with the overall presentation, while occasional jaunts to and from multiple NPCs threaten to derail the otherwise excellent pacing. These are minor gripes, though; Onimusha is back, baby, and it's better than ever.