Onimusha: Way of the Sword Preview – Capcom Resurrects Samurai Action With A Vengeance

Why Onimusha’s Return Caught My Attention

Onimusha was the game that, for many of us, defined what a real samurai power fantasy could look like decades before Ghost of Tsushima or Sekiro. So when Capcom announced Onimusha: Way of the Sword for 2026, my expectations shot through the roof-especially after years of seeing the series disappear while imitators crowded the field. The question is, can Way of the Sword do more than just ride the nostalgia wave, especially given how crowded samurai games have become?

• Onimusha: Way of the Sword is Capcom reviving the legendary action series after two decades away.
• The gameplay feels more Ghost of Tsushima than Souls-like, focusing on speed, flow, and parries over punishment.
• Animations and combat choreography are next-level-even after a short demo session, I was genuinely impressed.
• With Miyamoto Musashi front and center, Capcom is banking on both samurai legend and over-the-top action to stand out.

A Renaissance for Onimusha, Or More Feudal Fatigue?

This isn’t just another franchise revival. For context, Onimusha hasn’t had a true new mainline entry since 2006. The original’s DNA-third-person, katana-driven action mixed with demonic powers—set the stage for so much of what the genre eventually became. It’s easy to forget now, but before Sekiro, Nioh, or even Assassin’s Creed Shadows flooded the market with shinobi and samurai, Onimusha was the flag-bearer for historical fantasy action.

Younger gamers might only recognize Onimusha from old PlayStation “Best Of” lists, but back in the early 2000s, it was the must-play samurai game. Absorbing orbs to upgrade your demonic gauntlet, slicing through monsters drawn from Japanese folklore—it was campy, brutal, and atmospheric. That signature blend has been dormant while the rest of the industry capitalized on feudal Japan intrigue, so Capcom’s willingness to dust it off could excite or exhaust, depending on where you stand with the recent parade of katana-wielding heroes.

Capcom’s Distinct Direction: Not Just Another Souls Clone

With so many studios aping FromSoftware’s “Souls-like” formula—punishing difficulty, slow combat, stamina management—my biggest fear going in was that Capcom would just slap a feudal Japan skin on another Nioh. Thankfully, that’s not the vibe at all. What I played at Gamescom was much closer in spirit to the fluidity and dynamism of Ghost of Tsushima than the slog and stamina meters of Nioh or Sekiro.

The parry mechanic here is quick and central—timing your block lets you stagger enemies, and diving in for a cinematic finishing move (those finishers are absurdly detailed, by the way) feels punchy, not plodding. Stamina management works differently: you only burn energy when you actively block, so you’re not punished for just playing aggressively. And the environmental interactions—like lobbing carts into foes—add a touch of playful chaos you rarely see in these “serious samurai” games.

There are definitely FromSoftware nods (healing items, for starters), but overall, Capcom seems intent on forging an experience that rewards speed, style, and improvisation. This isn’t another gauntlet of boss fights designed to break your spirit—Way of the Sword wants you to look and feel cool as hell, not just survive.

Miyamoto Musashi, Legendary Casting, and That Samurai Movie Energy

The pick of Miyamoto Musashi as a protagonist is a flex—using the most famous swordsman in Japanese history (and visually modeled after icon Toshiro Mifune!) underlines Capcom’s intent to go full-throttle samurai myth. The little I saw of dialogue between Musashi and his talking demon gauntlet gave off strong buddy-movie energy, with banter and humor breaking up between fights. It’s a clever way to invoke samurai cinema’s drama-with-a-wink style, and I’m honestly hoping the full game leans even harder into that vibe.

What shocked me was the polish on animation already: Musashi parries and strikes with stylish precision in every direction, making every encounter feel choreographed. Boss attacks look like they’re straight out of a movie, not just another telegraphed video game swipe. I left that demo more hyped for the feel of the combat than any plot reveal, which is exactly where a series like Onimusha needs to excel if it wants to matter now.

Where This Fits in 2026’s Crowded Samurai Arena

Onimusha: Way of the Sword isn’t alone—there’s never been more big-budget samurai games on the way, and burnout is real. But Capcom’s move here feels less like chasing a trend and more like reclaiming its genre crown. If the game manages to keep up its sense of motion, style, and refreshingly light tone, it could wind up being a much-needed change of pace from all the grimdark Souls worship everywhere else.

It’s been a long time coming, but Capcom is finally betting big on Onimusha again. If you’re tired of every “hardcore” katana game feeling like a masochism simulator, keep this one on your 2026 radar—you might be surprised by just how fun samurai action can still be.

TL;DR

Capcom’s Onimusha: Way of the Sword slices through the Souls-like crowd by focusing on fast, cinematic samurai action. With slick animations and Musashi’s legendary swagger, this revival could be the antidote to action game fatigue in 2026—if Capcom delivers on its promises.