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After years without a new mainline adventure, Onimusha: Way of the Sword is set to bring the demon-slaying series back in 2026. The game revisits the franchise’s blend of sword-based action and supernatural versions of Japanese history, while introducing a new protagonist and a story that does not require knowledge of the earlier titles.
Onimusha: Way of the Sword brings back the series’ action roots
The Onimusha series began during the PlayStation 2 era, with its most recent mainline release, Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams, arriving in 2006. The first two games have since been remastered for newer platforms, but the franchise has otherwise been quiet for years. That long break gives returning players a chance to revisit its world and offers newcomers an opportunity to discover the series through a fresh story.
Director Satoru Nihei has described action as a defining part of the new game. Familiar mechanics, including absorbing souls and performing Issen counters, are returning. Combat is not presented as a matter of simply attacking every enemy in sight: some situations will call for more careful thought. For players, that means paying attention to enemy openings and the timing of defensive moves may be just as important as striking quickly.
A new story for newcomers and longtime fans
There is no direct story link to the previous entries, and characters from those games will not appear in Way of the Sword. The developers have included nods to earlier titles, but players do not need to complete the older games to follow the new adventure. Anyone interested in the series’ history can still try the remastered first and second games for a look at its earlier approach to combat and atmosphere.
The game stars Miyamoto Musashi. One returning type of action lets him drive his blade into a fallen enemy under certain conditions. This detail echoes a memorable feature of the earlier games while placing it in the new combat system. It is a useful reminder that an enemy on the ground may not necessarily be out of the fight, so players should stay alert during encounters.
Kyoto folklore shapes the setting
Earlier Onimusha games experimented with unexpected ideas, including time travel and technology. Nihei has pointed instead to Kyoto as a source of surprises in the new game. The city is widely associated with beauty and elegance, but its centuries-old legends and folklore also provide material for an eerie fantasy setting. The story combines those traditions with supernatural elements, offering a different way to explore the city’s history.
The series has also varied its gameplay across releases, including strategy and fighting-game spin-offs. As a result, Way of the Sword may look and play differently from the earliest entries without abandoning the franchise’s willingness to evolve. Players comparing it with the original games should expect familiar concepts alongside a distinct presentation and a new central character.
What to expect from Onimusha: Way of the Sword
Onimusha: Way of the Sword brings back recognizable features such as soul absorption and Issen counters, but sets them within a standalone story featuring Miyamoto Musashi. Its Kyoto setting draws on local legends, while the combat asks players to combine sword attacks with careful timing and observation. Newcomers can start here without prior story knowledge, and longtime fans can look for connections to the series’ earlier ideas as the game approaches its planned 2026 release.
