Onimusha: Way of the Sword

Miyamoto Musashi against the Genma

According to the official site, Miyamoto Musashi arrives in Kyoto determined to prove himself a warrior without equal. As soon as he arrives, he is attacked by the Genma, demons from hell. He can only stand up to them after being given an Oni Gauntlet, an artefact that absorbs the souls of defeated enemies. For Musashi this is a dilemma, because he believes mastery of the sword should rely on his own strength alone. His journey takes him through early Edo-period Kyoto, twisted by Malice, from Kiyomizu-dera to Mount Oe. The hero's face is modelled on actor Toshiro Mifune, and the game is fully voiced in French.

Gameplay: parries, deflects and Issen

Combat is all about timing. Musashi can block, dodge, parry, deflect and trigger the Issen, the series' signature counterattack: you have to strike at the exact moment the enemy attacks. The aim is to drain your opponent's stamina gauge and land a critical blow. Souls play several roles: yellow souls heal, blue souls power Oni weapons and red souls upgrade equipment and skills. It is not an open world: Kyoto serves as a hub with side quests, in between more linear levels. Expect 20 to 30 hours according to Eurogamer, and up to 39 hours to do everything according to IGN.

What critics praise

Reviews are very positive. IGN (10/10) calls it "an incredible action game with an excellent story to match" and praises a combat system where "anything feels like it can happen". For Eurogamer (4/5), no other game makes you feel more like a swordsman of legend. PC Gamer (83/100) sees "a sublime mix of classic Capcom action and weighty physical swordfighting". TheGamer (4.5/5) calls it "easily the best game" Capcom has released this year, and several reviews highlight a funny, charismatic Musashi.

What critics criticise

The main criticism is pacing. According to PC Gamer, "the only enemy it can't overcome is its own pacing". The review points to a dull Kyoto hub, grindy crafting materials and bosses that come back too often. GamesRadar+ (3.5/5) finds it "inconsistent": it forces you to repeat some side activities, and its final boss is judged significantly overtuned. Eurogamer finds the exploration between fights less impressive than the big set-piece battles.

Prices and versions

Prices checked on 10 November 2026: on Steam (France), the standard edition costs €69.99, the Deluxe Edition €79.99 and the Premium Deluxe Edition €89.99, with no discount. On the French PlayStation Store, the PS5 version costs €79.99 (€89.99 for the Deluxe and €99.99 for the Premium Deluxe). The Microsoft Store also lists €79.99 for the Xbox Series X|S and PC version. A free demo is available. The game is rated PEGI 18.

Who is it for?

Fans of demanding action games that are less punishing than a Soulslike: you can pause, there are accessibility options, and death simply sends you back to the last autosave (GamesRadar+). It will also appeal to those who love highly technical sword fights, memorable bosses and samurai stories. Players who dislike repetitive side quests or gathering materials may find the middle of the adventure a little long.

What the press says

On PS5, reviewers mostly praise the demanding combat system, memorable boss fights and Musashi's personality; Push Square notes some filler side quests and combat that takes a few hours to fully click. The average shown in the « La note de la rédaction » block is calculated from the PS5 reviews by IGN, Push Square and Hey Poor Player, scores checked on 10 November 2026.