More than two decades after the last new game in the series, Japanese company Capcom returns to the world of samurai with "Onimusha: The Way of the Sword," attempting to bring one of the most famous Japanese action game series back into the modern scene.
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The game, which was released earlier this month on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Nintendo Switch 2 and PC, quickly made a strong commercial debut, exceeding one million copies sold on its first day.
The game represents the first major new release in the Onimusha series in more than 20 years, in an attempt by Capcom to revive one of the labels that made a prominent presence in action games during the PlayStation 2 generation. The company says that total sales of the series have exceeded 10 million copies after the launch of the new game, compared to more than 9.1 million copies as of the end of March 2026.
But the series' return this year comes to a completely different market, as samurai games now rely on expansive worlds, more complex combat systems, and highly detailed graphics, putting Onimusha in front of the challenge of maintaining its old identity while delivering an experience capable of attracting new players.
Musashi faces a dark world
"The Way of the Sword" puts the historical samurai Miyamoto Musashi at the center of events, but the game does not offer a traditional historical version of Japan, as the events take place in Kyoto during the beginning of the Edo period, after the city was transformed into a dark "fantasy" world by malevolent clouds known as "Maliese".
Musashi uses his Oni gauntlet, which grants him superhuman abilities, to fight the Genma, the monsters that have been a cornerstone of the series' identity since its inception. Capcom describes the game as an action-sword fighting game, emphasizing fast-paced encounters and clashes against large numbers of enemies.
The sword is the heart of the experience
Capcom isn't trying to turn Onimusha into a massive open-world game as much as it's focusing on the core of the series, which is sword fighting. The company says the game uses modern technology to deliver more exciting combat action, along with a diverse story and characters and more detailed visuals.
This approach may be one of the game's strengths, as instead of entering into direct competition with open-world samurai games, "The Way of the Sword" maintains an identity that is more focused on confrontations, action, and story.
Last August, PlayStation revealed additional details about the PlayStation 5 gaming experience, along with an update to the demo and new information provided by the development team.
Can you compete with modern samurai games?
The most important question is not: Is Onimusha capable of regaining its past glory? Rather: Can it find a place among modern samurai games?
The market has become more competitive, and audiences are accustomed to large-scale productions offering expansive worlds, deep characters, and complex gameplay systems. In contrast, Capcom is banking on nostalgia for the series, its fast-paced combat, and the distinctive Japanese horror and fantasy elements that set it apart.
Initial launch figures indicate that the bet started strong, with Capcom announcing the sale of more than one million copies on the first day, noting that the numerous demos and promotional events before the launch helped to expand the base of those interested in the game.
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