Onimusha: Way of the Sword review — Capcom’s PS5 reboot praised

Capcom released Onimusha: Way of the Sword for PlayStation 5 in 2026. The title is the first new entry in the Onimusha franchise since 2006 and has drawn attention in early reviews for its combat systems, major boss encounters and its lead character, Miyamoto Musashi.

Reviewers note the game uses the likeness of the late actor Toshiro Mifune for Musashi and highlight facial animation and character moments as notable elements of the presentation. The narrative presents Musashi as a skilled samurai who follows a personal code, and an early plot twist establishes aspects of his approach to combat and decision-making.

Critics describe the combat as a core feature. Players can switch between one-handed and two-handed sword stances, use environmental hazards and objects against groups of enemies, and perform parries that deplete opponents’ stamina. The system includes close-quarters finishing moves with strong visual impact. As players progress, the game adds weapons such as a long-range bow and new skills that assist in both fights and exploration. Reviewers report puzzle-solving sections are interspersed with combat encounters, and they say the design does not follow the harder “Soulslike” template commonly referenced in action games.

Major boss encounters pit players against multi-phase Genma demons. Reviews describe these fights as visually elaborate and built around attack patterns that require timing, pattern recognition, precise dodging and effective parrying. Regular enemy groups can present difficulty when they surround the player, while reviewers identify the large boss fights as the most demanding challenges.

Onimusha: Way of the Sword is part of Capcom’s 2026 release slate, which includes other recent titles from the company. Critics have assigned high scores to the game in several reviews, with at least one review giving it a 9 out of 10. The game is available on PlayStation 5.