Onimusha: Way of the Sword Review — Worth Buying? (2026)

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Verdict: Onimusha: Way of the Sword launched September 4, 2026 — three weeks earlier than originally planned — to an 86 on Metacritic and a rare 10/10 from IGN, the first perfect score IGN has ever given the series. Capcom ended the franchise’s 20-year hiatus with its best-reviewed entry yet. If tight, demanding sword combat is what you’re after, this is close to a must-buy.

Table of Contents

What Is Onimusha: Way of the Sword About?

Onimusha: Way of the Sword — official key art

You play Miyamoto Musashi — modeled after Toshiro Mifune, the actor behind Rashomon and Seven Samurai — in an early Edo-period Kyoto twisted by malevolent clouds of Malice. Musashi wields the Oni Gauntlet, a mystical artifact that lets him slay Genma, monstrosities pouring in from the underworld, in a story that blends real historical setting with dark fantasy horror.

How Does the Combat System Work?

Daidara, a boss added mid-way through the pre-launch demo period

The combat runs on two core systems layered on top of standard swordplay. Issen is a perfectly-timed counter: parry an incoming blow in a razor-thin window and Musashi answers with an instant, often one-hit riposte — the highest-skill, highest-reward move in the kit. Soul Absorption complements it: drawing souls from defeated Genma with the Oni Gauntlet heals Musashi, upgrades his stats, and charges Oni Armaments, a set of special weapons that sit alongside his sword. Capcom kept expanding the pre-launch demo throughout 2026, at one point adding a new boss, Daidara, and more playable areas, and director Satoru Nihei has said the team rebuilt the series’ rules from the ground up specifically so newcomers can jump in without any Onimusha history. It shows in the review consensus: the duel-style “Formidable Foes” encounters, including rival swordsman Sasaki Ganryu, are repeatedly singled out by critics as some of the strongest boss design of the year.

Is Onimusha: Way of the Sword Any Good?

Outlet	Score	Take
Metacritic	86	80+ critic reviews, none rated negative
IGN	10/10	First perfect score IGN has given any Onimusha game

This is Capcom’s best-reviewed Onimusha by a real margin — not a nostalgia-driven comeback that merely clears a low bar, but a genuine critical hit on its own terms.

What Do Critics Like (and Not Like)?

Musashi facing off against a Genma

The combat is the near-unanimous highlight: precise parries, the classic Issen counter technique, and a varied arsenal of Oni weapons make the swordplay feel demanding in a way critics are comparing favorably to genre leaders. The sharpest criticism — and it shows up repeatedly — is that the roughly 25-hour campaign gets padded with repetitive side content. Critics are nearly unanimous that the combat is excellent; they’re split on whether the full campaign length actually earns it. If precise, demanding swordplay is what hooks you, it’s worth comparing against our ranking of the best fighting games of all time.

How Long Is Onimusha: Way of the Sword?

The main campaign runs around 25 hours. That’s a real commitment for an action game built primarily around combat encounters, which is exactly where the “padding” criticism comes from — if you’re the type to skip side content in action games, you can likely trim that down meaningfully.

What Editions and Price Are Available?

The Standard Edition is $69.99 with the base game only. The Deluxe Edition is $79.99 and adds the Deluxe Kit — three charms, four sword appearances, a custom Red Armor for Musashi, and the Crimson Lotus Oni Gauntlet. It’s out now on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC via Steam. See our full roundup of the best PS5 games of 2026 for more day-one-worthy picks.

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Verdict

Onimusha: Way of the Sword is the rare 20-years-later revival that actually justifies itself — IGN’s first-ever perfect score for the series isn’t a fluke, it reflects combat that critics are treating as genuinely best-in-class. The only real caveat is pacing: if a 25-hour action campaign with some repetitive stretches sounds like a dealbreaker, temper expectations there. Everything built around the sword fighting itself is getting near-universal praise.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Onimusha: Way of the Sword’s Metacritic score?
It holds an 86 on Metacritic with more than 80 critic reviews and none rated negative. IGN gave it a rare 10/10.

When did Onimusha: Way of the Sword release?
September 4, 2026 — Capcom moved the release forward three weeks from its originally announced September 25 date.

How long is Onimusha: Way of the Sword?
The main campaign runs approximately 25 hours, though critics are divided on whether the full length avoids repetitive padding.

What platforms is Onimusha: Way of the Sword on?
PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC via Steam.