Onimusha: Way of the Swordwas one of several retro series revivals that graced the 2024 Game Awards, and it’s a sight for sore eyes. Capcom kicked the franchise off in 2001, establishingOnimushaas a more combat-heavy feudal Japan take on classicResident Evil. The series was a big hit at the time, selling over 8.7 million units worldwide, but it’s taken nearly twenty years to move past the unpopular fourth mainline entry,Dawn of Dreams. Fortunately, afterOnimusha: Warlords’ 2018 remaster laid the groundwork,Onimusha: Way of the Swordis finally ready to continue the fight.
Although little more than a partial gameplay trailer and short blurb are currently available,Onimusha: Way of the Swordseems to have picked the series back up like it never left. Set in the Edo period like the 2023 Netflix show, which comes after the Sengoku periodOnimushabegan in,Way of the Swordbrings the demon-slashing action to Kyoto. TheOnimushaNetflix show’s Musashi Miyamotocould return as the new protagonist, but Capcom is currently staying tight-lipped about story and gameplay details. Still,Onimusha: Way of the Swordis due out in 2026 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S, so the silence can’t last for long.
Onimusha: Way of the Sword Should Reveal Itself Across 2025
What Past Onimusha’s Tell Us About Way of the Sword
Much of what’s been shown and implied to be inOnimusha: Way of the Swordis rooted in the series’ past. Once again, the Genma forces return as monstrous, demonic, and zombie-like enemies dealt with by a line or sparsely assisted swordsman. Fortunately for him, the Oni Gauntlet is also back and able to absorb colored souls for their standard resources and benefits. The player character’s comment about his own corruption implies that the titular Onimusha super form has returned alongside it, though how it’s implemented will probably be unique.
Way of the Sword’s trailer also appears to confirm the Issen counter-attack’s return. This mechanic is a staple of classicOnimushatitles, and compliments its slow, grounded gameplay with the ability to strike down enemies while they’re trying to attack. In that sense, it’s closer toMetal Gear Rising’s parries than thedeflecting ofSekiro: Shadows Die Twice, but only time will tell how exactly Issen works inWay of the Sword. A comment in the press release also confirmed that the game would use a stage-based structure, likely similar to the linear progression of pastOnimushatitles.
When Fans Can Expect To See Onimusha: Way of the Sword Again
More news aboutOnimusha: Way of the Swordwill likely arrive in 2025, as its 2026 release window isn’t that far away. One could attribute this to Capcom’s willingness to show what resembled gameplay before 2025 even started, but a better justification is thatOnimushais Capcom’s next end-of-fiscal year game afterMonster Hunter WildsandDragon’s Dogma 2.Pragmatais still missingandResident Evil 9hasn’t been announced despite its many leaks, soOnimushacould fill the expected February or March 2026 release window, the specifics to be revealed later in 2025.
Going by that logic, a trailer, and potentially press demos, at Summer Game Fest feels likely.Onimushacould have a place at Gamescom, Tokyo Game Show, and The Game Awards 2025, and has a similar shot at appearing in any State of Play or PlayStation Showcase. Six months of silence followed by the Summer Game Fest release date reveal sounds most likely, and the whole situation could be Capcom deliberately mirroringMonster Hunter Wilds’ path from its 2023 revealto its February 2025 launch. If development is smooth enough to match this schedule,Onimusha: Way of the Swordcould be timed just right.
