Hands On: Onimusha: Way of the Sword Is Set to Continue Capcom’s Generational Winning Streak

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Ladies and gentlemen, I think Capcom’s done it again.

This Japanese company has been consistently releasing incredibly popular and well-received products for the past ten years.

While not every game has been a massive success—like Exoprimal and Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess—these small failures are easy to overlook considering how well Resident Evil, Street Fighter, and Monster Hunter are currently doing. Monster Hunter is poised for a comeback with the upcoming expansion for Wilds.

The developer’s dedication to quality has been truly remarkable. In fact, Capcom has arguably led the industry in 2026 with a fantastic lineup of games. Releasing Resident Evil Requiem, Monster Hunter Stories 3, and a brand new game called Pragmata – all before the middle of the year – is incredibly impressive.

And that leads us to Onimusha: Way of the Sword, which I’m thrilled to announce will be the fourth major title Capcom releases in 2026. That’s incredible!

I’m really excited about the new Onimusha game. I’ve played the demo four times already, and I think it has incredible potential.

I grew up playing the original Onimusha games on PlayStation 2 – I remember getting them used for a really low price when I was a teenager – and I’ve been excited to see Capcom revisiting the series.

Way of the Sword definitely feels like an Onimusha game, but the series has been away for so long that it needed a lot of updates to feel modern.

Reviving an older game series is risky. Unlike Resident Evil, Onimusha hasn’t consistently adapted to changing gaming trends and evolved over the years.

Capcom could have easily disregarded what made Onimusha special and simply created a new game, then used the name to attract fans who remember the original.

However, Way of the Sword successfully captures the feeling of those classic, ominous adventures. It’s bleak and gritty, maintaining a serious and enigmatic mood.

The biggest change is definitely in how the game plays. Honestly, the developers could have easily made it just a copy of other popular games. When it was first announced, everyone immediately wondered if it would be similar to the ‘Souls’ series, and that really sums it up.

Like many Capcom games, Way of the Sword does its own unique thing. The combat is careful and relies on your reactions, but it’s completely different from the style found in games made by FromSoftware.

The game features a distinctive combination of strong defensive moves – including blocks, parries, dodges, and perfectly timed versions of each – all brought to life with realistic animations, dangerous environments, and incredibly detailed interactions.

One of the best things about this game is how every fight feels fresh and spontaneous. While it’s a bit slower-paced overall, it makes you think strategically about blocking attacks and using the environment to your advantage.

You only strike when the moment is perfect, and the results are always noticeable. Waiting for the right time often pays off, and the game feels solid and well-built – just as you’d expect from Capcom.

It’s hard to compare Way of the Sword to other games. The way it feels is unique – the movement is a bit floaty, yet surprisingly responsive, and that applies to Musashi’s sword attacks as well.

The development team had a distinct vision for this game, and it really shines through in the demo. Capcom could have easily made Onimusha a ‘Souls-like’ game, or a simple action title like many others, but they chose a different path.

The combat feels really good – it’s both strategic and satisfying to control. I’m excited to see how it develops in the final game, because the core system is already strong, especially during the challenging boss fight in the demo.

Regarding the challenge, I wasn’t expecting a super difficult experience, and this demo isn’t particularly hard. There’s even a ‘story’ mode that makes parrying easier and increases your damage output.

I’ve noticed a few people are getting tripped up by the timing at first, but honestly, once you nail the rhythm, it’s super satisfying to completely outplay your opponents. I’m just curious if players who like really tough action games will find it challenging enough when it’s all said and done.

Honestly, I can’t imagine Capcom messing this up. I was already really excited for Onimusha: Way of the Sword, but after playing the demo, it’s easily become my most anticipated game of 2026.

Tried out the Onimusha: Way of the Sword demo yet? Excited for the full game when it comes out in September? Let us know what you think in the comments!

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2026-06-03 20:38