What is the Onimusha Way of the Sword release date? It’s been almost 20 years since the last new Onimusha game launched. The last mainline entry was Dawn of Dreams following Jean Reno’s infamous appearance in Onimusha 3, but poor sales put the series on ice. Until now.
It’s time to sharpen that sword and make peace with your inner demons again, because we’ve got a confirmed release window for Onimusha Way of the Sword. Set mainly in feudal Japan, the samurai game revolves around harvesting souls from your fallen foes to become stronger and defeating whatever big boss happens to be standing in your way. Here’s what we know about the Onimusha Way of the Sword release date, including all the latest news and trailers.
Onimusha Way of the Sword release date estimate
Onimusha Way of the Sword will be released in 2026 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. With the previous games all coming between January and March, it’s likely Way of the Sword will follow suit by releasing in February 2026.
Way of the Sword follows Musashi Miyamoto, who Onimusha fans will recall from his appearance in Onimusha: Blade Warriors, the Night of Genesis manga, and the animated Netflix show. Following the franchise’s long-standing tradition of pulling in historical figures, Musashi is based on the legendary swordsman of the same name.
Early previews confirm that Capcom has resisted the urge to lean into the ever-popular soulslike tropes, instead sticking to Onimusha’s action-horror roots. Melee combat continues to play a huge part in the proceedings, as does the collection of souls, so devoted fans can lay fears about undue modernization to rest.
Onimusha Way of the Sword trailers
Following its world premiere at The Game Awards last year, a Capcom Spotlight in February 2025 included a message from the Onimusha Way of the Sword developers. Producer Akihito Kadowaki established the three core aspects of The Way of the Sword’s dark fantasy: compelling characters, its Kyoto setting, and “ultimate sword-fighting action.”
Game director Satoru Nihei also confirms that The Way of the Sword will introduce real-life historical figures in its strange alternate setting of Kyoto. He confirms that the team are “not trying to make an impossibly difficult game,” which should come as some relief to action game fans who don’t want to see Onimusha go down the soulslike route.
Way of the Sword’s second trailer dropped at Summer Game Fest 2025. Musashi spends the majority of it dynamically slicing through Genma, before squaring off against a particularly porky boss. It appears that Musashi can use his newfound Oni powers to manipulate the space around him, shattering reality to force space between himself and foes, and revealing hidden areas in the environment. As Musashi dispatches his piggy prey, the scene shifts to the fated duel between himself and historical rival Sasaki Ganryu.
Onimusha Way of the Sword gameplay
As a series staple, it should come as no surprise to Onimusha fans that the Issen system returns in Way of the Sword. This deadly parry doles out lightning-fast punishment to enemies, cutting through them in one fell swoop. It favors those who are calm in battle and know their foe well.
We also see the powerful Oni Gauntlet in the reveal trailer in all its soul-consuming glory. In earlier entries in the series, our protagonists were able to transform into a powerful Onimusha state after collecting a certain number of souls. We can see it absorbing souls in the trailer, and we’re holding out hope that this mechanic makes a comeback in Way of the Sword.
Onimusha Way of the Sword story
Though the Way of the Sword teaser was quite story-lite, we know the outline of the plot from the game’s official Steam page. Set in Edo-era Kyoto, the land has been corrupted by clouds of Malice, and Musashi Miyamoto has come into possession of the Oni Gauntlet.
The Oni Gauntlet gives him the power to slay the Genma, referred to as “monstrosities from the underworld”. It’s unclear what the samurai’s reason for fighting is, but he claims he is “getting less human by the minute,” which may suggest that he is also subject to demonic corruption. No doubt that Way of the Sword will take creative liberties with Musashi’s real-world rivalry with Saski Kojiro, too.
Now that we have a window for the Onimusha Way of the Sword release date, it’s time to start preparing for our next foray into a rather hostile, demonic Japan. If you’re looking for something to play in the meantime, our Onimusha 2 remaster review is the perfect reintroduction to the series. We also have a list of the best new PC games to help you stay up to date with the latest releases.
