Onimusha: Way of the Sword made a triumphant return at the 2024 Game Awards, delighting fans of retro series revivals. Capcom first introduced the franchise in 2001, presenting Onimusha as a combat-focused twist on the classic Resident Evil set in feudal Japan. The series enjoyed immense success, selling over 8.7 million copies globally, but it took nearly two decades to move beyond the less popular fourth installment, Dawn of Dreams. Thankfully, with the groundwork laid by the 2018 remaster of Onimusha: Warlords, Onimusha: Way of the Sword is finally set to resume the action.
Although we currently have just a partial gameplay trailer and a brief overview, Onimusha: Way of the Sword seems to have brought the series back to life effortlessly. Taking place in the Edo period, much like the 2023 Netflix series that follows the Sengoku period, this game promises exciting demon-slaying adventures in Kyoto. There’s a chance that Musashi Miyamoto from the Netflix show could be the new main character, but Capcom is keeping quiet about the story and gameplay specifics for now. Still, with a release date set for 2026 on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S, we can expect more information to emerge soon.
Onimusha: Way of the Sword Should Reveal Itself Across 2025
What Past Onimusha’s Tell Us About Way of the Sword
A lot of what we’ve seen and hinted at in Onimusha: Way of the Sword draws heavily from the series’ history. The Genma forces are back, appearing as terrifying, demonic, and zombie-like foes that our lone swordsman must confront, often with minimal help. Thankfully, the Oni Gauntlet makes a return, allowing him to absorb colored souls for various resources and advantages. The protagonist’s mention of his own corruption suggests that the iconic Onimusha super form is also making a comeback, though its execution is likely to be distinct.
The trailer for Way of the Sword seems to hint at the return of the Issen counter-attack mechanic. This feature has been a hallmark of the classic Onimusha games, enhancing the slow and deliberate gameplay by allowing players to strike back at enemies during their attacks. It resembles the parry system in Metal Gear Rising more than the deflection mechanics found in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, but we’ll have to wait and see how Issen is implemented in Way of the Sword. Additionally, a note in the press release indicated that the game will follow a stage-based format, likely echoing the linear progression seen in previous Onimusha titles.
When Fans Can Expect To See Onimusha: Way of the Sword Again
We can look forward to more updates on Onimusha: Way of the Sword in 2025, as it’s set to launch in early 2026, which isn’t too far off. Capcom has already teased some gameplay ahead of 2025, but a stronger reason for this early buzz is that Onimusha is positioned as Capcom’s next big release after Monster Hunter Wilds and Dragon’s Dogma 2. With Pragmata still absent and no announcement for Resident Evil 9 despite various leaks, Onimusha is poised to fill the anticipated February or March 2026 release slot, with more specifics to come in 2025.
Based on that reasoning, it seems probable that we might see a trailer and possibly some press demos at the Summer Game Fest. Onimusha could also make an appearance at Gamescom, the Tokyo Game Show, and The Game Awards in 2025, along with a chance to show up in any State of Play or PlayStation Showcase. A six-month period of silence followed by the Summer Game Fest announcement feels like the most likely scenario, and it appears that Capcom might be intentionally following a similar timeline to Monster Hunter Wilds, which was revealed in 2023 and is set to launch in February 2025. If everything goes smoothly in development, Onimusha: Way of the Sword could be perfectly timed for release.