What is the Onimusha Way of the Sword release date? It’s been almost 20 years since the last new Onimusha game launched, and although the series was reportedly to end after Jean Reno made an appearance in Onimusha 3, there was a soft reboot a few years later with Dawn of Dreams. Well, it’s time to sharpen that sword and make peace with your inner demons again, as we got a glimpse of Onimusha: Way of the Sword at The Game Awards 2024, along with a release window.
The Onimusha games play a lot like a survival horror game, only instead of shotguns and zombies, it’s more katanas and demons. Set mainly in feudal Japan, the samurai game revolves around harvesting souls from your fallen foes, becoming stronger in the process, and defeating whatever big boss happens to be standing in your way at the time. Here’s what we know about the Onimusha: Way of the Sword release date.
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, we believe Way of the Sword will follow suit by releasing in February 2026.
We don’t yet know which direction Onimusha Way of the Sword will take; whether it sticks to its survival horror roots, ala Resident Evil, or perhaps head in the ever-popular soulslike direction. Judging by the trailer, melee combat plays a huge part in the proceedings, and the collection of souls is still part of the gameplay loop, so fans of the previous games should still find a lot to be excited about.
Onimusha Way of the Sword gameplay
While we haven’t received any confirmation so far, the game’s official website highlights the Issen system as one of the series’ defining pillars. The Issen system is a parry, but with immediate and deadly consequences for your enemy. It favors those who are calm in battle and ones who know their foe well. Judging by this information, there’s a good chance this system returns in Way of the Sword.
We also see the powerful Oni Gauntlet in the reveal trailer. In previous games, our protagonists were able to transform into a powerful Onimusha state after collecting a certain number of souls. We can see the collection of souls initially in the trailer, so we’re hoping 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. You play as a samurai who has found themselves in 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 we’ll soon find out closer to the game’s launch.
Now that we have a solid 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, we have a list of the best new PC games here, and our picks for the most exciting upcoming games, as if you needed anything else.