So Capcom just dropped a bomb at the PlayStation State of Play, and honestly? I’m still processing it. Onimusha is back. Like, actually back. Not a remaster, not a port, but a brand new game coming in 2026.
And they’re going all in with this one.
The Legend Returns: Miyamoto Musashi Takes Center Stage
Here’s what makes this announcement wild: the main character is literally Miyamoto Musashi. You know, THE Miyamoto Musashi. One of Japan’s most legendary swordsmen whose real-life exploits are the stuff of, well, legend. The guy wrote The Book of Five Rings and allegedly never lost a duel. Ever.
Capcom’s calling it Onimusha: Way of the Sword, and from what we’ve seen in the trailer, Musashi’s sword skills look absolutely insane. But what really caught my attention is his personality. He’s got this roguish, almost comedic vibe going on that feels fresh for the series. Not your typical stoic samurai protagonist, which is pretty refreshing if you ask me.
That Face Looks Familiar (And It Should)
Fun fact: Musashi’s character model is based on Toshiro Mifune. If that name doesn’t ring a bell, he’s basically one of the most iconic Japanese actors ever, particularly famous for playing samurai roles. He actually portrayed Musashi in several classic samurai films back in the day.
Talk about coming full circle.
It’s a nice touch that shows Capcom’s really thinking about the cultural weight they’re playing with here. You don’t just casually pick Miyamoto Musashi as your protagonist without understanding what that means to fans of Japanese history and cinema.
Hell Literally Comes to Kyoto
The setup is pure Onimusha energy. Kyoto’s been overrun by an evil force called Malic (spelling might vary, but you get the idea), and this thing is basically opening the gates of Hell and summoning demons into feudal Japan. Because of course it is.
What I love about this premise is how it blends historical Japan with dark fantasy horror elements. That’s always been the Onimusha sweet spot, right? Taking real historical periods and figures, then throwing supernatural nightmare fuel at them. It worked in the early 2000s, and honestly, with modern graphics? This could be stunning.
The footage showed some massive enemies too. Like, really big. The kind that make you go “oh cool, a boss fight” and then realize it’s probably just a regular Tuesday in this version of Kyoto.
First New Game in Two Decades
Let that sink in. Twenty years. The last mainly new Onimusha game came out in 2006 (Dawn of Dreams, if you’re keeping track). Sure, we got that remaster of the first game back in 2019, but that was more of a “hey remember this exists?” moment than anything else.
This is huge for fans who’ve been waiting literally half their lives for a proper sequel.
And Capcom knows it. They’re not just dropping this game and calling it a day. They announced that Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny is getting a full remaster dropping on May 23, 2025. Smart move, honestly. Gets people back into the franchise, reminds everyone why they loved these games, and builds hype for Way of the Sword.
The Gameplay Looks Seriously Good
From what we saw in the State of Play trailer, the combat is sword-focused action that looks smooth as hell. Musashi’s moving with this fluid grace that makes every slash feel deliberate and powerful. The enemy design leans heavy into that demonic horror aesthetic the series is known for.
What’s interesting is how Capcom’s describing it as a “dark fantasy action game.” Not survival horror with action elements like the originals, but straight-up action. That might disappoint some purists, but let’s be real: the gaming landscape has changed massively since 2006. Modern action games can be incredibly deep and challenging without relying on fixed camera angles and tank controls (which, let’s be honest, some of us don’t miss at all).
Plus, with games like Sekiro and Ghost of Tsushima raising the bar for sword combat, Capcom’s probably feeling the pressure to deliver something that feels fresh and competitive in 2026.
Why This Matters More Than You Think
The gaming industry’s been on this huge Japanese history kick lately. Ghost of Tsushima blew up. Sekiro won Game of the Year. Rise of the Ronin came out. There’s clearly an appetite for samurai games done right, and Onimusha returning now feels perfectly timed.
But here’s the thing: Onimusha was doing this before it was cool again. The original trilogy defined what a samurai action game could be for an entire generation of players. Seeing it come back with modern graphics, refined combat systems, and the budget of a major Capcom release? That’s legitimately exciting.
And choosing Miyamoto Musashi isn’t just fan service. It’s a statement. You want to compete with Ghost of Tsushima and Sekiro? You bring out the most famous swordsman in Japanese history and you better make damn sure the sword combat lives up to that legacy.
What We’re Still Waiting to Learn
Obviously, 2026 is still pretty far off, and Capcom kept a lot close to the chest. We don’t know much about gameplay mechanics, whether there’s any of that soul-absorbing stuff from the original games, how open or linear the world will be, or really anything about other characters in the story.
The “Way of the Sword” subtitle suggests a heavy focus on, well, the sword (shocking, I know), but does that mean weapon variety is limited? Or are we getting different sword styles? Musashi was famous for his two-sword technique, so that’s probably in there somewhere.
Also curious about difficulty. Will this be Sekiro-hard or more accessible? The trailer didn’t really give us enough to judge combat depth, but given it’s Capcom and they’ve been killing it lately with games like Devil May Cry 5 and Resident Evil remakes, I’m cautiously optimistic they know what they’re doing.
THE ONIMUSHA: WAY OF THE SWORD (2026) CAST
Yoshimasa Hosoya voices:
