There aren’t too many samurai games out there, but after scouring the internet for weeks, we have finally come up with a list containing the best samurai games ever made.
For years, the samurai period has always been a fascinating part of history to read through. The way of the samurai has also been a subject of interest to many. Anything from their brutal ways, and honour, to their excellent battle style when fighting side by side is just fascinating.
Such a historically rich period has influenced the making of several movies, series, and comics based on the samurai. Video games weren’t an exception either as early game adaptations of the samurai era probably date back to the 90s. Years have passed, and with hardware improving rapidly, several developers have succeeded in emulating the samurai soul through video games.
The release of Sucker Punch’s Ghost of Tsushima has seen a revived interest in anything surrounding the samurai period. And here we are about to talk about the best samurai games ever made. Ranging from popular to obscure titles that you probably did not know existed.
Onimusha |
About | |
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Initial Release Date January 25, 2001 (23 years) | First Entry Onimusha: Warlords |
Country of Origin Japan | |
Main Developer & Publisher Capcom | |
Main Genre Hack & Slash |
Onimusha was once one of Capcom’s most lucrative series before it was dethroned by the Devil May Cry franchise. Originally, the franchise in its early development phase debuted as the “Resident Evil meets the samurai” concept. But in the end, it evolved to become its own thing. The result? brilliant.
Onimusha’s take on the whole feudal Japan period is worthy of praise, especially with the addition of demons and sci-fi. The cinematic cutscenes were definitely ahead of their time, thanks to the incredible team at Capcom back then. The original trilogy was similar to Resident Evil with the fixed camera perspective, demons lurking in the surroundings, and the dreadful atmosphere. The last canonical game in the franchise brought the series to new heights with the addition of an RPG system, teamwork and, most importantly the inclusion of a hack and slash system.
Onimusha is one of the best samurai games ever made, and it’s tragic that such a franchise may not be entirely revived anytime soon.
Genji: Dawn of the Samurai / Genji™: Days of the Blade2005 / 2006 |
About | |
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Release Date June 30, 2005 | |
Developer Game Republic | |
Publisher Sony Interactive Entertainment | |
Genre Hack & Slash | |
Concept Samurai | |
Players Single Player | |
Monetization Buy to Play | |
Country of Origin Japan |
Available On | |||
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About | |
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Release Date November 11, 2006 | |
Developer Game Republic | |
Publisher Sony Interactive Entertainment | |
Genre Hack & Slash | |
Concept Samurai | |
Players Single Player | |
Monetization Buy to Play | |
Country of Origin Japan |
Available On | |||
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Genji is often compared to the likes of Onimusha, but in fact, both of these games are different to one another. Genji: Dawn of the Samurai and the sequel are hack and slash titles set in Feudal Japan and loosely based on the Tale of the Heike.
The game’s plot features two main protagonists; Minamoto no Yoshitsune and Musashibo Benkei. Each is different from the other, but both possess one unique mechanic that is the Amahagane. Basically, what the Amahagane does is slightly slow the movement of your enemies for some time, enabling you to execute a fatal strike by pressing certain buttons. This is a valuable mechanic against bosses, but it requires attentive attention to the timing.
Ghost of Tsushima2020 |
About | |
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Release Date July 17, 2020 | |
Developer Sucker Punch Productions | |
Publisher PlayStation Studios | |
Genre Open World | |
Concept Samurai | |
Players Single Player | |
Monetization Buy to Play | |
Country of Origin Japan |
Remakes | |||
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Ghost of Tsushima (2020 Original Release) | |||
Ghost of Tsushima: Director's Cut (2021 Content Update) | |||
Ghost of Tsushima is one of the best samurai games released back in 2020. Upon its release, critics and gamers alike regarded it as the best samurai game to date. Its beautiful world to explore, the (challenging-but-not-hard) sword fighting gameplay along with its addictive story, left many craving for more.
The game’s story puts you in the shoes of Jin Sakai in his pursuit of mastering the way of the samurai to thwart the Mongols’ plans and his relentless fight for the peace of Japan. Many developers such as Yakuza‘s creator, Nagoshi Toshihiro, praised Ghost of Tsushima for its accuracy in retelling part of the samurai legacy.
Way of the Samurai |
About | |
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Initial Release Date February 07, 2002 (22 years) | First Entry Way of the Samurai |
Country of Origin Japan | |
Main Developer Acquire | |
Main Publisher Spike | |
Main Genre Hack & Slash |
Way of the Samurai franchise is arguably one of the best depictions of the samurai era. In every part of the series, you’re just a clueless ronin wandering the land of Japan. And since the game does the least of its effort to tell you what to do or where to go, you’re free to choose your adventure. However, you also should bear in mind the consequences of such a path. Similar to role-playing games, you can customize your character however you want, upgrade your stats, and most importantly, the game features different endings.
Fans of the Rurouni Kenshin anime will feel right at home with this one. The gameplay is engaging, although the first two entries in the franchise can be rough around the edges. Upon defeating your enemies, you can take their sword and upgrade it at the blacksmith. You can pay him or just scam him and run. But be informed that if you do scam him, he’ll follow you for the rest of the game until you’re dead.
Nioh / Nioh 22017 / 2020 |
About | |
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Release Date February 07, 2017 | |
Developer Team Ninja | |
Publisher Koei Tecmo | |
Genre Action RPG | |
Players Multiplayer, Single Player | |
Monetization Buy to Play | |
Country of Origin Japan |
About | |
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Release Date March 12, 2020 | |
Developer Team Ninja | |
Publisher Koei Tecmo | |
Genre Action RPG | |
Perspective Third-Person | |
Concept Samurai | |
Players Online Co-Op, Single Player | |
Monetization Buy to Play | |
Country of Origin Japan |
Remakes | |||
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Nioh 2 (2020 Original Release) | |||
Nioh 2 - The Complete Edition (2021 Complete Edition) | |||
Nioh was Team Ninja’s answer to FromSoftware’s Dark Souls, except the former is a much harder experience for hardcore gamers. Originally revealed at E3 2005, Nioh went through a long development phase before officially landing on the PS4 back in 2017. Needless to say, the wait was worth it.
Set in the early 1600s Sengoku era, players take on the role of an Englishman named William in a quest to obtain knowledge and power in a world occupied by demons. Unlike other Souls games that put heavy emphasis on strategy in combat, Nioh is all about faster reflexes and attention to your surroundings. You never know when an angry samurai will show up to chop your head off.
Sekiro™ Shadows Die Twice2019 セキロ:シャドウズ ダイ トゥワイス (Sekiro: Shadōzu Dai Towaisu) |
About | |
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Release Date March 22, 2019 | |
Developer FromSoftware | |
Publisher Activision | |
Genre Hack & Slash | |
Graphics 3D | |
Perspective Third-Person | |
Interaction Real-Time | |
Concept Ninja | |
Players Single Player | |
Monetization Buy to Play | |
Country of Origin Japan |
Available On | |||
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Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is technically not a samurai game since the game places you as a lone Shinobi named Wolf. However, unlike ninja titles like Tenchu, Sekiro pits you against fearsome samurai warriors whom you must defeat. FromSoftware’s title’s focus on melee combat, deflecting enemies’ attacks and parrying emulates the essence of the samurai sword style.
The gameplay can be easily compared to Nioh. However, both manage to differ from one another in many different aspects. The thing that makes Nioh and Sekiro similar to one another is perhaps the heavy focus on countering the enemy’s ruthless movements, and how it nudges players to be strategic with every move they make as the enemy can easily one-shit kill you.
For Honor™2017 |
About | |
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Release Date February 14, 2017 | |
Developer Ubisoft | |
Publisher Ubisoft | |
Genre MOBA | |
Graphics 3D | |
Perspective Third-Person | |
Interaction Real-Time | |
Concept Medieval | |
Players Online PvP | |
Monetization Buy to Play | |
Country of Origin France |
Available On | |||
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For Honor is an action game developed and published by Ubisoft back in 2017. Despite not focusing entirely on the samurai, the game allows players to experience the roles of different historical soldiers such as Vikings, knights, ancient Chinese and of course, samurai. For Honor is perhaps the only game to ever have different forms of soldiers in one game, which is pretty much uncommon these days.
Thanks to the Ubisoft Anvil engine, For Honor feels realistic. Fights are intense, and the blend of different fighting styles makes for an enjoyable experience. Each faction is different from the other. However, the samurai in For Honor are in a league of their own. They’re quick, strong deadly and know how to put their opponents to submission.
Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time2020 サムライジャック:時空の戦い (Samurai Jakku: Jikū no Tatakai) |
About | |
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Release Date August 21, 2020 | |
Developer Soleil | |
Publisher Adult Swim Games | |
Genre Hack & Slash | |
Concept Samurai | |
Players Single Player | |
Monetization Buy to Play | |
Country of Origin Japan |
Available On | |||
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Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time came out as a surprise. Many speculated that the game will just turn out to be another cash-grab title that time will forget, but boy what a surprise it was. Battle Through Time is indisputably the best Samurai Jack game. Although we hope that its humble success may one day push Adult Swim Games to make a game adaption of the entire series. One can only hope.
The gameplay is surprisingly solid, offering a variety of combos, weapons and even guns which Jack can stumble across throughout the game. If you’re a fan of Samurai Jack, you’re in for a memorable experience. One thing you probably don’t know is that Tomonobu Itagaki, the guy behind the Ninja Gaiden reboot was involved in the making of this game. Perhaps this will give you an incentive to try it out.
Katana Zero2019 |
About | |
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Release Date April 17, 2019 | |
Developer Askiisoft | |
Publisher Deep Silver | |
Genre 2D Platformer | |
Concepts Cyberpunk, Samurai, Sci-Fi | |
Players Single Player | |
Monetization Buy to Play | |
Country of Origin United States |
Available On | |||
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Katana Zero puts you as Zero, a skilled samurai assassin diagnosed with amnesia. His job is all about murdering anyone he’s ordered to finish off. Zero has the power to slow down time and perform stylish kills thanks to the Chronos drug. As you slice down enemies in slow motion, you can dodge bullets, jump and execute your hit. The game isn’t a walk in the park, but it’s not so difficult either. The bullet-time mode is a god’s send since it helps, and each kill feels satisfying.
Have you ever wanted to wear your kimono, grab the katana, put on your headphones, and start slicing anyone that comes your way? Surprise, Katana Zero has that vibe for you. The game is all about slicing and dicing, and if you fail? Time to rewind. This samurai isn’t screwing around.
Bushido Blade 21998 ブシドーブレード弐 (Bushidō Burēdo Tsu) |
About | |
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Release Date March 12, 1998 | |
Developer Light Weight | |
Publisher Square | |
Genre 3D Fighting | |
Players Multiplayer, Single Player | |
Monetization Buy to Play | |
Country of Origin Japan |
Available On | |||
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Bushido Blade 2 is a sword fighting game developed by LightWeight and published by Square on the original PlayStation. There exists a spiritual successor titled Kengo: Master of Bushido and a spin-off Sword of the Samurai if you want to check them as well.
Fights in Bushido Blade 2 are intense in the sense that every fight is about striking body parts to weaken your opponent. If your timing is right, the fight can end in one single hit kill. Players need to pay attention to their opponent and know when to guard, parry and when it’s time to swing their sword. Bushido Blade 2 will teach you how to be patient, and how to learn the code of the Bushido.
Samurai Warriors® 52021 戦国無双5 (Sengoku Musou 5) |
About | |
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Release Date June 24, 2021 | |
Developer Omega Force | |
Publisher Koei Tecmo | |
Franchise Dynasty Warriors | |
Genre Musou | |
Concept Samurai | |
Players Online Co-Op, Single Player, Split-Screen Co-Op | |
Monetization Buy to Play | |
Country of Origin Japan |
Available On | |||
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Samurai warriors had a pretty humble start on the PlayStation 2. However, with each new release, the series just kept getting crazier with the massive amount of enemies you can mop on the screen. Samurai Warriors 5 took the series to new heights with the enormous enemies on-screen and is regarded as one of the best follow-ups in the franchise.
Many owe it to the Dynasty Warriors franchise for paving the way to what’s known as ” Musou ” these days. Musou is a sub-genre of the hack and slash formula in which you fight hordes of enemies one after another. Players can choose from several characters and each with their storyline, though they don’t differ much plot-wise. Samurai Warriors 5 is recommended for those who just want to turn off their brain and hack down enemy hordes like lawnmowers.
Afro Samurai2009 |
About | |
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Release Date January 27, 2009 | |
Developer Surge | |
Publisher Bandai Namco | |
Genre Hack & Slash | |
Graphics 3D | |
Perspective Third-Person | |
Concept Anime | |
Players Single Player | |
Monetization Buy to Play | |
Country of Origin United States |
Available On | |||
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Afro Samurai is a dedicated attempt by the developers to emulate Takashi Okazaki’s manga of the same name. And despite its flaws from the lack of a lock-on system to its short length, this hack and slash is an awesome experience. The game’s plot is a tale of revenge featuring our (not chill) black afro samurai seeking out the person who murdered his father.
The gameplay sees you hacking and slashing your way through waves of goons left and right. You’re a samurai with certain deadly moves under your belt that can cut anyone in half, but what makes the game memorable is its hip-hop music and its unique vibes. With each swing you throw, you sync to the excellent music which plays a significant role in immersing the player. Granted, you’ll have a hard time not humming with the music.
Samurai Champloo: Sidetracked2006 サムライチャンプル (Samurai Chanpurū) |
About | |
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Release Date February 23, 2006 | |
Developer Grasshopper Manufacture | |
Publisher Bandai Namco | |
Genre Hack & Slash | |
Players Single Player | |
Monetization Buy to Play | |
Country of Origin Japan |
Available On | |||
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Samurai Champloo: Sidetracked, similar to Afro Samurai, is an honest take on the anime. Developed by Grasshopper Manufacture and directed by Suda 51 himself. Now in case you didn’t know who that is, be ready to enjoy a wacky experience.
While Samurai Champloo: Sidetracked features elements from the hack and slash genre, it has an interesting playstyle that makes it stand from the horde. The game emphasizes defeating foes to the soundtracks and remixing manoeuvres which essentially emulate the vibes of the anime. The developers have faithfully emulated the vibes of the show, and it goes to show that maybe the guys at Grasshopper Manufacture may have watched the anime. The only downside to Samurai Champloo: Sidetracked is the insanely difficult final boss, which isn’t only hard, but insanely unfair.
Blood Will Tell: Tezuka Osamu's Dororo2004 |
About | |
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Release Date November 09, 2004 | |
Developer Red Entertainment | |
Publisher SEGA | |
Genre Hack & Slash | |
Graphics 3D | |
Perspective Third-Person | |
Interaction Real-Time | |
Concept Samurai | |
Players Single Player | |
Monetization Buy to Play | |
Country of Origin Japan |
Available On | |||
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Blood Will Tell is a hack and slash game that I’ve talked about on the site numerous times, and here I’m once again doing the same thing. Blood Will Tell (or known as Dororo in Japan) is a hack and slash based on the original 1967 manga by Tezuka Osamu.
As a lone samurai (Hyakkimaru) along with his sidekick (Dororo), together they go on an epic adventure to retrieve Hyakki’s missing body parts that were taken away from him when he was born.
Soul of the Samurai1999 新時代劇アクション 羅刹の剣 (Shin Jidaigeki Action: Rasetsu no Ken) |
About | |
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Release Date April 28, 1999 | |
Developer Konami Computer Entertainment Sapporo | |
Publisher Konami | |
Genre Hack & Slash | |
Concepts Ninja, Samurai | |
Players Single Player | |
Monetization Buy to Play | |
Country of Origin Japan |
Available On | |||
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Soul of the Samurai is Konami’s Onimusha before Onimusha even existed. The game’s controls haven’t aged well, and neither the graphics, but I’m sure that for those who are looking to dig through obscure gems, Soul of the Samurai might pique your interest.
Similar to other samurai games that were released on the original PlayStation, Soul of the Samurai is a serious take on the sword fighting style and feudal Japan. Combat pits you against zombie samurai that will surely evoke the way of the samurai inside you. You travel through town, converse with people, solve quests and so on. Compared to Onimusha, the combat is slow. Perhaps it was made that way to re-imagine realistic one-on-one fighting encounters, and honestly, those encounters never get old. What makes me recommend Soul of the Samurai is that it’s an influential game that paved the way for many developers to expand upon the initial concept. So if you’re a fan of digging through history, try this one.
Sengoku Basara 42014 |
About | |
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Release Date January 23, 2014 | |
Developer Capcom | |
Publisher Capcom | |
Genre Hack & Slash | |
Players Multiplayer, Single Player | |
Monetization Buy to Play | |
Country of Origin Japan |
Remakes | |||
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Sengoku Basara 4 (2014 Original Release) | |||
Sengoku Basara 4: Sumeragi (2015 Content Update) | |||
Sengoku Basara is Capcom’s take on the Musou formula, and while the trilogy was localized in the west, the fourth game remains sealed in the land of the samurai. An expanded release titled Sengoku Basara 4 Sumeragi was launched shortly after for PS3 and PS4. And that one is also Japan-exclusive.
Similar to several Musou titles by Omega Force, you fight waves after waves of mobs using a combination of attacks. The game rewards the player using such stylish gameplay with either more gold or power. While retaining mechanics from its predecessors, the fourth entry introduces new things as well. Fans of hack and slash games and especially samurai aficionados will surely want to check an eye on this, especially if you speak the language.
Brave Fencer Musashi1998 ブレイヴフェンサー 武蔵伝 (Bureivu Fensā Musashiden, Brave Fencer: The Legend of Musashi) |
About | |
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Release Date July 16, 1998 | |
Developer Square | |
Publisher Square | |
Genre JRPG | |
Players Single Player | |
Monetization Buy to Play | |
Country of Origin Japan |
Available On | |||
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Brave Fencer Musashi is a cute JRPG developed and published by Square back in its golden era. A follow-up titled Musashi Samurai Legend was released on the PS2, but the fanbase tends to pretend the game never existed.
Brave Fencer Musashi is a brave adventure that puts you in the shoes of a young samurai named Musashi. He embarks on a journey to collect the Five Scrolls which will grant his blade the power to defend Allucaneet from the evil empire.
Ryū ga Gotoku Kenzan! / Ryū ga Gotoku Ishin!2008 / 2014 |
About | |
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Release Date March 06, 2008 | |
Developer Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio | |
Publisher SEGA | |
Franchise Yakuza | |
Genre Hack & Slash | |
Players Single Player | |
Monetization Buy to Play | |
Country of Origin Japan |
About | |
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Release Date February 22, 2014 | |
Developer Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio | |
Publisher SEGA | |
Franchise Yakuza | |
Genre Hack & Slash | |
Graphics 3D | |
Perspective Third-Person | |
Interaction Real-Time | |
Concept Samurai | |
Players Single Player | |
Monetization Buy to Play | |
Country of Origin Japan |
Remakes | |||
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Ryū ga Gotoku Ishin! (2014 Original Release) | |||
Like a Dragon: Ishin! (2023 Remake) | |||
Kenzan and Ishin are two spin-offs in the Yakuza franchise. The series is often renowned for its action role-playing beat’em up formula, but spin-offs such as Kenzan and Ishin brought a new spin to the series. Both of these are set in ancient Japan with Kiryu-chan and Majima-san wielding katanas this time.
As alluring as it can be, both of these spin-offs were released exclusively in Japan. To play them, you’d have to either learn Japanese or go through the game hoping you’ll understand what the heck is going on. Chances are, you won’t. SEGA has yet to localize these anytime soon, but in the meantime, patience is all you have.
Samurai Western2005 活劇 侍ーどう (Katsugeki Samurai-dou) |
About | |
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Release Date June 07, 2005 | |
Developer Acquire | |
Publisher Atlus | |
Genre Hack & Slash | |
Players Single Player | |
Monetization Buy to Play | |
Country of Origin Japan |
Available On | |||
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Samurai Western is a spin-off in the Way of the Samurai franchise., and an obscure game that you probably didn’t know about. Unlike its predecessors, the game’s setting isn’t located in Japan, but in the wild west this time. Historically, there was a time when the cowboys and samurai actually all existed concurrently. This sole reason makes the game quite interesting to go through.
You take on the role of the samurai Goijiro as he roams the American wild west seeking to kill his brother, Rando. Little did he know that his vengeance won’t be a walk to the sakura tree.
Otogi: Myth of Demons / Otogi 2: Immortal Warriors2002 / 2003 |
About | |
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Release Date December 12, 2002 | |
Developer FromSoftware | |
Publisher SEGA | |
Genre Hack & Slash | |
Concept Dark Fantasy | |
Players Single Player | |
Monetization Buy to Play | |
Country of Origin Japan |
Available On | |||
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About | |
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Release Date December 25, 2003 | |
Developer FromSoftware | |
Publisher SEGA | |
Genre Hack & Slash | |
Concept Dark Fantasy | |
Players Single Player | |
Monetization Buy to Play | |
Country of Origin Japan |
Available On | |||
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Otogi and its sequel were FromSoftware’s foray into the hack and slash genre before they came up with the critically acclaimed Dark Souls franchise. Even though the original Xbox wasn’t known for a huge library of Japanese games when compared to Sony’s PlayStation 2, the system has had titles like Otogi, Genma Onimusha and Ninja Gaiden: Black.
Otogi is a stylish hack and slash title that made use of the hardware’s capabilities at the time. Featuring a not-so-deep RPG system, a fantastic setting, incredible physics and a truly interesting story, it’s tragic that such a gem was lost to time. The game’s story has you controlling Raikoh Minamoto, a demonic warrior in his quest to purge the demons from Tokyo.
That’s it for the list, thank you for reading.
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FreeckyCake
I'm just your average gamer who enjoys hunting hidden gems and underrated games. My love for Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams is like a truck and I recommend that you play it.
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