Onimusha: Way of the Sword is the long-awaited return of Capcom’s samurai action franchise. The first new game in the series since 2006, Onimusha: Way of the Sword will introduce Capcom’s cult franchise to a whole new legion of gamers. It appears to be a major development for the franchise, and it looks to carve its own niche in a way the original titles were able to do.
While the long-requested return of Onimusha is an exciting prospect, it does come with a fair bit of concern. Again, once the game releases in 2026, it will be the first major new entry in the franchise in 20 years, and the gaming landscape has changed dramatically since the franchise’s heyday. Thus, Capcom will have its work cut out for it to some extent if it wants to make a name for itself in today’s gaming landscape.
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Onimusha: Way of the Sword Has Its Work Cut Out For It
Onimusha: Way of the Swords Enters Into A Crowded Market
The biggest worrying factor regarding Onimusha: Way of the Sword is that it’s entering a relatively crowded market for games of its style. As it stands, there are currently plenty of games readily available on modern platforms that center around samurai and/or take place in feudal Japan. While Onimusha may have some level of brand recognition being based on an established IP, its long period of dormancy may lead some newer players to brush it off as “just another” samurai game in a crowded landscape.
In just the last few years alone, players have gotten samurai games such as Nioh, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, Ghost of Tsushima, and Rise of the Ronin, and that pattern is not about to let up in 2025. Games like Assassin’s Creed Shadows and Ghost of Yotei are set to release this year and will give gamers their samurai fix. Thus, while Onimusha’s return has been a long time coming, it couldn’t have come at a more crowded time for games of its kind.
Capcom Can Still Make Onimusha: Way of the Sword Unique
To its credit, Onimusha has its own twists on the samurai game that could help it stand out. Most notably, the franchise has always been centered heavily around fantasy and supernatural elements, giving it a bit of a horror taste. Capcom has a great framework to build on, and it could help this new game grow in gameplay in the same way its iconic Resident Evil franchise has grown with its gameplay.
In its original releases, Onimusha also had a bit of a campy charm to it. The original Onimusha games didn’t take themselves too seriously and seemed to even be pretty aware of how over-the-top and goofy they were. While the new game may take on a bit of a dark tone, it could carve its own niche if it sticks to that, instead of following the footsteps of other self-serious samurai games on the market.
While Onimusha’s return has been a long time coming, it couldn’t have come at a more crowded time for games of its kind.
It’s Hard To Tell How Recognizable The Onimusha Brand Is
As far as brand recognition goes, Onimusha is in a bit of a confusing place. While the original title, Onimusha: Warlords, was the first PlayStation 2 game to sell a million copies, sales dwindled with successive games and relegated the franchise to “cult” status. Thus, while the IP is one fans have been hoping to see a new entry for a long time, its standing as a “cult” game may mean that Way of the Sword may not be a surefire hit as soon as it drops.
Without a doubt, it’s great to have the Onimusha IP back, and Onimusha: Way of the Sword is already one of 2026’s most hotly anticipated titles. Still, in a landscape loaded with samurai titles, Capcom’s new title may face an uphill battle in the journey to find a market for itself. Here’s hoping Capcom can do enough to help the game distinguish itself from the glut of other surrounding titles.
