Blog | Top Games
The arrival of Onimusha: Way of the Sword has brought Capcom’s supernatural samurai series back into the spotlight. It also gives us the perfect excuse to revisit the games that established its distinctive blend of swordplay, historical drama and demonic horror.
Since the original game debuted in 2001, Onimusha has taken players across feudal Japan, modern-day France and even the occasional tactical battlefield. While Way of the Sword is still new enough to deserve more time before earning its place in a definitive ranking, we’re looking back at six of the series’ established releases, from four mainline adventures to two memorable spin-offs.
Here are six classic Onimusha games ranked from worst to best.
6. Onimusha: Blade Warriors
Onimusha: Blade Warriors is a fascinating little time capsule. Released in 2004, this fighting-game spin-off brought together characters from across the series for over-the-top battles packed with weapons, special attacks and plenty of chaos.
There’s undeniably fun to be had, and the novelty of seeing MegaMan.EXE face off against a samurai never entirely wears off. Even so, Blade Warriors lacks the depth and atmosphere of Onimusha at its best, making it the weakest entry on our list.
5. Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams
As the fourth mainline entry, Dawn of Dreams faced the difficult task of following the immense conflict between Samanosuke and Oda Nobunaga.
Its party-based approach introduced some interesting ideas, particularly the ability to switch between and command companions. That gave the combat a different rhythm from previous games and helped Dawn of Dreams establish an identity of its own.
Unfortunately, its story never lands with quite the same impact as those of the earlier entries. It remains an ambitious game with plenty to admire, but it doesn’t reach the heights of the trilogy that came before it.
4. Onimusha Tactics
Onimusha Tactics was an exciting prospect when it arrived in 2003. Here was a darker, more mature action series finding a new home on the Game Boy Advance, reimagined as a tactical RPG.
It naturally lacks the immediacy and spectacle of the mainline games, but it successfully translates the series’ samurai setting and demonic battles into a new genre. Add some enjoyable story moments, and you have a solid spin-off that introduced Onimusha to a different audience.
3. Onimusha: Warlords
As the story goes, Onimusha began life as a Resident Evil-style project. Instead of zombies and people dramatically shouting “S.T.A.R.S.”, however, we got Warlords and the beginning of Samanosuke’s story.
Released in 2001, Onimusha: Warlords remains a fantastic action game. Its fixed camera angles and occasional flashes of early-2000s design show their age, particularly alongside more modern releases, but its tense atmosphere and satisfying swordplay still hold up.
Its success sparked a remarkable run of Onimusha games over the following years, and it isn’t difficult to see why. The remastered version also offers a convenient way to experience this influential adventure on modern hardware.
2. Onimusha 3: Demon Siege
Onimusha 3: Demon Siege was the series’ most visually impressive entry when it launched. It brought Samanosuke back, sent him hurtling into modern-day France and added Jean Reno to the cast, because apparently Onimusha wasn’t already ambitious enough.
Seeing a major Hollywood actor take a leading role in a game felt extraordinary at the time, and Jean Reno’s presence gives Demon Siege an identity all its own. The time-travelling story is gloriously audacious, while the improved presentation makes it one of the series’ most memorable adventures.
Its gameplay doesn’t quite match the second game at its best, but Demon Siege still comes extremely close to taking the top spot.
1. Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny
At number one, we have Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny: a sequel that improved on its predecessor in almost every respect and cemented Onimusha as a series worth paying attention to.
The combat feels faster and more fluid, the story is stronger, and its branching relationships with supporting characters add welcome depth and replayability. It takes everything that worked in Warlords and builds upon it with greater confidence and ambition.
For more than two decades, Samurai’s Destiny was confined to the PlayStation 2. Its remastered release has since made the game available on modern hardware, giving more players the opportunity to experience one of the series’ finest adventures.
Which Is the Best Onimusha Game?
Onimusha has explored different heroes, genres and even time periods, but Samurai’s Destiny represents the classic series at its best. Its combination of sharp combat, compelling characters and supernatural samurai action still makes it the Onimusha game to beat.
With Way of the Sword opening a new chapter for the franchise, that top spot may not be secure forever. For now, however, Samurai’s Destiny remains our number-one Onimusha game.
Jason Coles
Jason likes to focus on roguelikes and co-op games; in a dream world he’d make a living writing about Dark Souls. As well as being a writer he also does personal training and accounting and can occasionally be seen on other people’s streams. Being a big fan of fluffy things means he has two cats, both of whom refuse to let him sleep, but at least they are cute.
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