Onimusha: Way of the Sword Review Round-Up

What critics agree on

The combat system is the consensus highlight. Reviews describe an exchange built on reading the enemy, deflecting and countering rather than out-damaging opponents, and the weapon feedback is repeatedly singled out.

Presentation is the second point of agreement. Boss encounters and the horror-tinged depiction of Genma-infested Kyoto get credit across outlets, including in the PS5-focused Creative Bloq review.

PC Gamer: 83

PC Gamer scored the game 83, calling the combat system, action presentation and weapon feel excellent while flagging bloat and pacing problems in the campaign. The same review doubles as a PC performance report on a high-end configuration.

A score attached to one outlet and one platform should not be generalised. Read it as that reviewer's verdict on the PC version rather than a universal rating.

TechRadar: roughly 30 hours in

TechRadar spent about 30 hours with the game and praised the swordplay, story and bosses, while criticising repetition in both content and boss encounters. That length is consistent with the third-party completion estimates of 25 to 35 hours for a thorough first playthrough.

The same review confirmed the PC feature set, including ultrawide support, DLSS 4.5, FSR 3 Frame Generation and ray tracing, which is useful if performance is part of your buying decision.

Creative Bloq on PS5

The PS5 review praised the sword combat and world-building while criticising repetitive Genma busywork — the clearest statement of the trade-off most reviews describe.

It also confirms that after the credits you can keep playing or start New Game Plus, with Carnage difficulty and outfit unlocks available.

Video reviews worth watching

Game Informer and Shacknews both published video reviews. Watching two independent verdicts is a good way to sanity-check whether the repetition complaint is a dealbreaker for your taste or background noise.

Video reviews often show combat at pace, which text cannot convey. Look at how the reviewer handles deflect timing — that is the loop you will spend the campaign inside.

Who should buy it

Buy it if you enjoy defensive, timing-driven melee combat and want a substantial single-player action game with strong bosses. The free demo is the fastest way to confirm the rhythm suits you before spending anything.

Be cautious if you dislike optional busywork or expect a compact campaign in the classic Onimusha mould. Reviews are consistent that the pacing sags where side content accumulates.

The strengths in more detail

Combat is built on defensive reads rather than raw aggression, and reviewers consistently single out how weapons feel and how clearly attacks telegraph. That clarity is what makes deflecting satisfying rather than random.

Bosses are the showcase. Even reviews that complain about repetition treat the major duels as highlights, which matches a structure that includes a Boss Rematch mode for replaying them.

Atmosphere carries the rest. A dark-fantasy Kyoto overrun by the Genma gives the exploration sections a horror edge that few action games attempt.

The criticisms in more detail

Pacing is the common thread. Reviews describe a campaign that bloats in its middle stretch, with side content and repeated encounters padding the route between strong set pieces.

Repetition extends to bosses as well, with opponents returning in reworked forms. That is also why a boss-fight count of 18 overstates how many distinct opponents you face.

Some criticism is aimed at older series conventions that have not been modernised. Whether that reads as heritage or as friction depends largely on your history with the series.

How to decide for yourself

Play the free demo on PS5 or Steam. Thirty minutes with the Ganryu duel answers the combat question more reliably than any score, and keeping the save grants the Kubi Akari charm.

Then read one text review and watch one video review. Text is better for structure and pacing complaints; video shows whether the combat rhythm looks like something you want to spend 25 to 35 hours inside.

Check scores for the platform you actually own. Metacritic tracks PS5, Switch 2, Xbox Series and PC separately, and the Switch 2 version carries visible technical trade-offs.

What reviews say about length and structure

TechRadar reported roughly 30 hours, and third-party estimates put the main story near 20 hours, an average run around 25 and a thorough one at about 33. Full completion is estimated past 60 hours across two playthroughs.

That length is part of the pacing complaint. A campaign this long has more room for the repeated encounters and side content reviewers flag.

Post-game structure is also confirmed in review coverage: New Game Plus, Carnage difficulty and Boss Rematch are all available after the credits.

Reading scores by platform

PC Gamer scored the PC version 83, and launch-week reporting recorded an early PS5 Metacritic aggregate of 86. Those are different platforms measured by different samples.

The Switch 2 version carries documented technical trade-offs, so its reviews weigh factors the others do not. Check the verdict for the version you intend to buy.

One-line verdict

Excellent sword combat and striking Genma horror, held back by uneven pacing. That summary matches the pattern across text and video reviews on every platform.

The free demo remains the most efficient way to test the part reviewers praise most, and it costs half an hour and nothing else.

If the deflect-and-counter exchange feels good to you there, the criticisms are about padding rather than about the core the game is built on.