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Onimusha: Way of the Sword: play the demo, explore the history, and prepare for the Sept 4 release
C
Craig Pearson
Shared via social media, the “Weekly Oni Memos” are little nuggets of insight about the upcoming action game. It’s rare that a developer is so committed to weekly peeks into the creative process and game. We’ve read every single one of the 53 Weekly Oni Memos so far and picked out some highlights to showcase the creatures, history, and action of Onimusha: Way of the Sword. But first...
What is Onimusha: Way of the Sword?
Capcom’s upcoming action-adventure is set in a twisted version of Edo-period Kyoto. It follows Miyamoto Musashi into the city as he looks to prove his mastery of the sword. When the demonic forces attack the city, Musashi is forced to wear the supernatural Oni Gauntlet, which will help him battle the demons of Malice, but forces him into a struggle between relying on cursed supernatural strength and proving his worth through true, unassisted sword mastery.The release date recently moved forward, and now Onimusha: Way of the Sword will be released Sept 4, 2026!
Onimusha: Way of the Sword’s Miyamoto Musashi
Let’s start with the game’s protagonist, legendary swordsman, Miyamoto Musashi. Like a lot of Onimusha’s places and people, Miyamoto Musashi is a historical figure. He’s notable for being undefeated in 62 duels.
He’s a “fierce young samurai” in the game, and his model is based on the late samurai movie star Toshiro Mifune.
He’s a complicated character. He received the Oni Gauntlet, a powerful magical item, by accident. He’s keen to hide it, and uses his Haori cape to do so. The player will be relying on the cape a lot, and so there will be others to collect during the game.
Despite wielding the Oni Gauntlet, Musashi believes that relying on it is the wrong path for a samurai, and seeks to cast it off. According to Director Satoru Nihei in one weekly memo: “Musashi, who seeks to master the way of the sword through his own refined strength, his pride will not allow him to depend on the power of Oni. Even though he appears to use anything to win, there is one line he will never cross: he must win through his own strength. That I believe, is where Musashi preserves his own sense of honour.”
But that’s fine, because he has other tricks up his sleeve. A close eye on Musashi during combat should reveal where an enemy’s attack is likely to land. Just follow the tip of his sword, which can point in the direction of an oncoming attack.
While fighting enemies in traditional Japanese buildings, Musashi can tear up the tatami mats beneath him and use them to block attacks or hurl them at his enemies. The floor becomes a weapon!
This is in addition to the more traditional fighting techniques Musashi can wield against the game’s numerous enemies. He’s able to deflect attacks to wear down enemies to counter-attack them, as well as using his sword to block ranged attacks. A well-timed block will parry an attack, leaving them open to counter, or even sending them backwards into walls and other enemies.
Beasts and bosses of Onimusha: Way of the Sword
The beasts in Onimusha are called Genma, an ancient race of demons from the Underworld who harvest the souls of humanity. Onimusha: Way of the Sword introduces a number of new, twisted beasts to the series.
Kubi Akari looks like a disembodied, floating head, trailing lank hair and jowls. It could be comical if it weren’t so grim. According to Nihei: “Kubi Akari is a tricky opponent for Musashi, capable of absorbing nearby souls, spitting glowing projectiles from its mouth, and even unleashing self‑destruct attacks. Despite its creepy appearance, its unique voice and chatter give it a strange but lovable charm.”
Chijiko is a grim figure, a patchwork creature with a smiling face and tentacles. Despite the grin, we’re sure it’s not a happy creature.
The Oni-kui Mushi is a collection of digits, threads, and an eyeball that has a whole terrifying backstory of its own. “This Genma eats demons in Hell, “said Nihei. “The countless threads extending from its body are, in fact, the transformed hair of the demons it once devoured. It’s quite eerie, isn’t it?
It is a classic ambush predator, usually keeping itself hidden while weaving a web to trap and devour its prey. However, Musashi possesses a special ability known as ‘Oni Vision.’ By using this, he can see the form of the Oni-kui Mushi, which is normally invisible.”
He’ll probably regret it, though.
The Greater Nue is another beast that’s made up of several parts: “Nue” is a yōkai from Kyoto folklore known for its distinctive form—a fusion of several beasts—the head of a monkey, the body of a tanuki, the tail of a snake, and the limbs of a tiger. It’s said that its cry resembles that of a Thrush… and you might just hear that sound during your battle with Greater Nue.”
Despite their demonic beginnings, some of the Genma aren’t wholly supernatural. They’re creations of one of the game’s bosses. According to Nihei: “Dokyo is a mad scientist who hides away in an underground laboratory in Kyoto, utterly obsessed with creating new Genma.
Fun fact: If you choose to play in Japanese, Dokyo is the only character in the game who speaks in the Kyoto dialect! Unlike other Genma, Dokyo has an intelligent yet eerie appearance, accompanied by a strangely captivating allure—making the character a truly standout presence in this title.
Also, keep a close eye on Dokyo's fingertips. You'll notice red thread wrapped around Dokyo's fingers, weaving it as if playing cat's cradle. Could this thread be tied to the character's combat style or certain game mechanics...!?”
Real people and places of Onimusha: Way of the Sword
Despite being a fantastical and terrifying game, Onimusha: Way of the Sword is grounded with real people and real places.
“Ono no Takamura was a real historical figure,” according to Nihei in memo 45. “Legend has it that he served the Imperial Court by day and descended into the Underworld by night. He is said to have served Enma, the King of Hell.”
“However, in this game, having donned the Oni gauntlet, he remains alive and active right up to the Edo period in which Musashi and his allies live,” said Nihei in memo 46.
“Does living for such a long time bring him joy or happiness? Takamura surely has his own thoughts on the matter.
The answer to that might be glimpsed within the game. He is a mentor and also a senior master of swordsmanship to Musashi. At times strict, at times a source of strength, he is an ally who teaches him many things.”
At least two real-world temples exist in the game, too. Producer Akihito Kadowaki revealed that they visited Rokudo Chinno-ji Temple for research and on-site sound recording.
Kiyomizu-dera Temple also appears in the game. It’s one of Kyoto's most iconic landmarks, according to Nihei: “With a history spanning over a thousand years. When starting this project, I was drawn to the allure of Kyoto’s eerie folklore. Kiyomizu-dera, a place steeped in occult tales yet widely known as a tourist destination, became the prototype map I created, and it holds a very special place in my heart.
“We obtained permission from the responsible personnel at Kiyomizu-dera Temple for its appearance in the game and are proceeding with development while having them verify the details along the way. While we are meticulously recreating elements such as matching the actual number of pillars supporting the stage, we have also made deliberate adjustments to ensure the game is enjoyable, rather than focusing solely on strict accuracy.”
Get ready for Onimusha: Way of the Sword’s release on Sept 4
You can play the demo of Onimusha: Way of the Sword right now. We have, and we loved it.And to really check how your PC will fare against the swirly swords and hordes of enemies, try the Onimusha: Way of the Sword benchmark out. It’ll help you gauge how well the full game will run when released.
And, of course, you can pre-purchase the game on Epic Games Store, today!