Onimusha: Way of the Sword Returns After 20 Years with Demo Available Now

Ever since we were slicing demons on the classic PlayStation 2, fondly remembered for its iconic introduction featuring Jean Reno, we’ve been clamoring for Capcom to resurrect the Onimusha series. It appears they have heard our pleas! During the State of Play, they officially announced that Onimusha: Way of the Sword will launch on September 25, 2026. The best news of all isn’t the release date, but that the demo is available for download today.

Stepping aside from Samanosuke, we find ourselves in the sandals of the legendary Miyamoto Musashi. Set in Edo period Kyoto, where Genma demons are causing chaos, the new trailer showcases Mount Oe, a fortress ruled by a colossal demon claiming to be Shuten Doji. Musashi wields a mystical Onibrazal and, as seen at the end of the teaser, can harness dark power to transform into a fully-fledged Oni Warrior.

In terms of gameplay, the title doesn’t forget that it’s not just telling us a dark fantasy tale but also ensuring button-pressing action is fun. The classic mechanics defining the franchise return: the perfect counterattack (Issen) and soul absorption to upgrade our equipment.

If anticipation gets the better of them, players can set aside their reading and power up their consoles instead. A free demo is available on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, allowing us to explore the Kiyomizu-dera temple and engage in swordplay against Sasaki Ganryu, Musashi’s historical rival. Additionally, players who complete the demo can link the “Kubi Akari” amulet for the final game.

Caution, PC master race! Capcom has added an asterisk to clarify that the performance of this preliminary demo on PC does not represent the final product. A benchmarking tool will be released later to address any optimization concerns (fingers crossed that Steam optimization isn’t tied with a string).

The demo, which was released on Steam, showcases the game’s graphics and gameplay but does not reflect the final product’s performance. Capcom encourages players to wait for the benchmarking tool before making any conclusions about the game’s PC performance.