Best Samurai Games

The best samurai games on PS5 and PS4 are Ghost of Tsushima for its open-world duel fantasy, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice for the sharpest combat, and Nioh 2 for the deepest systems. This list gathers feudal-Japan warrior games across every style, open-world epics, soulslike gauntlets, classic character action and stealth tactics, ranked by quality and weighed against what players actually say, not just critic scores. Samurai-themed fighters are left off to keep the focus on adventure.

By Ugur Saritepe · Updated Jul 23, 2026

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13 games found

1Ghost of Tsushima
Best overall

Ghost of Tsushima

4.6(314,294)2020
ESRB Mature 17+medieval
GreatReview analysis

Overall, player feedback for 'Ghost of Tsushima' is overwhelmingly positive, highlighting its stunning visuals, engaging story, and satisfying combat mechanics. Despite some minor criticisms regarding cutscene usability and technical issues for a few players, the majority regard it as a top-tier gaming experience.

Why it's here: Sucker Punch built an open-world samurai fantasy around a real dilemma: honor the way of the warrior, or become the Ghost and win dishonorably. Wind guides you instead of a minimap, and duels resolve in a single held breath. Whether the standoffs or the shadows define your Jin is what keeps a playthrough personal.

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2Sekiro™: Shadows Die Twice
Best combat

Sekiro™: Shadows Die Twice

4.7(64,030)2019
ESRB Maturehistorical
GreatReview analysis

Overall, player feedback on Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is overwhelmingly positive, highlighting the game as a masterclass in design and combat mechanics. Many players appreciate the challenging nature of the game while praising its immersive storytelling and impressive visuals. However, some criticisms arise concerning its difficulty and potential lack of variety in gameplay.

Why it's here: FromSoftware's feudal-Japan outlier swaps souls-style dodging for a posture duel: deflect until an enemy's guard shatters, then land one lethal thrust. There is no grinding your way past a wall here, only learning the rhythm. For samurai fans who want the sword itself to be the difficulty, the question is whether you break first or the boss does.

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3Nioh 2
Best soulslike

Nioh 2

4.5(33,052)2020
Co-op: 3ESRB Mature 17+fantasy
GreatReview analysis

Nioh 2 has received overwhelmingly positive feedback, particularly for its intricate combat mechanics, which many players find engaging and rewarding. However, some players have expressed frustration with the game's difficulty and various technical issues, leading to a mixed response from those less inclined towards its challenging nature.

Why it's here: Team Ninja's Sengoku action RPG hands you a half-yokai warrior and a stance system that turns each weapon into three separate fighting styles. Add Diablo-deep loot and Burst Counters that punish demon attacks, and the ceiling is enormous. For samurai players who treat combat as a craft to master, the draw is how far down the mechanics go.

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4Nioh

Nioh

4.4(57,412)2017
PS+ ExtraCo-op: 2PS Plus ExtraESRB Maturehistorical
MixedReview analysis

Overall, player feedback on Nioh is notably polarized; many praise the challenging and engaging combat system along with the unique loot mechanics, while some express frustration over the lack of enemy variety, optimization issues, and steep difficulty. Positive experiences highlight rewarding gameplay and satisfying progression, but a significant number of reviews also criticize its repetitive elements and technical performance issues.

Why it's here: The original that fused Dark Souls with a loot grind and set it in a demon-infested 1600s Japan, starring a real Irish navigator turned samurai. Ki-pulse timing rewards aggression the way few action RPGs dare. It is rougher and thinner than its sequel, so the question is whether you want the blueprint or the refinement.

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5Assassin’s Creed Shadows
Best for newcomers

Assassin’s Creed Shadows

4.4(29,000)2025
ESRB Mature 17+historical
MixedReview analysis

Overall player feedback for Assassin’s Creed Shadows is highly polarized. While many players appreciate the gorgeous graphics, engaging environments, and satisfying gameplay mechanics, numerous criticisms center on the game's pacing issues, poor storytelling, and technical problems. These contrasting sentiments highlight a divide between those who enjoy the game and those who find it disappointing.

Why it's here: Assassin's Creed finally reaches feudal Japan, and it splits the fantasy in two: play the shinobi Naoe for rooftop stealth, or the samurai Yasuke for doors kicked flat. A seasonal open world reshapes how you approach the same fortress. For newcomers who want to sample both sides of the samurai myth, which half you favor becomes the whole game.

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6Rise of the Ronin™
Best open world

Rise of the Ronin™

4.2(23,000)2024
Co-op: 3ESRB Mature 17+historical
MixedReview analysis

Player feedback for Rise of the Ronin is predominantly polarized, with many praising the engaging combat and rich historical setting while heavily criticizing its performance issues and inconsistent graphics. Overall, while some players find it enjoyable and worth playing, a significant number express frustration with its flaws, leading to mixed sentiments overall.

Why it's here: Set as the samurai era collapses into the age of steamships and rifles, Team Ninja's open world lets you take sides in a real historical schism, then fight for it with grappling-hook traversal and Nioh-bred swordplay. For players who want feudal Japan at its most turbulent, the pull is how much your allegiances actually bend the story.

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7Onimusha: Warlords
Best classic

Onimusha: Warlords

4.8(4,500)2019
ESRB Mature
GreatReview analysis

Overall, players provide overwhelmingly positive feedback about Onimusha: Warlords, praising its nostalgic value, engaging gameplay, and atmospheric design while noting some manageable shortcomings related to camera controls and the length of the game.

Why it's here: Before Sekiro, this 2001 classic paired samurai swordplay with Resident Evil's fixed cameras and one deadly trick: the Issen, a perfectly timed counter that kills in a single flash. The remaster keeps it lean and demon-haunted. For anyone tracing where character action began, the appeal is how much modern combat it quietly invented.

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8Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny
ESRB Mature
MixedReview analysis

Overall, player feedback for 'Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny' is polarized, with many praising its engaging combat and nostalgic elements, while others criticize the game's technical issues and tedious mechanics. Although the majority of reviews from Steam are highly positive, the single review from Playstation reflects significant dissatisfaction.

Why it's here: The sequel trades one hero for Jubei and a cast whose gifts you court, and that friendship system quietly rewrites which scenes and endings you see. Branching paths make a short campaign worth several passes. For samurai fans who finished Warlords, the open question is whether the experiments deepen the formula or clutter it.

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9Shadow Tactics
Best tactics

Shadow Tactics

4.5(4,784)2017
PS+ ExtraPS Plus ExtraESRB Maturehistorical
GreatReview analysis

Overall, players overwhelmingly praise Shadow Tactics for its engaging gameplay, polished design, and nostalgic ties to classic tactical stealth games. While many enjoyed the challenging mechanics and character diversity, some felt the game could be frustrating due to clunky controls and the difficulty level. Overall, it stands out as a highly regarded title in its genre.

Why it's here: Not a swordsman power fantasy but a puzzle of them: command five specialists, a samurai among them, across Edo-period rooftops where one spotted guard undoes the whole plan. Every kill is planned, paused and timed. For players who want feudal Japan as a chessboard rather than a duel, the tension is how patiently you can think.

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10Fate/Samurai Remnant

Fate/Samurai Remnant

4.4(4,177)2023
PS+ ExtraPS Plus ExtraESRB Teen
GreatReview analysis

Overall, player feedback for Fate/Samurai Remnant is overwhelmingly positive, particularly among fans of the Fate franchise. Although there are some criticisms regarding gameplay mechanics and pacing, the engaging story and character depth garnered strong appreciation. Players recommend the game to both newcomers and veterans of the Fate series, noting its enjoyable combat and storytelling elements.

Why it's here: An Edo-era grail war hidden in the backstreets of old Japan pairs the swordsman Miyamoto Iori with a Saber servant in stylish real-time combat. The visual-novel half runs dense, and its pull is franchise-deep. For samurai fans curious about the Fate universe, the question is whether the story hooks you before the combat's early slow burn does.

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11Like a Dragon: Ishin! PS4 & PS5
PS+ ExtraPS Plus ExtraESRB Mature 17+
MixedReview analysis

Player feedback on 'Like a Dragon: Ishin!' is highly polarized, with some praising its engaging story and nostalgic Yakuza characters while others criticize its pacing, combat mechanics, and technical issues. The game seems to be appreciated mainly by fans of the Yakuza series but has left many others disappointed due to its grindy gameplay and perceived lack of polish compared to earlier titles.

Why it's here: The Yakuza team recasts its regulars in 1860s Kyo, arming Ryoma with four styles that flow from katana to revolver to fists mid-brawl. Between duels sit karaoke, chicken races and a hundred distractions. For samurai fans who want melodrama and mini-games with their swordplay, the trade is patience through a slow-building opening.

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12Trek to Yomi
Best on a budget

Trek to Yomi

3.9(5,665)2022
PS+ TrialPS Plus PremiumESRB Mature 17+
MixedReview analysis

Player feedback for Trek to Yomi is largely polarized, showcasing a blend of admiration for its artistic presentation and dissatisfaction with its gameplay mechanics. Many players praise the game's visuals and atmosphere inspired by Kurosawa films, while numerous critiques focus on the repetitive and clunky combat system, resulting in a mixed reception overall.

Why it's here: A samurai tale shot like a lost Kurosawa film, all grain, shadow and fixed cinematic frames as Hiroki walks from village to the underworld itself. The combat is deliberately spare, the mood anything but. For players who want a short, striking piece of samurai cinema they can actually play, the appeal is the atmosphere, not the fight.

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13SAMURAI WARRIORS 5
Best for hack and slash

SAMURAI WARRIORS 5

4.1(2,746)2021
PS+ ExtraPS Plus ExtraESRB Teen
MixedReview analysis

Players generally appreciate the fresh art style and engaging gameplay of Samurai Warriors 5, with many considering it a solid addition to the franchise. However, there are significant criticisms regarding the smaller character roster and the use of shared movesets, which some feel detracts from the game's individuality.

Why it's here: When the fantasy is one blade against a thousand, this reboot delivers it in a bold ink-and-brush art style, framed around Nobunaga and Mitsuhide's fatal partnership. Clear a field, build your Citadel, repeat. For samurai fans who want power rather than punishment, the question is whether the spectacle carries the smaller roster.

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About Samurai Games

Samurai games span far more than one genre. This list covers open-world adventures like Ghost of Tsushima, Assassin's Creed Shadows and Rise of the Ronin, the punishing soulslikes Sekiro and the two Nioh games, classic character action from the Onimusha remasters, the Fate crossover Fate/Samurai Remnant, the musou spectacle of Samurai Warriors 5, and stealth tactics in Shadow Tactics. The one dividing line is difficulty: Sekiro and Nioh 2 demand mastery, while Ghost of Tsushima and Assassin's Creed Shadows welcome newcomers. For every game on this list, we read and summarized player reviews from Steam and the PlayStation Store into what players consistently praise and consistently complain about, so the ranking reflects reception, not just marketing.

Curated by Ugur Saritepe. Rankings weigh aggregated player ratings and review sentiment collected from Steam and the PlayStation Store, with catalogue data from IGDB. How we rankPlayStation StoreSteamIGDB

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Best Samurai Games Compared

  • Ghost of Tsushima
    Best overall4.6 / 5

    An open-world duel simulator where wind guides you and standoffs turn one mistake into instant death.

  • Sekiro™: Shadows Die Twice
    Best combat4.66 / 5

    A posture-battle soulslike about shattering an enemy's guard, with no difficulty options to soften the climb.

  • Nioh 2
    Best soulslike4.55 / 5

    Stance-switching action RPG with Diablo-deep loot and yokai powers for players chasing a high skill ceiling.

  • Nioh
    4.42 / 5PS Plus Extra

    The rougher original that fused soulslike risk with loot grinding in a demon-haunted 1600s Japan.

  • Assassin’s Creed Shadows
    Best for newcomers4.38 / 5

    Ubisoft's feudal-Japan sandbox splitting play between shinobi stealth and open samurai combat across a seasonal world.

  • Rise of the Ronin™
    Best open world4.19 / 5

    Open-world late-Edo RPG where your faction choices in a real historical schism reshape the story.

  • Onimusha: Warlords
    Best classic4.77 / 5

    The 2001 classic remastered, built on a one-hit Issen counter and fixed-camera castle exploration.

  • Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny
    4.75 / 5

    A denser sequel whose gift-giving friendship system quietly changes which scenes and endings you unlock.

  • Shadow Tactics
    Best tactics4.54 / 5PS Plus Extra

    Real-time stealth tactics commanding five Edo-period specialists where one spotted guard undoes the whole plan.

  • Fate/Samurai Remnant
    4.36 / 5PS Plus Extra

    An Edo grail war pairing a swordsman with a Saber servant, heavy on visual-novel storytelling.

  • Like a Dragon: Ishin! PS4 & PS5
    4.02 / 5PS Plus Extra

    The Yakuza team's Bakumatsu remake with four switchable combat styles and a mountain of side diversions.

  • Trek to Yomi
    Best on a budget3.92 / 5PS Plus Premium

    A black-and-white side-scroller styled after Kurosawa cinema, chasing atmosphere over combat depth.

  • SAMURAI WARRIORS 5
    Best for hack and slash4.13 / 5PS Plus Extra

    One-versus-thousands musou reboot in an ink-brush art style, focused on Nobunaga and Mitsuhide.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best samurai game on PS5?
Ghost of Tsushima is the best overall samurai game on PS5, with an open world built around honorable duels and a stealthy Ghost playstyle. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice has the most demanding combat, and Nioh 2 offers the deepest action-RPG systems for players who want mastery.
What is the newest samurai game on PS5?
Assassin's Creed Shadows (2025) is the newest major samurai game, set in feudal Japan with the shinobi Naoe and the samurai Yasuke as dual leads. Before it, Rise of the Ronin (2024) from Team Ninja put an open-world spin on the collapse of the samurai era.
Which samurai games are PlayStation exclusives?
Ghost of Tsushima and Rise of the Ronin are console-exclusive to PlayStation, both from Sony-backed studios. Sekiro, Nioh, Nioh 2, Assassin's Creed Shadows, Like a Dragon: Ishin and the rest are multiplatform, but every game here plays on PS5.
Are these samurai games as hard as Dark Souls?
Some are. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice and both Nioh games are soulslikes built on punishing, high-skill combat with little margin for error. Ghost of Tsushima, Assassin's Creed Shadows and Samurai Warriors 5 are far more forgiving, with adjustable difficulty and a gentler learning curve.
Can you play these samurai games on PS4?
Many run on PS4, including Ghost of Tsushima, Sekiro, Nioh, Nioh 2 and Like a Dragon: Ishin. A few are current-generation only: Assassin's Creed Shadows and Rise of the Ronin are PS5 games with no PS4 release.

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