"The Samurai always has to rise and move on, because new challenges will come." - Lyoto Machida. Now that's quite the bar from one of the most respected MMA fighters out here. The image of a heavily armored (and even a lone warrior not wearing too much protective gear!) heading into battle with a katana in hand is incredibly motivating. And being able to use that weapon and several other samurai weaponry to cut down multiple enemies in just a few seconds feels hella exhilarating. If you've been playing games for as long as we have, then you already know the fun factor that comes with playing as a badass samurai is super high. If you're in the mood to do some damage as that famed Japanese warrior, then tap in with us as we shout out 20 of the best samurai games of all time.
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The 20 Best Samurai Games of All Time
Best Samurai Games
1. ‘Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut’
One of the greatest PS4 exclusives can now be experienced on PS5 with plenty more content to get lost in. Sucker Punch Productions' open-world adventure game embraces the storied age of the samurai - this game's breathtaking experience will take you through the vast locale of Tsushima Island. In order to properly quell the first Mongol invasion of Japan, you must take on the role of Jin Sakai and simultaneously embrace the ways of the samurai & guerrilla warfare. That means you'll be cutting down your foes with focused strikes, engaging in nail-bitingly tense duels, and pulling off sick multi-kills in mere seconds with your katana in hand. Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut is the best way to experience this classic thanks to its inclusion of the story expansion DLC, multiplayer component, and enhanced visuals.
2. ‘Like a Dragon: Ishin!’
The Yakuza games have garnered a ton of attention due to the badassery of the popular series protagonist Kazuma Kiryu. Like a Dragon: Ishin! is a notable spinoff game in the franchise that moves away from its usual modern-day time period to the Bakumatsu phase of the Late Edo Period. Kazama and a host of recognizable characters from the series make an appearance here under the moniker of historical real-world personalities and get involved in a tumultuous political upheaval and a murder mystery. You'll find yourself getting into plenty of swordfights here, as you'll be able to employ four distinct fighting styles, which are "Swordsman," "Gunman," "Brawler," and "Wild Dancer."
3. ‘Way of the Samurai’
Wandering into town as a fearsome rōnin and finding yourself caught in the middle of two warring clans sounds like an exciting prospect, right? That premise comes into play during this PS2 gem called Way of the Samurai. What makes this game extra compelling is its narrative, which utilizes branching paths that gives players the feel of making their way through a Choose-Your-Own-Adventure book. This game will definitely get multiple playthroughs out of you as you seek out all the outcomes of every major decision you make along the way. And of course, you'll be forced to whip out your katana and put down your oppressors when the opportunity arises.
4. ‘Nioh 2’
The first Nioh is a great "Soulsbourne" experience that features a main protagonist of its own. With Nioh 2 however, players get to create their very own battle-ready avatar as they tackle supernatural entities known as Yōkai. Throughout this game's challenging journey, you'll collect different types of melee weapons. You can choose to equip your character with the necessary maneuvers and gear needed to transform into a formidable samurai, plus you can pick up the "Soul Cores" dropped by fallen enemies in order to use their magical abilities for your own.
5. ‘Samurai Shodown II’
The first Samurai Shodown came out of nowhere to make an indelible impact on the 90s fighting game craze and offer something different in the form of weapons-based battles. Samurai Shodown II pushed the series forward toward more fan adoration thanks to many new combat options. Being able to roll forward/backward, duck, and parry an incoming blow to completely throw off an opponent's stance ended up being amazing add-ons to the first game's already solid gameplay structure. This sequel marks the debut of the great Genjuro Kibagami, who's presented as the main rival for fellow swordsman Haohmaru. Those two characters going back and forth on the battlefield definitely classify Samurai Shodown II as one of the best samurai games.
6. ‘Samurai Shodown V Special’
As we previously mentioned, Samurai Shodown II marked a moment in the franchise where a lot more fighting game fans took notice and paid a bit more attention to SNK's fighting game output. Once Samurai Shodown V Special arrived, which is an updated version of the fifth mainline entry in the series, the weapons-based fighter got lifted to the upper echelon of fighting game greatness. What's on offer here is the most balanced version of an already great 2D fighter that's packed with more characters to master, new weapons to wield, and a wealth of satisfying gory finishers that adds even more weight to each battle. Samurai Shodown V Special is the peak of the 2D entries within the franchise. Yoshitora Tokugawa, Haohmaru, Genjuro Kibagami, and more definitely bring the samurai vibes here.
7. ‘Samurai Shodown’ (2019)
Before the 2019 reboot of Samurai Shodown arrived, the IP had been on ice for an uncomfortably long amount of time. We're pretty overjoyed at the fact that this grand return for the series ended up being so damn good. The slower-paced, weapons-clashing skirmishes the franchise is known for comes through well here with the addition of crisp 3D visuals and the incredibly devastating "Lightning Blade" maneuver that cuts through opponents as stylishly and swiftly as possible. A bunch of series favorites make their return here, plus the inclusion of Guilty Gear's Baiken as a guest character provides another reason why this game is on our list of the best samurai games.
8. ‘Bushido Blade’
During the Squaresoft golden age that helped the PS1 gain a huge lead in the last 90s gaming race, the Japanese publisher/developer released one of the most distinctive fighters ever released. The game we're speaking of is Bushido Blade, a weapons-based fighting game where landing a decisive strike can end a battle in mere seconds. Each battle takes place across varied battlefields that give both players plenty of room to run around in and pick their spots when the time comes to land an attack. With a weapons arsenal that includes a katana, nodachi, long sword, saber, and more, Bushido Blade is perfect for fans of more slow-paced fighting games.
9. ‘Soulcalibur VI’
Soulcalibur V forced the IP to endure a depressingly long hiatus, sadly. 2018 marked the highly anticipated return of the greatest 3D weapons fighter via a sequel/reboot that pushed its lore forward while also revisiting the past events shaped around the game's two most powerful blades. From a gameplay standpoint, Soulcalibur VI breathed new life into everything thanks to the addition of the exciting "Reversal Edge" maneuver and a revamped usage of the "Soul Charge" mechanic. Soulcalibur came back in a major way thanks to this incredible return to form with samurai-esque combatants such as Mitsurugi and even a guest spot reserved for Samurai Shodown's Haohmaru. You can even create your samurai in this fighter, by the way!
10. ‘Onimusha: Warlords’
Samanosuke Akechi takes the starring role in the Onimusha series as a wandering samurai who must rise up to quell a demonic rebellion. In the very first game in the series, he finds himself wandering through the Sengoku period of Japan and coming to blows with the underworld army brought to life by the menacing Nobunaga Oda. Onimusha: Warlords is pretty much Resident Evil with samurai swords and a whole lot of demons to destroy. Defeating those demons lets you consume their souls, which goes into strengthening your weapons for tougher battles ahead. Check out the remaster for this game and you'll quickly be convinced of why it's recognized as one of the best samurai games.
11. ‘Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny’
The second game in the Onimsuha series shockingly moved away from Mr. Samanosuke and placed Jubei Yagyu in the spotlight. The evil warlord Oda rears his ugly head once again to lead an army of demons in a bid to rule over Japan. The gameplay that made the first Onimusha so great is retained here. But what's most interesting about this sequel is the employment of sidekicks you can give gifts to and bring with Yaguy into battle. Ekei, Magoichi, Kotaro, and Oyu's powerful skills work perfectly with Yagyu's expertise in killing Oda's demonic "Genma" army.
12. ‘Onimusha 3: Demon Siege’
Onimusha's series antagonist Nobunaga doesn't know when to quit, does he? And honestly, the same can be said for Akechi. In Onimusha 3: Demon Siege, both men return in a time-hopping adventure that takes place in ancient Japan and modern-day Paris. Taking down demons is handled through the efforts of Akechi, his whip-wielding cohort Jacques Blanc (played by Jean Reno), and two more side characters in the firearms master Michelle and the lance fighter Heihachiro (his minigame is still awesome, by the way). As one of the best samurai games available on the PS2, Onimusha 3 is still worth checking out if you missed it the first time around.
13. ‘Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams’
Yep, we have another Onimusha game on this list of the best samurai games. But sadly, it's the final entry in Capcom's demon-hunting in feudal Japan-themed franchise. Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams showcases an all-new array of heroes led by the Oni-powered warrior known as Soki. His mission puts him opposite Hideyoshi Toyotomi, who now leads the Genma army once led by Nobunaga. You can expect to confront all sorts of otherworldly foes and wipe them out with your varied arsenal of weapons and supernatural abilities. Of course, you won't have to go it alone here - AI partners in the form of Akane Yagyu, Ohatsu, and Roberto Frois will fight alongside you to free Japan of its demonic invasion.
14. ‘Samurai Warriors 4’
The Dynasty Warriors series always follows the "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" period, which lets players pick their favorite Feudal Chinese warriors and take out hundreds upon hundreds of enemies on the battlefield. The spinoff Samurai Warriors series switches its focus to Japan and more specifically the Sengoku period. Mashing the light and heavy attack to pull off the flashiest combos you'll ever see is still the name of the game here, but it's a bit more entertaining since you can choose two characters to instantly switch between during every stage playthrough. "Hyper Attacks" and "Rage Mode" also add to your repertoire to make you feel like even more of an unstoppable force. This fourth series entry is one of our favorites.
15. ‘Samurai Warriors 5’
Samurai Warriors 5 completely reboots the entire IP and it's instantly visible through its switch to a cel-shaded art style. Along with that new graphical refresh is a storyline to follow and new character designs that make old standby characters welcome alterations to their legacy outfits. 37 playable characters are available here with 21 returning warriors and 16 new debuting heroes/heroines. The same nonstop hacking and slashing combat from previous series entries is back in fine form here and looks a whole lot better thanks to the anime stylings of this much-needed franchise restart.
16. ‘Samurai Gunn 2’
The first Samurai Gunn ended up being a pretty cool platform fighter that features a retro art style that makes it look like a long-lost Sega Genesis game. Samurai Gunn 2 keeps that winning formula intact with the same two-player and four-player insanity that erupts as everyone looks to eliminate each other with three bullets and a sword. One hit is all it takes to be eliminated, so careful hopping and dodging are necessary in order to survive. If you don't want to fight your friends, then you can join one of them and get embroiled in this sequel's Adventure Mode playthrough.
17. ‘Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time’
Wait, hold up...there's actually a good Samurai Jack game out here? We were just as surprised as you all when we first got word of this one. But to our pleasant surprise, Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time puts the Cartoon Network action star in the spotlight for a time-traveling journey filled with familiar sights, sounds, and enemies from the animated series. Jack gets plenty of weapons to utilize besides his famous katana, so you can look forward to landing some sick combos with the rest of your melee and ranged armory. Anything that gives us the chance to finally defeat the evil Aku has to be considered among the very best samurai games.
18. ‘For Honor’
For Honor is one of Ubisoft's most successful online multiplayer releases thanks to a clever gameplay focus where different warrior types engage in some of the most intense war skirmishes in gaming. The four factions you can choose to be a part of include the Knights, Vikings, Samurai, and Wu Lin. In the case of the famed Samurai, you'll have the option to choose from eight warriors with different weapons and playstyles. You'll have a ton of fun mastering their talents on the battlefield during For Honor's single-player campaign and multiplayer suite full of invigorating seven game modes.
19. ‘Total War: Shogun 2’
Tactical strategy game fans know the Total War IP marks pure excellence within that genre. What's so cool about that franchise is how it plays with different time periods in order to properly replicate the battles that erupted during those turbulent times. Total War: Shogun 2 returns to the 16th-century Japan setting of the first game - you'll find yourself leading your loyal troops into battle on land and even the sea. A cool combination of real-time and turn-based strategy combat mechanics come into play here to keep you involved in every facet of your troop's success (and failure). The main themes here are to conquer, build, and scheme your way to victory during offline and online warfare.
20. ‘Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun’
Let's stay in the realm of strategy RPGs for our final selection on this list of the best samurai games. Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun is set in Japan around the Edo period and gives you an army of five combat specialists that must band together to take down the "Kage-sama" and its followers. You'll be able to pick off the opposition with the collective of Hayato, Mugen, Yuki, Aiko, and Takuma. The lone samurai in that group is Mugen, who is a powerhouse that has an easier time confronting other samurai head-on. With his skills in tow alongside two ninjas, a thief, and a sharpshooter, you'll have everything needed to see their mission through to completion.
