It has been two decades since Capcom last released a brand-new mainline Onimusha game. So, if you’re thinking of picking up Way of the Sword for some hack-and-slash fun, one question might pop up in your head. Do you have to track down the remasters and older games before playing it? The simple answer is: No, you do not have to play other Onimusha games to understand Way of the Sword.
While all the games share the same basic theme, mostly around the Genma and Oni Gauntlet, Way of the Sword starts a completely new plotline. Even so, knowing how the previous games fit together should give you a better idea of just how separate Musashi’s journey actually is. Continue below for the long answer.
Oda Nobunaga Saga (Onimusha 1-3 + 4)
The only canonically connected main storyline before Way of the Sword is the first three Onimusha games. The fourth one can be considered a loose continuation of the original saga.
The original Onimusha: Warlords on the PlayStation 2 takes place during Japan’s Sengoku period. Historical warlord Oda Nobunaga serves as its central antagonist, who was resurrected by the Genma demons. You play as Samanosuke Akechi, a samurai of the Saito clan, who received an Oni Gauntlet and was tasked with saving Princess Yuki from the Genma. The popular Japanese actor Takeshi Kaneshiro played Samanosuke.
Now commanding a massive demonic army of his own, Nobunaga invades all of Japan in Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny. As he laid waste to the opposing Yagyu clan, Jubei Yagyu (modeled after actor Yusaku Matsuda), the sole survivor, swore revenge on the warlord. On his journey to defeat Nobunaga, he encounters some allies; depending on your actions, they would help or even betray Jubei.
At the end of Onimusha 3: Demon Siege, time-traveling Oda Nobunaga is eventually sealed for good after launching a massive Genma invasion in 2004 France. All thanks to the combined forces of Samanosuke in the future and police officer Jacques Blanc (with Jean Reno‘s likeness) in the past. And yes, it’s every bit as bonkers as it sounds.
Then Samanosuke takes a back seat again in the fourth main entry, Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams. Although Nobunaga has been defeated, his former right-hand man Toyotomi Hideyoshi becomes the new threat as the Genma once again spread across Japan. This time, the story follows Hideyasu ‘Soki’ Yuki and a new group of warriors trying to stop them.
While Onimusha 4 is the first main game that doesn’t feature a real-life actor as its protagonist, it’s also the first and only entry to include co-op gameplay.
Miyamoto Musashi’s Story (Onimusha: Way of the Sword)
Onimusha: Way of the Sword, on the other hand, is designed as a new starting point. The game takes place in early Edo-period Kyoto, decades after the Sengoku-era of the original series.
This time, legendary swordsman Miyamoto Musashi is the protagonist and, like previous main characters, eventually stumbles upon an Oni Gauntlet. He was then forced to fight his rival, Ganryu Sasaki, while dealing with the Genma and the new mastermind behind the demon army.
As such, there are still plenty of connections that carry over naturally from the older games to Way of the Sword. This includes having a famous Japanese actor play the lead, with Toshiro Mifune taking that part this time around. Nevertheless, it’s not part of Akechi Samanosuke’s story, and Oda Nobunaga is no longer the central antagonist. The ending of Way of the Sword implies that there could be a continuation of Musashi’s adventure. Still, Capcom has yet to confirm any plan for a sequel or a story DLC expansion.
Aside from these five main games, there were several spin-offs, too. Including defunct mobile web games as well as the fighting game Onimusha: Blade Warriors and the tactical RPG Onimusha Tactics. All of them, of course, are not required to understand Way of the Sword. That includes the Onimusha anime series on Netflix, which Capcom producer Akihito Kadowaki already confirmed takes place in its own continuity.
In conclusion, if you do want to experience the whole series, then starting with Onimusha: Warlords would be your best bet. But if you’re new to Genma-hunting and only interested in Way of the Sword, you can easily jump straight into Musashi’s story.
