Samurai games are one of the best games that various people love to play. In fact, they are primarily played by people who are interested in Japan and specific Japanese culture. However, these games can be attractive to everybody. The games present players with great and exciting characters, bloody, action, and history. Some require strategies, so you can develop your thinking when playing samurai games. Fully aware of the need of the game lovers, our article is going to show you the top 11 best samurai games that will bring players fantastic experiences. Let’s explore together!
1. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
- Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
- Genres: Action-adventure
- Mode: Single-player
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is worth being mentioned first in the Top 11 best samurai games because it was recognized as the best samurai game from 2019. The game was introduced in the last year for PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, and it won the Game of the Year Award.
This awesome action game is set in the Sengoku period in Japan. In this game, the main character is Wolf, a shinobi attempting to render retribution on different samurais that assaulted him.
2. Genji: Dawn of the Samurai
- Platform: PlayStation 2
- Genres: Action-adventure, hack and slash
- Mode: Single player
Genji: Dawn of the Samurai presents players with Yoshitsune Minamoto, a hermit that goes back to the village to take down the Taira clan. The battle between the Taira and the Minamoto clans is among the most prominent in Japan’s history.
You can play as Yoshitsune or Benkei Musashibo, a vassal of him. Specifically, you will have fighting against full of enemies and always focusing on combos. Therefore, Genji becomes a very appealing game visually. Both characters also have their own playstyle. If you are able to distinguish between history and fiction, then you may learn new things about Japan.
3. Onimusha: Warlords
- Platforms: PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, Xbox
- Genres: Action-adventure, Hack and slash
- Mode: Single player
Onimusha: Warlords is another game that is set in the Sengoku period. The game features a Samanosuke Akechi fighting against Nobunaga Oda’s dark forces. Players have the duty to fight all the demons and save the princess. For many individuals, the game’s rule may sound easy to tackle, but it is not that simple. Things will get more difficult when you get to Princess Yuki, posing challenges for players. Apart from your katana, you get other magical weapons, but you also get to solve puzzles.
Another feature is that you can sometimes control Kaede, your assistant owning other abilities and weapons. The game dates back to 2001 and can be played on PlayStation 2, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Microsoft Windows.
4. Samurai Shodown 2019
- Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows, Google Stadia, Arcade game
- Genre: Fighting
- Modes: Single player, multiplayer
Samurai Shodown 2019 is the reboot version of Samurai Shodown battling game. It was made available for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows, and Google Stadia. This updated version is not much different from the original, so you can trust in its perfect features.
If you are a fan of Samurai Shodown versions, then go for it!
5. Nioh
- Platforms: PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows
- Game genre: Action RPG
- Game modes: Single player, multiplayer
Nioh has been one of the most fantastic samurai games since it was released in 2017. The game ingeniously integrates engaging Japanese history and culture into the supernatural, resulting in a different version of the well-known Sengoku period. You will play as William, not a common Japanese name as you may think, which is slightly different from other games. He gets into a battle with supernatural monsters almost immediately and the story starts.
Players will encounter a variety of complex combats in the game but they are right. Things sometimes get hard and this is worth it. In addition, it is wonderful that you will fight both samurais and monsters. However, you are only able to play it on Playstation 4 or Microsoft Windows.
6. Way of the Samurai 4
- Platforms: PlayStation 3, Microsoft Windows
- Genre: Action-adventure
- Modes: Single player
Way of the Samurai 4 was introduced in 2011 and players can enjoy the game on PlayStation 3 and Microsoft Windows. In fact, the game is set in a fictional city in the middle of the 19th century. You will find the game interesting because it is inspired by one of the most astonishing periods of Japanese history, the decline of the shogunate. You will act as a ronin and are possible to entirely customize your samurai character and determine which clan you would like to support. The options for selection are pro-government, the nationalistic isolationist rebels, and the foreigners – British Navy.
This game has its own appealing features among the top 11 best samurai games. In particular, there are ten different endings, and you can get the one in accordance with how you choose to have interaction with the world.
7. Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun
- Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Linux, Microsoft Windows, Classic Mac OS
- Genres: Real-time tactics, Real-time strategy
- Mode: Single player
Samurai lovers may be a big fan of this real-time strategy game that was released in 2016. Right after starting the game, you are required to build your army for various following tasks. You will need to implement sabotages, infiltrations, murders, and others.
Different from hack-and-slash games, here you will need to think and come up with the outstanding strategies. You can play Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Macintosh, and Microsoft Windows.
8. Total War: Shogun 2
- Platforms: PC, MacOS, Linux
- Genres: Real-time strategy, Real-time tactics
- Modes: Single player, multiplayer
Total War: Shogun 2 is the best title of the Total War series in spite of its unavailability on any video game console. When it comes to playing this game, you will become the leader of a clan and its general. Then your role is how to manage your troops well. For this reason, some people suppose that it is one of the best strategy games of all time.
To judge the on your own, let’s play and enjoy it. You will need to build your army, multiply your economy, grow settlements and other exciting tasks. If you are a Japanese history lover, then enjoy the game because it is the perfect illustration of feudal Japan. The game is available for Microsoft Windows, Macintosh, and Linux.
9. Samurai Warriors: Spirit of Sanada
- Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Microsoft Windows
- Genres: action, hack and slash
- Mode: Single player
Samurai Warriors: Spirit of Sanada combines many of the best elements of its sibling franchise Dynasty Warriors. The game leads us to a story about the Sanada clan during a critically romanticized Warring States period.
As its name suggests, this is a Warriors game, so one of the major draws is the massive, chaotic combat sequences where you can eliminate dozens of enemies by mashing a few keys or deliver punishing Musou moves to eradicate tough enemies. You can also explore Castle Towns outside the battle, offering a glance at day-to-day life during this period through the series’s greatly stylized lens. With a historical story at the heart of Spirit of Sanada, the game becomes one of the most popular samurai games.
10. For Honor
- Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One
- Game genres: Action game, fighting game, hack and slash
- Game modes: Single player, multiplayer
This game has been recently released since 2017 by Ubisoft. For Honor will be excellent for those who are fanatics of hack-and-slash games. You can opt for one of the characters that are samurais among four different clans. You will be exposed to unique weaponry and bad-ass battling style.
Notably, you can select from several Viking characters who are thirsty for blood. Also, there are Knights and Wu Lin warriors to be in your list of choice. The game is available for PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows, and Xbox One. This game will be great if you are looking for a multiplayer fighting one.
11. Bushido Blade
- Platforms: PlayStation
- Genres: Fighting
- Modes: Single player, multiplayer
For those who are looking for realism, then Bushido Blade is a perfect choice. This is a game where you do not have any time limits, superpowers, life bars, or so. It is about 2 people who assess their skills in fairly broad settings. Aside from selecting the character among the 7 available (6 plus one unlockable), players are required to choose the weapon, with the Japanese ones featuring historically accurate data regarding length and weight, which directly has an impact on the gameplay.
Bushido, the marvelous code of the samurai, enables us to see a modern version of those traditions, in a dojo surviving until modern times. The present Bushido code is considered as the cherry on top of gameplay cake, preventing the attacks from the back or other traps.
Summary: Top 10+ best samurai video games for PC and consoles
- Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
- Genji: Dawn of the Samurai
- Onimusha: Warlords
- Samurai Shodown 2019
- Nioh
- Way of the Samurai 4
- Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun
- Total War: Shogun 2
- Samurai Warriors: Spirit of Sanada
- For Honor
- Bushido Blade
Wrap-up
These are the games that are worth experiencing if you are into samurai games. Some games are new and others are old, but all of them are exceptional. Each game is unique in its own way, therefore, you can choose one or more from the top 11 best samurai games to enjoy. The games are not only entertaining but also somehow helpful in enhancing thinking abilities. Hopefully, you may find the article useful. Thank you for reading!
