10 Best Samurai Games That Aren’t Ghost of Tsushima

I’ve always found it exhilarating that video games have the power to transport us to different eras, even more so when we’re talking about settings as representative as feudal Japan.

Being my favorite type of setting, second only to pure medieval fantasy, this type of work usually brings with it such precise contextual detail that it’s thrilling, making you feel immersed in the environments on offer.

I’m definitely not a history scholar, but I think we’ve taken for granted how wonderful of an opportunity it is to revisit these snippets of human civilization, not really valuing how eras like feudal Japan are rife with interactive examples that make their name stand out.

Among these, Ghost of Tsushima has established itself as one of the last couple of years’ most notable titles, revitalizing a historical period that hasn’t been as prominent in the video game industry as I would like.

Sucker Punch’s creation has brought back popular interest in this type of setting, so there’s no better way to celebrate its continued relevance than with this list of the ten best samurai games that aren’t Ghost of Tsushima.

10 Rise of the Ronin

A Wanderer’s Journey

I’m fully aware Rise of the Ronin isn’t a particularly popular or well-received title, but, as a Team Ninja fan, I feel it’s inevitable to mention it in this article.

If you can overlook the completely inconsequential story and that it’s technically improvable at best, you’ll find, like me, a video game whose gameplay is extremely satisfying due to the way it encourages you to combine different weapons and abilities.

Running through a meadow, jumping off a cliff, and gliding toward a drunken ronin to fight in the middle of nowhere creates a rather entertaining gameplay loop—not at all realistic, mind you, but very fun.

Rise of the Ronin is the typical recommendation I make only for those who can enjoy a game if they turn off their neurons and let themselves be carried away by the sparks that arise from spectacular sword clashes. Otherwise, I would argue the next entries are better suited for you.

9 Samurai Warriors 5

Not Your Typical Samurai Game

Contrary to the gameplay feel and aesthetic presentation of the rest of the list, Samurai Warriors 5 is viscerally straightforward and the option you look for if you only want to embody an action fantasy where you can win wars on your own.

Like any self-respecting musou, the combat is anything but serene and one-on-one. Instead, it’s a hack-and-slash game in which you have access to dozens of characters with impressive abilities you use to take down armies of thousands of soldiers.

It’s the same old system, with extensive levels, simple objectives, and the permanent feeling of being intoxicated with power just because you defeated 100 enemies with a couple of sword slashes and a flashy set of effects, which is precisely why I love this genre.

If you add the historical appeal of using characters like Nobunaga Oda, Mitsuhide Akechi, or Yasuke, you get a great experience for fans of samurai and, paradoxically, the most unbridled and massive action.

8 Trek To Yomi

Akira Kurosawa’s Legacy

Trek to Yomi is the kind of indie that generates mixed thoughts, and depending on how you feel playing it during the first hour, you can infer how you’ll feel during the rest of the campaign.

It has very particular conditions where the gameplay isn’t as outstanding as other titles, featuring a limited and easily exploitable combat system, and the plot’s paranormal tendencies may not appeal to everyone.

However, I want to be clear when I say it’s among the indie games with the most beautiful, curated, and impressive artistic direction of the last decade, with tremendous sound design and music that make these five hours a constant audiovisual peak.

In a way, the game is a good samurai title not because of its mechanical representation but because of the aspects that contextualize it, as if it were paying homage to Japanese culture rather than conveying an entertaining experience.

Unfortunately, you can boil down Trek to Yomi‘s combat to a couple of broken combos, but I would argue it doesn’t matter that much, given you can rejoice in its aesthetics while doing so.

7 Samurai Shodown

A Pleasant Twist on the Genre

I’ve never been vocal about my love for cel-shading in my articles until now, so I’ll invoke this unspoken fondness to justify even further Samurai Shodown‘s presence.

Its art style was the first thing that caught my attention, then its visual effects made me buy it, and finally, its commendable interpretation of the fighting genre was what kept me sticking around for a long, long time.

I don’t fancy these games in general, but it adapts the genre’s typical combo system to the methodical and tailored philosophy of samurai combat so accurately that it’s simply sensational and unconventionally pleasurable.

Slowly approaching your opponent with your swords raised, trying to anticipate their next attack, and executing slashes that leave traces like a manga drawing is beautiful, and it will never cease to enchant me.

Obviously, not all combatants fight with katanas, and even the characters use their fists and legs, so it lacks the same sobriety of games like Ghost of Tsushima. Regardless, the underlying feeling of Samurai Shodown matches Jin Sakai well.

6 For Honor

Glorious Medieval Multiplayer

There was a time in my life when my productivity hit an all-time low thanks to For Honor, among the best medieval multiplayer games I’ve ever played.

I was never good at playing it, and I’d say that despite spending dozens of hours on it, I wasn’t able to master any characters. Yet, as soon as I grabbed the Kensei and explored the possibilities of their nodachis, I knew I was facing the reason for my sleepless nights of the next few months.

In an era where all online games are extremely fast-paced and offer little time to breathe, For Honor‘s slower, more focused gameplay was a perfect fit for me, as I’ve never been particularly agile in multiplayer.

Posture systems and pattern recognition aren’t my strong suit, but getting into a flow state in For Honor allowed you to execute such epic and immersive melee combat sequences that even a one-handed person like me could enjoy.

I know the game isn’t in its best shape, so perhaps recommending it today based on yesterday’s impressions is inappropriate, but if you’re a samurai fan, you have to try it at least once.

5 Onimusha: Warlords

A Clunky, Timeless Classic

Onimusha: Warlords is a game very much of its time, with obtuse controls, a frustrating camera, and as many mechanical irregularities as you can imagine, but it’s an outstanding classic.

Experiencing gems from the past through today’s lenses is always difficult for me due to factors like nostalgia and aging technology, but playing this game is to samurai fans what King’s Field is to Souls players.

With its iconic soundtrack, interfaces straight out of Resident Evil, and tense combat where distance and positioning are everything, it’s a highly unusual hack-and-slash by modern standards that still fascinates me.

The mere fact that a bug that allowed enemies to be attacked in the air was Hideki Kamiya‘s inspiration for Devil May Cry‘s iconic aerial combat is enough to understand Onimusha: Warlords as a gaming icon.

It’s a unique fusion, though I assure you it’s impossible to properly understand the modern representation of melee and samurai games without going through this Capcom masterpiece.

4 Nioh 2

Excitingly Demanding

While I’m not a fan of the series’ first game, as I find it to have some great ideas but questionable execution, I must admit Nioh 2 is a practically perfect sequel.

The second game in the IP addresses all my issues with its predecessor, with a difficulty curve that doesn’t seem designed to frustrate you forever, bosses that are now engaging without terrible hitboxes, and a Ki system that’s light years away from the disgrace of its first iteration.

With these improvements in hand, I feel much more comfortable considering Nioh 2 as the true successor to Onimusha, as it replicates the wonderful fusion of the paranormal and the aesthetics of feudal Japan to offer a compelling adventure with many dimensions, both playable and symbolic.

Its combat is more fluid than ever, and while I still think it’s overkill on the difficulty front, I truly believe it more than deserves to be considered one of the best Souls-like games of all time.

Of course, with how fast-paced and adrenaline-filled it is, the part about feeling like a samurai is more the player’s decision than something imposed by the title, but mastering the postures and playing calmly in the face of such speedy enemies is extremely cool.

3 Katana Zero

Excellence in Slow Motion

Katana ZERO isn’t among the highest-rated indie titles in history by chance, as it is indeed among the most distinctive independent titles ever created and definitely among my favorites.

Playing through the six hours of this game for the first time made me rethink the limits of the indie industry, as its ability to create unparalleled gameplay systems and transcendental stories seems almost inconceivable.

Each screen of the campaign felt like a puzzle I had to solve through trial and error, increasingly mastering its finely tuned gameplay where slow motion, deflecting bullets, and using the environment to my advantage turned me into a true ronin.

Add in the contrast of its iridescent color palette, the modernity of its beautiful pixel art spaces, and a synthwave soundtrack that will leave you mesmerized for hours, and you have a title that can’t be described as anything less than immaculate.

I have a terrible memory, but I’ll never forget my hours with Katana ZERO. A story of this caliber and depth is difficult to ignore, much more so when accompanied by the most incomparably satisfying melee mechanics ever.

2 Bushido Blade

A Brilliant Code of Honor

There’s nothing that excites me more than unconventional games that break all the standards of their genres, which is why I love Bushido Blade with all my heart.

If you’re genuinely looking to capture the essence of one-on-one combat with lethal weapons where any blow can be fatal, this ’90s timeless classic makes you feel every touch between skin and blade ​​​​​​much more than any contemporary product you could think of.

Without complex interfaces, flashy movements, progression systems, or anything like that, the game revolves entirely around your ability to control the combat intuitively, becoming one with its mechanics before the mere concept of flow state existed.

Disabling my opponent’s limbs with a well-placed blow, forcing them to fight with one arm or a destroyed leg, absolutely altered my brain’s chemistry, forcing me to rethink my interpretation of the entire genre and acknowledge it as a generational creation.

Unfortunately, much to my regret, the franchise has fallen by the wayside, and there’s no accessible way to play Bushido Blade today. Thus, I’m practically begging you to do whatever it takes to enjoy this exceptional marvel, so it doesn’t get forgotten.

1 Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

Katana-Clashing Masterpiece

Every time I include Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, I overemphasize that I’ve never witnessed more perfect gameplay than its own, and I think this is the most pertinent time to remember it.

Regarding melee games, Wolf’s adventure showcases the most demanding, satisfying, and spectacular combat system in the video game industry, with a vigorous clash of katanas that makes you feel alive after every contact.

Except for Ghost of Tsushima, no other title has delivered these sensations of mastery and fusion with the sword like Sekiro, where fighting each boss is a pleasant honor thanks to their graceful choreography and surrounding symbolism.

Wandering through the spaces of Ashina, facing swordsmen with all kinds of gadgets and movements, fills you with an indescribable determination, to the point that I played the game seven times in a row just to be able to do it all over again.

Whenever I reached the credits, all I wanted to do was start a new game, because I felt it had endless replayability based solely on my desire to master the mechanics, with no incentives other than my own yearning for its satisfaction.

Samurai, feudal Japan, melee combat, bosses, and flow state are all categories in which Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice reigns supreme. There’s never been a game like it, and I know with certainty humanity won’t be able to replicate it a second time.