20 Best Samurai Games To Play If You Liked Ghost of Tsushima, Ranked By Metascore
The way of the samurai has always been a subject of fascination for fiction. Anything from their iconic swords to their code of honor makes them just as interesting, if not more so than knights, especially when it comes to video games. That’s something Ghost of Tsushima has proven, and it ought to spark renewed interest towards these obsolete Japanese warriors.
RELATED: Things We Wish We Knew Before Starting Ghost of Tsushima
Now, if Ghost of Tsushima has left many players wanting for more bushido action or even just the signature Japanese aesthetics involved, then fret not, because there are other samurai-themed games rated well by Metacritic. There’s not exactly plenty of them, but, nonetheless, they should offer more gameplay involving katanas and cool ponytails.
Updated January 13, 2022 by Ritwik Mitra: Ghost of Tsushima absolutely burst onto the scene and established itself as one of the greatest games in PlayStation’s elite library. The game was a great open-world adventure with breathtaking visuals and amazing combat, making it a truly unique title that fans simply can’t get enough of. If you wish to play more samurai games that feel just like Ghost of Tsushima, then the following titles will be right up your alley.
20/20 Katana Zero
Fans of hard titles with great combat will fall in love with the brutal gameplay of Katana Zero. The game places you in the shoes of a skilled swordsman who uses a katana to deal death and destruction all around him.
Katana Zero is definitely not an easy game, with your character being downed in a single hit. However, dealing with multiple failed runs only to settle upon the perfect one never ceases to be satisfying.
19/20 Mark Of The Ninja
Another indie game that places you in the shoes of a powerful yet fragile character is Mark of the Ninja. Fans of stealth games will absolutely love the tight mechanics of this brilliant game.
The simple yet engaging mechanics of Mark of the Ninja is what makes it such a great game. Players who love good stealth gameplay will definitely adore the gameplay of this amazing indie title.
18/20 Ryu Ga Gotoku Ishin
The Yakuza series has absolutely blown up in the West following the release of Yakuza 0. Several games have been localized in English, although Ryu ga Gotoku Ishin is an exception to this rule.
The idea of playing a spinoff of the Yakuza franchise in ancient Japan is an incredibly enticing prospect. Unless an official release somehow gets on the cards, players will either have to learn Japanese or power through the game with little to no knowledge of what’s happening.
17/20 Samurai Gunn
An indie party game featuring powerful warriors, Samurai Gunn is a fun title to whip out at a moment’s notice. It might not have the deepest gameplay around, but the systems are competent enough to serve up some fun rounds that you can enjoy with friends.
It’s easily one of the most underrated games on this list. The game deserves more love, especially given how fun its combat can really be.
16/20 Aragami
Aragami is another indie title with a major focus on stealth. While this title might’ve faced more of a mixed reception, it’s still a fun game regardless.
There’s a sequel to this game as well if you get hooked on the first game, which is pretty welcome indeed. It might not be the deepest game around, but Aragami will definitely leave stealth fans with a satisfied smile on their face after clearing some challenging levels.
15/20 Brave Fencer Musashi
Squaresoft was on a roll in the 90s, releasing a wave of amazing games that are still held in high regard to this day. Brave Fencer Musashi is one of their many releases during this time period that was absolutely stellar.
The game features a main character who’s a reincarnation of the famed swordsman, Musashi. It’s a light-hearted game that fans of entertaining JRPGs will find to be right up their alley.
14/20 Afro Samurai
Well, he might not have a ponytail, and he might not be Japanese, but the titular Afro Samurai is voiced by none other than Samuel Jackson—can’t say no to that! It’s a rather simple game based on the animated series of the same name.
This time around, players take on the role of Afro in his quest to become the number one warrior. It just so happens that the current number one is a dude named Justice who killed his father. It’s a two-for-one revenge story that’s worth playing for Samuel Jackson’s voice alone.
13/20 Way Of Samurai 4
Now, for a samurai-themed game where the protagonist is actually a Japanese samurai, and the whole thing takes place in Japan, Way of the Samurai 4 should do the trick. It’s the latest entry in the series, and it was released in 2012.
RELATED: The Best And Worst Things About Ghost of Tsushima
It might not be as highly-acclaimed as Ghost of Tsushima, but the time period Way of the Samurai 4 takes place in is interesting.
That would be the post-isolationist era of Japan, around the same time period the Rurouni Kenshin anime is based on.
12/20 Kessen
Speaking of Japanese history, the Kessen games should attract any interested audience. It’s a real-time strategy released back in the year 2000 for the PlayStation 2, a console that didn’t see many entries in the genre.
Kessen — the first one, at least — is a digital battleground where players get to control the outcome of the Battle of Sekigahara and many other conflicts between the Tokugawa Clan and the Toyotomi Clan during the Sengoku period.
11/20 Samurai Warriors
If China has Dynasty Warriors, then Japan has Samurai Warriors. The fourth entry in the series is the highest-rated among the bunch and continues the Dynasty Warriors-Esque gameplay of lone warriors hacking down enemy hordes like lawnmowers.
RELATED: Hilarious Ghost Of Tsushima Memes Only True Fans Understand
Of course, Samurai Warriors also has its own stars in the form of the most popular samurai icons in Japanese history.
Like most Japanese games involving samurai, it takes place during the warring states period of Japan. It’s worth noting that this game has the same publisher/developer as Dynasty Warriors.
10/20 Warriors Orochi
What if Dynasty Warriors crossed over with Samurai Warriors? The answer is Warriors Orochi, a series that also has a habit of persisting into multiple sequels while keeping the same gameplay formula. Warriors Orochi 4 is the latest among them.
Anyone who has played both the Dynasty Warriors and Samurai Warriors games should be familiar with the game and the characters. This time, however, the variety goes up through the roof with the combined roster of heroes.
9/20 Samurai Shodown (2019)
On the surface, Samurai Shodown looks like another 2.5D anime-style fighting game, like Street Fighter IV but with weapons. Delve deeper and players will find that’s it’s a far more strategic and tactical fighting game that requires timing and patience.
There’s a certain rhythm to Samurai Shodown’s combat system that makes the game feel totally unique. There are counter-attacks and defensive moves like rolls, parrying that can change the tide of battle in an instant. Yet despite these hardcore mechanics, Shodown is very accessible and easy to pick up for brand new players.
8/20 For Honor
By far one of the prettiest games here, For Honor isn’t exactly focused on samurai, but, since a third of the game gives them a spotlight, then it may as well count. Being one of the playable factions in this competitive melee action game, For Honor is a breath of fresh air coming from single-player games.
RELATED: Things That Make No Sense In Ghost Of Tsushima
It allows players to command different types of samurai or ninja archetypes to duke it out against other samurai or knights or Vikings. It doesn’t make sense in the slightest, and it’s best to just play it for the thematic fun.
7/20 Bushido Blade
Released on the PS1 in 1997, Bushido Blade is a purist’s dream and a sword fighting game that was the polar opposite to the arcade-style mechanics of the SoulCalibur series.
It remains as close to a samurai combat simulator as it can possibly get.
Every fight is about targeting body parts to weaken the opponent or going for an instant kill strike. Players need to learn how to time their parries and deflect attacks with precision-perfect timing while also honoring the Samurai code of Bushido.
6/20 Onimusha 3: Demon Siege
For a samurai-themed game with a fantasy twist, then players can’t go wrong with the Onimusha series. Onimusha 3: Demon Siege is the latest among all three games and is also the highest-rated of the lot.
Onimusha 3 isn’t just content with the fantasy spin, but it also adds in a modern-day time-travel flavor by incorporating a French soldier voiced by Jean Reno who somehow got stuck in 16th-century demon-infested Japan. That ought to be interesting.
5/20 Shadow Tactics: Blades Of The Shogun
Although it’s visually different, Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun is the perfect game for those players of Ghost of Tsushima that loved tackling every enemy camp and base with a tactical mind.
It’s a real-time tactical stealth game with mechanics that are very similar to the critically acclaimed Commandos and Desperados series.
Instead of a World War II or an American Wild West setting, Shadow Tactics takes place during Japan’s Edo period. The player takes control of a Samurai warrior, ninjas, a trap expert, and a rifleman who are tasked with infiltrating fortresses and camps using espionage, sabotage, and the element of surprise.
4/20 Nioh 2
Another fantasy samurai game would be the Souls-like Nioh series, the latest being Nioh 2. It’s more liberal in its use of monsters and demons compared to Onimusha, and it’s certainly not a game for those looking to have casual fun and fulfillment.
RELATED: Action Games To Play If You Loved Ghost of Tsushima
Nioh 2 being a Souls-like makes it frustrating and more challenging than the typical game. However, nothing should stop a good hardcore action RPG fan from trying it out. Besides, it has some of the best samurai fashion armor pieces ever in a video game.
3/20 SoulCalibur VI
Even though it’s a game that combines fighting styles from all over the world, SoulCalibur VI features one of the most iconic Samurai fighters in the history of video games in Mitsurugi. He has been a mainstay of the series and has featured in every entry for the franchise.
As a result, he is one of the most refined and powerful characters in the series. He has different stances to master which will feel familiar to fans of Ghost of Tsushima’s various stances and fighting styles.
2/20 Total War: Shogun 2
Sadly, this one is only available on the PC, but anyone with a decent laptop these days has a good chance of running it. Total War: Shogun 2 is the best and most intricate samurai strategy game out there. It features the most massive and stunningly beautiful battles in all strategy games, too.
The fact that this one takes place in several time periods in feudal Japan just makes it all the better. The main campaign lets players take control of one of the powerful clans in feudal Japan vying for the Shogun’s favor or trying to become the Shogun themselves.
Expansions also encompass other time periods, including the gunpowder-dominated Meiji era.
1/20 Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
Technically the protagonist of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is a shinobi or a ninja, but that could be forgiven, as the game is chock full of samurai looking to kill him anyway. It involves Wolf, a fallen dishonored shinobi tasked with retrieving his kidnapped lord from power-hungry clan leaders.
Though they aren’t all that similar, FromSoft’s most recent Souls-like does bear a resemblance to Sucker Punch’s Ghost of Tsushima. The former is far more unforgiving than the latter, however, and players without extensive experience in the Souls games will likely find progressing to be pretty difficult.
Next: Lingering Questions We Have After The End Of Ghost of Tsushima
Episode 31: Samurai Slum Lords
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31: Samurai Slum Lords Release Date: June 11, 2007 Running Time: 98 min. Listen Now: Download: Enhanced Version — MP3 Version Subscribe via iTunes: Enhanced — MP3 See sidebar for other subscription options |
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Sayonara, squatters. We play Shogun and Landlord, proving that the best evictions often come at the end of a katana (or a tower full of little wooden cubes).
News & Notes: Wings of War Minis, Leaping Lemmings, Sponsors!
The List: Shogun, Landlord
Time Well Spent Contest: win Notre Dame, Colosseum, and Factory Fun!
Backshelf Spotlight: Adel Verpflichtet, Balderdash
Truckloads of Goober: Battle Masters
Game Sommelier: Five games you can quit/join mid-game without ruining the game
Mail Bag: Game of the Day, Nerdy to Cool, Goal Die mystery solved, GenCon auction
Complete Show Notes continue after the break.
Game News & Notes
Wings of War Miniatures Link
I want my Sopwith Camel!
Leaping Lemmings Link | Official Site
Cool but curious mix of old school wargame and funky euro-style theme.
Want to be a Sponsor on The Spiel?
Talk to us! We’d love to hear from you. [email protected]
The List
Shogun BGG entry | Official Site
An ultra cool Battle Tower filled with cubes will determine tha fate of Japan.
Landlord BGG entry
Build apartments to attract tenants but beware of squatters and your opponent’s bombs!
Time Well Spent Contest
To kick off their sponsorship of The Spiel, Time Well Spent is holding a great contest. The lucky winner will walk away with THREE GAMES: Notre Dame, Colosseum, and Factory Fun.
You can start by visiting www.timewellspent.org
But you’ll have to listen to the episode for all the details! (insert evil laugh here)
Next episode, we’ll select a lucky winner from all the correct guesses.
PLEASE NOTE: due to shipping costs, Time Well Spent can only ship the prize to addresses in the United States.
Backshelf Spotlight
Mystery Connection Contest
Can you find a connection between these two games? We find a mystery connection each episode and challenge you, the listener, to hunt for it! Post your guesses to the Forum . Find the connection and you could win a pair of custom Spiel dice !
Congratulations to Edmund Hack (echack) is our winner for episode 30!
Adel Verpflichtet Link
Quirky collectors race to find the best seat at the dinner table by showing off their best collection of antiques
Balderdash Link
The classic Dictionary game redone with a board and box of cards with crazy words.
Truckloads of Goober
Battle Masters BGG Entry
Gold standard goober in this one. So much stuff you almost always have to play on the floor because most standard tables won’t hold it!
Game Sommelier
The Challenge: find five games you can quit or join mid-game without ruining the game
|
Stephen’s List |
Dave’s Vote |
| Fluxx | Thumbs Up |
| Set | Thumbs Up |
| Civilization | Sideways Thumb |
| Shadows Over Camelot | Thumbs Up |
| Pitch Car | Thumbs Up |
Next Challenge: Sommelier takes a break.
Collector’s Corner (now Notes From the OCD) returns in Episode 32.
Mail Bag
New donors to The Spiel!
Noah «The Ninja» Kolman
Steerpike in UK sits to the left of the poodle (see poll comments )
Larry Kruger solves the mystery of the Goal die! (Word Nerd! )
Leslie Hammerschmidt, who works at the GenCon auction, lets us know about some online features for sellers this year. Check out weekendwarrior.com for the full scoop.
Dani in NC tells a great story about how we went from nerdy to cool in the eyes of her daughter. Check out Better Late Than Never , Dani’s podcast.
Kevin Rutherford in Perrysburg, OH gives us the lowdown on Game of the Day and Board Game Prices.com
David Gullet weighs in with some thoughts on our Cub Scout camp out Sommelier challenge. And puts our feet to the fire, making me pronounce a German Liar’s Dice alternative: Eichhornchenbande!
Errata
Mark in Chicago is the listener who posted the pics of the Wings of War minis in the Episode 30 show notes .
Neal Rosen suggested we mention useful files from Board Game Geek
Many listeners suggested mentioning the online versions of games we cover.
David in Featherston, NZ (username: windywino) said he played Pitch Car as a pub game as part of our PUb Game Back Shelf Spotlight in Episode 28.
Friedman Friese has GREEN hair not blue.
Shogun is not playable at SpielbyWeb, Wallenstein is (thanks Steerpike and Kevin Rutherford for catching this goof)
I’m sure there are some other goofs in there somewhere. Let us know if (when?) you find one!
Read «Samurai» — Endo Shusaku — Page 44
One afternoon, when they were surveying the city from the bell tower of the huge cathedral, Velasco, pointing first to one spire, then to the other, explained: there is the Church of St. Stephen, there is the Cathedral of St. Peter, and suddenly remarked ironically:
“Yes, this is Spain, which is talked about so much in Japan,” and laughed out loud.
— During your journey, you saw how huge the world is, and you can safely say that in this vast world the richest country is Spain… Now you are here. In the country of the southern barbarians.
Tarozaemon Tanaka stood with his arms folded and, in order not to betray his shock, looked at the ground. Only Kyusuke Nishi, taking out a brush and paper, diligently wrote down the names of palaces and cathedrals.
— But the largest city, which even Seville cannot compare with, is the capital of Spain, Madrid. There you will meet the King of Spain.
Velasco understood how timid Tanaka and the Samurai were. For them, the people of the humble, although they are called messengers, meeting with the king of such a powerful state is too great an honor.
— But there is a man before whom even a king kneels. Do you know this?
The three messengers were silent.
— This is the king of Christians, who is called His Holiness the Pope. I will try to explain using the example of Japan: suppose the naifu is the king of Japan, then the emperor could perhaps be called the Pope.
But the Pope has incomparably more power than the Japanese emperor. However, even the Pope himself… is just a servant. Velasco looked at the messengers with a smile. “You, I think, can guess who you are talking about… You saw his image everywhere in New Spain. And not only in New Spain. Not only in Spain itself. In all the countries of Europe they worship Him, they prostrate themselves before Him, they offer up prayers to Him…
On Sunday, Velasco deliberately brought three messengers to St. Francis’ Cathedral. That day the Bishop of Lerma celebrated a solemn mass especially for them. From early morning, carriages followed one after another along the cobbled pavement, heading for the cathedral. Dressed up nobility and merchants filled the naves, the gilded figures of saints were illuminated by many candles, organ music sounded. Bishop Lerma, with an ornamented pulpit, blessed the audience and proclaimed:
— Today, envoys from distant Japan came to Mass together with a native of Seville, Father Velasco, they overcame a stormy ocean.
Today we will pray for the Japanese envoys and all the Japanese people. Our ancestors built many temples in the pagan lands and turned them into God’s countries, let us pray that the day will come when in the country of the messengers they will glorify our Lord …
The faithful knelt down and the choir sang:
Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus
Dominus Deus Sabaoth
Pleni sunt coeli et terra gloria tua [32].
Velasco covered his face with his hands and gave vent to his feelings:
“O Japan! Oh Japan! This cry came from the depths of his heart. — Hear my voice. Oh Japan! Oh Japan! No matter how much you neglect the Word of God, no matter how much you destroy our missionaries, no matter how much you shed the blood of believers, one day you will still follow the Lord. Lowering his head, he began to pray: “God, in the name of Japan… give me the strength to win.” Give me the strength to defeat Father Valente.»
The service ended, excited people surrounded the Japanese, and the crowd carried them out of the cathedral in a swift stream.
The Spaniards clapped the bewildered Japanese on the shoulders, shook hands with them and did not disperse until the Bishop of Lerma took Velasco and the envoys to the dungeon of the cathedral.
«So, my son,» Bishop of Lerma addressed Velasco anxiously when they came into the semi-dark, damp hall, where the cries of welcome did not penetrate. — The ceremonies are over. It’s time to get back to reality. This success should not deceive you. Circumstances are unfavorable. Bishops will gather in Madrid specifically to listen to you, but this will not contribute to your plans, do not hope.
“I know,” Velasco nodded, glancing at the messengers. “But you yourself, Your Eminence, offered up prayers for the envoys and the entire Japanese people. You expressed the hope that one day Japan will become a country where the Lord will be glorified!
— That’s right, I said once. But it doesn’t mean today. Rumors have even reached here that for twenty years missionaries have been persecuted in Japan, believers have been executed.
«The situation is changing,» Velasco spoke quickly, resorting to the same arguments as in his conversation with the archbishop in Mexico City. “Otherwise, why would Japan send envoys to Spain?”
— My son, the Jesuits report that the situation, on the contrary, is becoming more and more tense. They also claim that these envoys are only vassals of some prince, and not official representatives of the king of Japan … We do not want the blood of our missionaries to be shed there.
— Spreading the faith is like fighting, I’m sure of it. I am a missionary fighting Japan. A missionary is a soldier willing to die for the Lord. Saint Paul did not spare his life, converting the Gentiles. Spreading the faith is harder than talking about love for the Lord, cozying up in a monastery and basking in the sun.
— You’re right. Velasco’s mockery did not escape the bishop. “I agree that spreading faith is like fighting. But a soldier must obey his commander! This also applies to you.
— It happens that the commander is too far from the battlefield and he does not know the situation on the battlefield.
“You…” The Bishop looked intently at Velasco. “My son, you are too obsessed with your idea, beware. You can’t let your obsession break you.
Velasco blushed, but said nothing — the bishop was right, throughout his long life the elders warned him many times about this.
“What if I wasn’t so obsessed? thought Velasco. — What would I do in this eastern country? O Japan, in order to fight you, I… I must be possessed.”
— We will go from here to Madrid. I want to make a request to the archbishop…
— From what?
— With a request that the king receive the Japanese envoys…
Bishop Lerma, looking at Velasco with regret, extended his hand for a kiss. Then he repeated sadly:
What is your favorite video game samurai?
Who is your favorite video game samurai?
Samurai Peas, fire ray pilot — Asif Khan, the best in the universe
You are in Cyberpunk 2077 — Bill Lavoy, Spire of Stars
Yoshimitsu — Blake Morse, Cyber Samurai
Hisako (Killer Instinct) – Ozzy Mejia, Senior Editor
Blue Lobster – Chris Jarrard, Swords are Cool
Isshin Ashina as Sam Chandler, the mascot cat
Afro – Donovan Erskine, editor
The Mikado (Bushido Blade) — Brittany Vincent, Senior Editor
Jinno / Kuma — Josh Hawkins, Guides Guy
Miyamoto Musashi — T.
J. Denzer in anticipation of a duel on Ganryu Island
Yoshimitsu (Tekken) – Greg Burke, Back to Video Mines
Jubei Yagyu, Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny — David L. Craddock, Long Read Editor
Yamato Man: Mega Man 6 — Steve Tyminsky, Editor
With the release of Ghost of Tsushima, everyone is thinking about samurai, including us, the great guys at Shacknews. This brings us directly to the topic of this week’s Shack Chat; What is your favorite video game samurai? Our employees have had a wide range of responses and we expect responses at Chatty to be just as diverse. Let us know what you think of our answers and give us your own.
Samurai Pea, fire ray pilot — Asif Khan, the best in the universe
There is no pilot in F-Zero that I love more than the legendary Samurai Pea. He has piloted the Fire Stingray, one of the fastest cars in franchise history, ever since the game first came out on the SNES.
It’s often assumed that all F-Zero fans just downright love Captain Falcon, as he kept the franchise alive by appearing in the Super Smash Bros. series. In my case, this is far from the case. While Captain Falcon serves as a worthy representative of the franchise, Samurai Pea is the best in the universe. Remember this!
You are in Cyberpunk 2077 — Bill Lavoye, Spire of Stars
I have serious doubts that the protagonist of Cyberpunk 2077 is a samurai, but if Keanu says that you are one of them, it will probably be delayed in court, right? I know this is a very weak answer, but my other choice was Agent 47 in Hitman (2016) on the map of Hokkaido. It failed when I loaded into the game and realized it was a ninja suit, and then Blake ruined my good times even more by saying that a samurai would never stab anyone in the back. Okay, Blake. If I don’t have Agent 47, you will end up with an unnamed character in an unreleased video game who is probably not a samurai, but as Keanu said they were, discuss any further claims about this with Mr.
Wick.
Yoshimitsu — Blake Morse, Cyber Samurai
Old Yoshimitsu and I have been through a lot together. I think the first time I played him was in a video game when Soulcalibur was in arcades. When I started playing Tekken, it was easy to switch to it as it was already familiar to me. While we may have first met in SC, Tekken is what I love about fighting franchises, so I definitely spent more time honing my skills with this character, but I love that it carries over to another fighting series. Also, in Tekken, no one gets a katana anymore, only this snooty samurai robot that loves to twirl and improve his health for no apparent reason.
Hisako (Killer Instinct) — Ozzy Mejia, Senior Editor
Remember Shack Chat last week where I talked about some of the really cool ideas and really cool original characters that Iron Galaxy came up with for Killer Instinct? This fits in nicely with my response to this week’s discussion.
Hisako is a vengeful spirit (Onryō) from the feudal Japanese era, the daughter of a powerful samurai warrior who was shot down by enemy soldiers. Hisako took her father’s sword and tried to fight back, but was also killed. And with a disturbed grave, she rose to pursue the Killer Instinct list.
Hisako has one of the most unique designs of the new Killer Instinct fighters, looking like she was pulled straight out of the Ring. Although I didn’t use her often, simply because she was more suited to a defensive parry, I couldn’t deny the coolness of her gaze. Infrequently they make such samurai.
Blue Lobster — Chris Jarrard, Swords are cool
My choice for top samurai in video games is an old man, but already golden. As the first boss you’ll face in Revenge of the Shinobi, Blue Lobster demands that you take him down by throwing ninja stars in his face in the brief moments he lowers his sword guard. As you build up hits on him, his appearance starts to change from blue to red before he dies from his injuries.
I chose Blue Lobster because he obviously has the coolest name of all the samurai. Unfortunately, he couldn’t work his way up to a higher position in the hierarchy of evil henchmen, but I’ll still stand by him because lobsters are cool.
Isshin Ashina — Sam Chandler, the cat mascot
Fair play to an old man who I thought was decrepit and on the verge of death, who repeatedly kicked my butt. Whether he’s using a shorter katana or blasting me from a distance with a huge, spear-like weapon, he’s got every move, even to the point of using lightning to try and kill me faster. Crazy respect for this old guy. And that’s it before we even consider the fact that he’s crawling out of his grandson like he was in some sort of leather suit. Sekiro is great.
Afro — Donovan Erskine Editor
There is one samurai that is considered one of the coolest and baddest characters to grace video games, and that is the titular character from Afro Samurai.
An emotional journey that included great combat and action, Afro Samurai has become one of my favorite games of the PS3/Xbox 360 generation. Afro deserves a full blown reboot on next gen consoles.
The Mikado (Bushido Blade) — Brittany Vincent, Senior Editor
via GIPHY
I spent an unreasonable amount of hours in Bushido Blade and Bushido Blade 2 as a child and continued to play into my teenage years. I have always chosen Mikado, a 22-year-old former saint from Japan. She used Aikuchi as a weapon and pierced those unfortunate enough to meet her on the way. I appreciated her classic saintly maiden outfit as well as her modern choice of costumes, and I’ve spent so many hours with her that I really feel like the honor of my favorite game, samurai, should go to her just because of how long I’ve played with her. . But honestly, Yojimbo from Final Fantasy comes in second.
Jinno / Kuma — Josh Hawkins, Guides Guy
While technically a bad guy, Jinno from the Afro Samurai series is probably one of my favorite video game samurai.
Everything from his motives to the way he carries himself, and even his clothes, are unique and fantastic. He’s a little different from the other samurai you might expect to see on this list, but I still feel like this character’s uniqueness and overall quirkiness makes him stand out from the rest — at least to me.
Miyamoto Musashi — TJ Denzer waiting for a duel on Ganryu Island
For me, there is only one eternally correct answer to this question, because he is my favorite swordsman outside of video games: undefeated dual-wielding legend Miyamoto Musashi . «But hey TJ, there are three different characters in your picture.» Yes, because all of them and many others are either based on Musashi or based on him. Haohmaru from Samurai Shodown is, in fact, so based on Musashi that his scene is Ganryu Island, and his morning, evening, and nighttime states are references to his tendency to be late for duels to annoy his opponents, especially his duel with a swordsman rival .
Sasaki Kojiro, which also took place on the shore of the same island.
There are quite a few characters that either portray Musashi or are based on him. Some of them, like Haohmaru and Mitsurugi from Soul Calibur, are gaming icons and often have the attribute of katana virtuosos. However, my favorite renditions are the likes of Squaresoft’s Brave Fencer Musashi, which pay homage to the fact that Musashi was a master of dual swordsmanship, often a full-length katana and a shorter wakizashi, the companion sword.”
Musashi actually hated the idea of using one sword with both hands to restrict the hand movement that it represented. Bonus points if they use an oar like the one Musashi carved on the way to Ganryū to overcome the length of the Nodachi Kojiro (Japanese two-handed sword) and defeat him. Good job, Musashi: Samurai Legend for PS2. Truly, Musashi is an endless source of inspiration for the perfect samurai duelist, and it’s always a pleasure to see different depictions of his legend in games.
He was the best. Don’t accept substitutions.
Yoshimitsu (Tekken) — Greg Burke, Back to Video Mines
My brother and I always played Tekken II and thought Yoshimitsu was amazing and fun. We loved to spin his attack and watch him get dizzy and fall to the ground. We were also puzzled by the fact that he first struck with his hands when he apparently held the sword with the same hand. It’s really great to see this character develop, change, and continue to be part of the Tekken franchise.
Jubei Yagyu, Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny — David L. Craddock, longread editor
Hi Capcom. If you’re making (fantastic) RE Engine remakes of classic Resident Evil games, how about giving Onimusha some love? In case you missed the franchise when it came out on PS2, Onimusha is a Resident Evil-style survival franchise based on Japanese mythology and supernatural elements. Ninjas, samurai, ghosts — Onimusha has it all, and it could be on next-gen hardware again.
