Sucker Punch’s Ghost of Tsushima is one of the most recent samurai games to release, but it’s far from the only samurai game worthy of attention. There are plenty of samurai games that came before Ghost of Tsushima, many of which are perfect for players looking for a similar gameplay experience in a familiar setting.
In Ghost of Tsushima, players assume the role of Jin Sakai, one of the last remaining samurai warriors on the island of Tsushima. As the island was recently overtaken by Mongol invaders, Sakai must protect the island while freeing his uncle Lord Shimura from Khotun Khan’s clutches and protecting his allies.
The game has been praised for its beautiful Japanese environment and interactive open world, but it’s also had its fair share of criticisms, including over the historical accuracy of the main storyline. While 2020’s Ghost of Tsushima is a solid game, the following samurai games are equally impressive, and players looking to jump back in to a similar environment can find a lot of fun in these older titles.
Games Similar To Ghost Of Tsushima
2017’s Nioh was developed by Team Ninja for the PS4. Set in the seventeenth century, the story follows an Irish explorer named William Adams who finds himself in the middle of the last battles of the Sengoku period, when efforts were focused on unifying Japan. Similar to Ghost of Tsushima, this game boasts a detailed, beautiful environment and is based on classic Kurosawa samurai movies. Nioh 2 was released in March 2020.
The Way of the Samurai franchise features four installments, making for a much longer (and much more RPG-focused) gameplay experience than Ghost of Tsushima. Its first game was released in 2002 for PS2 whereas the most recent one came out in 2011, though their English versions took a bit longer to come out. The franchise explores events after the fall of the shogunate when samurai went from being revered and adored to outlaws.
2019’s Katana Zero, published by Devolver Digital, was released for Windows, macOS, and Nintendo Switch. Players step into the shoes of a mysterious assassin named Subject Zero whose main choice of weapon is a katana, as the game’s name implies. It’s set in a dystopian environment, giving it a futuristic feel that contrasts with Tsushima’s historical period setting.
From Software’s Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is an action-adventure game that follows Wolf, who is on a mission to seek justice against the samurai clan the took his lord captive. Set in the 16th century Sengoku period, and similar to Tsushima, the game picks and chooses the parts it borrows from history. However, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice's focus on stealth, combat, exploration, and the incorporation of several epic boss battles makes it worthy of playing through, although some players may find it extremely difficult.
Ubisoft’s For Honor, released in 2017, is different in that it doesn’t only incorporate samurai, but a variety of warriors. The third-person multiplayer game is set in a medieval, feudal society, and players can choose between playing as a Knight, Viking, or Samurai, making for a game packed with adventure and bloodshed. A post-launch expansion also added a fourth faction gamers can play as, the Wu Lin.
Capcom’s Onimusha: Warlords was originally released in 2001, but a remastered version was launched in 2019 for Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One, and Steam. Like several other games on this list, it’s set in the Sengoku period. Players assume the role of samurai Akechi, who must save Princess Yuki while pushing back against Oda Nobunaga’s forces.
In addition to the ones listed above, there are many other samurai-themed games similar to Ghost of Tsushima that promise an exciting gameplay experience and are worthy of being checked out. While none of them may be quite as pretty as Sucker Punch's latest title, they are all perfect for players who just want to find something else to do with their sword-controllers.
