The latest samurai games that live up to the classics from the PS2 era

The PlayStation 2 is widely regarded as one of the greatest video game consoles. There are many reasons why it had such a glowing reputation. One of those reasons is that it had a very impressive game list.

Fans of samurai games were especially pleased, as the system was home to many great samurai adventures. There were titles like Genji: Dawn of the Samurai, Onimusha: Worldworlds, and The Way of the Samurai games. However, the gaming world didn't just stop releasing good samurai games after the end of the PS2 era. There have been many great ones over the past few years. These are some that match the high quality of those PS2 classics.

Dragon Like: Ishin!

The original version of Like A Dragon: Ishin was released during the PS3 era, but that title was only released in Japan. Those in the West had to wait until 2023 to get the remake of that original game. Thankfully, it was worth the wait, as A Dragon: Isshin offers a great samurai experience.

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Since it's part of the Like a Dragon series, it's not as serious as you might expect from a samurai game. There are lots of silly minigames to play and strange people to meet. At its heart, though, is a serious story of political intrigue and revenge. The combat isn't as deep as some other samurai titles, but it's a lot of hack-and-slash fun.

Assassin's Creed Shadows

The Assassin's Creed games are set in all sorts of different places and time periods. So, it was only a matter of time before the series explored Japan. Shadows is set in 16th century Japan during the Sengoku period. You play as two characters: Nao, who is a female shinobi, and an African samurai known as Yasuke.

Both are designed to play differently. Naoe is meant to hide, while Yasuke is a bit of a brute. As a result, you will experience two different styles of samurai gameplay. From a story point of view, both characters are very interesting, and the story is generally engaging. The game may be a little bloated in areas, but overall it's a fun open-world samurai experience.

Trek to Yomi

Many critically acclaimed samurai games are third-person titles. Hence, Trek to Yomi looks a little different because it is a 2D side-scroller. Its color palette is also unique in that there is no color. The game is all in black and white, which helps give it a distinct and memorable look.

While it differs from many other samurai games in many ways, it has a similar story to others, as you play with a thirst for revenge after burning down your village. In this main story, however, the hero ventures into the Japanese underworld, so it still retains a bit of uniqueness. The story isn't as good as the game's presentation and general aesthetic, but it's okay, and the combat isn't bad either.

Rise of the Ronin

The Rise of the Ronin is an action RPG set in the mid-19th century. You play as the custom Blade Twins, who rule Japan as a military government that clings to the Shogunate. The story is well told and filled with a bunch of entertaining characters that you will get to know over the course of the game.

As good as the characters are, though, they're still not the best part of the game. That honor goes to the title's excellent combat system. The sword fights in this game are brutal and bloody. They also feel awesome to take part in, as they have real weight to your attacks, no matter what weapon you're using. Thankfully, the game has some well-designed quests that make combat a lot of fun.

Neoh

While Nioh is technically set in Japan, it's a fictionalized version of the country. It uses real historical figures, but they have changed a lot. The best example of this is the main character, a foreign samurai named William Adams. He is based on a real Englishman who traveled to Japan and was given the rank of samurai. However, it's fair to assume that he wasn't fighting dangerous, supernatural monsters like you do in Nioh.

He really misses out, because this game looks so much fun because of the solid combat mechanics of this RPG. Combat is usually fast-paced, but you have to manage your ki cleverly and choose the proper stance for the right position.

Sekiro: Shadows die twice

Technically, you don't actually control a samurai in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Instead, you control a Shinobi. However, the game is still considered a samurai game because it is set in a fictional version of feudal Japan, there are lots of sword-fights, and you have to face many samurai during the adventure. In fact, it's one of the best games to show just how dangerous and deadly samurai are because the game is punishingly difficult, meaning that when you do face samurai, they're often very effective.

This is a Soulslike game, which means time is precious and studying enemy patterns is a big part of the best in combat. It can be frustrating at times, but there is nothing more satisfying than finally taking down a tough enemy in a game like this. When you're not fighting people, you can enjoy the fascinating story and admire the beautiful scenery.

Ghost of Tsushima

Ghost of Tsushima puts you in control of a samurai named Jin, who wants to repel the first Mongolian invasion. This makes for a compelling main story that prompts Jin to question whether to use sinister tactics or fight with honor to achieve his mission. This is also a question that is asked of you during gameplay, as you must decide which approach to take in every situation you find yourself in.

Going the head-on combat route isn't a bad choice as the game's core swordplay is very satisfying and fun. Sometimes, you really feel like you are playing as an experienced and deadly samurai. When you're not slicing people in half or sneaking around them, you get to roam a beautiful open world full of some great side quests.

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Assassin's Creed Shadows Vs. Dragon Like: Isshin – Which game is better?

AC Shadow and LaD: Ishin are similar but very different, so which comes out on top?