Journey to Ancient Japan: a selection of games in a historical Japanese setting
The fashion for Japan has not gone anywhere, but recently the historical theme has been in trend. Over the past few years, enough games, films and TV series on this topic have been released. The new series Shōgun based on the novel of the same name by James Clavell has achieved great success (there is also a 1980 film adaptation). The most recent notable game release was Assassin's Creed Shadows, which gathered around itself both fans and those who do not like the new game and Ubisoft's policies in general. But if you want something else with a Japanese medieval flavor, about samurai and the times of the shogunate, or the later times of the discovery of Japan for Europeans in the Edo era, we have a small selection of modern games of various genres, where everyone will be able to find something to their taste.
Ghost of Tsushima
Platforms Windows, PlayStation 4/5
Genre action/adventure
Year 2020
Ghost of Tsushima is not just an open-world action/adventure game. It is an atmospheric journey back to the 13th century, to the heart of the Kamakura era, when Japan first faced the threat of a large-scale external invasion. The game is set in 1274, during the first Mongol invasion of Tsushima Island, a small but strategically important piece of land between Japan and Korea.
The player takes on the role of Jin Sakai, the last samurai of his lineage, who, left almost alone after the defeat of the Japanese forces, is forced to reconsider his principles in order to fight back against the enemy. The game brings to the fore the internal conflict between the honor of the samurai and the effectiveness of the "shadow war" that Jin wages to protect his land. This is not just a mindless sword-swinging slasher - here the question is the question: will you die with dignity, or will you survive by doing the dirty work?
The game's setting is crafted with meticulous attention to detail, from architecture and armor to the poetry and philosophy of contemporary Japan. The world of Ghost of Tsushima feels alive – winds guide the player, foxes point the way to shrines, and maple leaves fall during duels, just like in a classic Japanese Kurosawa film. By the way, the game even has a Kurosawa mode – a black-and-white filter with film grain and a distinctive sound that adds even more charm. Combined with the organic world navigation system, this gives a great immersion in the game.
Ghost of Tsushima is a love letter to Japan written by the American studio Sucker Punch. Despite this, the Japanese community received it very warmly. Even so, the administration of the real island of Tsushima thanked the developers for popularizing the culture and history of the region, and the creators of the game received the title of honorary tourism ambassadors.
Ghost of Tsushima is a historical game without fantasy or demons, allowing you to feel like you are in an era where the sword, honor, and strategy were crucial. It is one of the few games that not only entertains, but also recreates the spirit of an era that is usually ignored.
Back in the fall of 2024, Sony announced a new game in the series – Ghost of Yōtei. The sequel is scheduled for release on October 2, 2025, and a new trailer has recently appeared. Judging by the available information, the plot is very similar to that used in Assassin's Creed Shadows, namely revenge, becomes the driving force of this story. Also, the events take place at the intersection of two eras, which is not exactly the same time, but very close to the Ubisoft game. Interestingly, at that time in Hokkaido, the Japanese were invaders who tried to conquer the native Ainu people.
Rise of the Ronin
Platforms Windows, PlayStation 5
Genre action/RPG
Year 2024
Rise of the Ronin is not a game about the heroic rise of Japan, but about its painful transformation. The events unfold in the mid-19th century, during the late Edo period (Bakumatsu) - the last years of the Tokugawa shogunate, when the old feudal system was literally bursting at the seams. It was at this time that the samurai lost their role as a warrior class, Japan opened its ports to the West, and the country was engulfed in revolutions, civil strife, and ideological struggles.
The player takes on the role of a ronin, a masterless samurai, caught between three forces: loyalists who want to restore power to the emperor, supporters of the shogunate who want to maintain the status quo, and the new influence of the Western world, which is bursting into Japanese society with steamships, rifles, and new ideas. And this is where the game gives you the main thing: a choice, and not just a tactical one, but a worldview.
Rise of the Ronin is more than just another samurai action game. It's a game about decline, about the complexity of choice in a time when there is no right path, and every step has consequences. Team Ninja, known for Nioh (more on that later), has changed its approach a bit: if Nioh is a fantasy soulslike, then Ronin is slower, deeper, with a greater emphasis on story, dialogues, and political ambiguity.
The setting of Rise of the Ronin is quite rare for games about Japan – here they no longer ride horses through rice fields, relying only on their trusty katana, but shoot guns, read newspapers, and ride in carriages. But the very spirit of ancient Japan has not yet been lost. Ronin still roam the streets, the code of honor still lives, and bamboo still rustles in the gardens. And it is in this confrontation between the old and the new that the game’s narrative is born.
Visually, the game attempts to capture the atmosphere of the Meiji era before it officially began. The architecture is mixed, with traditional houses juxtaposed with Western facades, and samurai in kimonos juxtaposed with uniformed officers. All of this creates a strange but honest picture of Japan on the brink of global change.
Rise of the Ronin is a farewell to the Japan we know from Kurosawa's films. This is not an era where the spirit triumphed over the body, but the body over the spirit. This is a time when even a samurai must choose: adapt, die with principles, or lose everything to survive.
Like a Dragon: Ishin!
Platforms Windows, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One/Series X|S
Genre: action/adventure
Year 2023
Like a Dragon: Ishin! is not just a historical game, but a reimagining of the classic Yakuza set in the late Edo period, when Japan was on the verge of revolution. The main character is Sakamoto Ryoma, a real historical figure, who is presented in the style of the Like a Dragon (Yakuza) series, that is, with the face and character of Kiryu from the main series.
The plot covers the end of the shogunate, civil unrest, a conspiracy against the Tokugawa, and the beginning of reform movements. All this is set against the backdrop of changes in society: from the advent of firearms to new political trends. The player takes part in political intrigues, conspiracies, and street fights, of course, all in the series' signature style.
Like a Dragon: Ishin! is a remake of the 2014 Japanese exclusive, created on Unreal Engine 4. It was first localized into English and released to the global market in 2023. The remake was released on all major platforms, including PC, and in technical terms showed stable performance without serious problems.
The story is tentatively accurate: there are real characters, but presented in the style of Like a Dragon, that is, with exaggeration, humor and without false pathos. It is a samurai drama, retold in the language of street battles, funny mini-games and excessive kicks in the face, all that is inherent in this game series.
Trek to Yomi
Platforms Windows, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One/Series X|S, Nintendo Switch
Genre: action/adventure
Year 2022
The Kurosawa mode was a cool feature in Ghost of Tsushima, and in Trek to Yomi it's the basis of the visual style and production. It's a stylized black and white game that pays homage to classic Japanese cinema. It doesn't try to accurately recreate a specific historical era, but uses a general image of feudal Japan, with elements of mythology, spirituality, and samurai honor.
The plot centers on a young warrior, Hiroki, who, after a tragedy, embarks on a journey beyond life and death. The game balances between reality and the afterlife, so it contains elements of mysticism and Shinto symbolism - a journey to the Yomi (the underworld), encounters with spirits, and symbolic trials.
The gameplay is 2.5D-action, where the main focus is on the combat system using katana, parrying, minimalist controls and cinematic presentation. Each scene is built like a frame from a movie: fixed cameras, composition, play of shadows and light. Fights are short, tough and fast, like in a classic samurai action movie.
Trek to Yomi is out on all major platforms, including Nintendo Switch. It's a short but stylish journey into the world of samurai mythology, more arthouse than blockbuster. Perfect for an evening of tea and melancholy.
Total War: Shogun 2
Platforms Windows, Linux, Mac
Genre global strategy
Year 2011
This classic, yet still relevant strategy from the masters of the genre, Creative Assembly, is designed to dilute this list of action games. Total War: Shogun 2 takes the player to the Sengoku era, a period of warring provinces, when Japan was fragmented into clan possessions, and the struggle for power and the title of shogun was fought with brutal determination. This is almost the same period as Assassin's Creed Shadows, and Oda Nobunaga is in both games. Total War: Shogun 2 is not about one hero, but about politics, war, diplomacy and survival in chaos.
In classic Total War style, the player leads their own clan on a global map - developing provinces, conducting trade, forming or betraying alliances, and at decisive moments commanding large-scale realistic battles in real time. Ninjas, geishas, weather conditions, religion (Buddhism vs. Christianity) and technological progress (firearms) play a special role.
The game was released in 2011, but is still considered one of the best parts of the series. It has several DLCs, including Fall of the Samurai - about the end of the samurai era in the 19th century. The game still works stably on modern systems, is supported on Steam, and has an active modding community.
Shogun 2 is a unique case where the story of the samurai is presented not from the side of the katana, but from the side of the map and decisions that change the fate of all of Japan.
Sengoku
Platforms Windows
Genre: global strategy
Year 2011
Unlike the spectacular Total War: Shogun 2, which focuses on large-scale 3D battles, Sengoku is a deep political strategy game in the vein of Crusader Kings, created by Paradox Interactive. This game also takes the player to the mid-16th century, at the height of the Sengoku period, an era of warring provinces. Unlike most games set in Japan, there are no battle scenes or fantasy - only diplomacy, intrigue, family ties and control over clans.
The player controls one of the daimyo - provincial lords who compete for power, titles and influence in a politically fragmented Japan. The mechanics are similar to Crusader Kings II, but adapted to the Japanese context: clan ties, overlords, vassals, dynasties, rituals. You will not so much conquer as manage people, build alliances, conspire and survive in a ruthless feudal environment.
The game was released in 2011, and although it looks a bit archaic, it is still available on Steam and works stably on modern PCs. Sengoku was not a hit, but it has its niche - connoisseurs of Paradox strategies. It is a quiet, slow, but deep strategy that shows the same era as Shogun 2 - just from a slightly different perspective.
Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun
Platforms Windows, Linux, Mac, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Genre: action/adventure
Year 2017
Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun is a stealth-tactics game in the spirit of classic Commandos, set in feudal Japan at the beginning of the Edo period. The country has already been united under the rule of the shogun, but conspiracies, rebels, and shadow wars still remain.
The player controls a team of specialists: a samurai, a ninja, a geisha, a trapper shepherd, and a scout. Each has unique skills for infiltration, sabotage, and elimination. This game is about precise planning and strategy - because a frontal attack almost always ends in defeat.
Although the game is not based on specific historical events, it accurately conveys the mood of the era of stabilization after the chaos of the Sengoku. There are no demons or magic - only human reason and cold steel. Locations - cities, castles, temples - are drawn with respect for the Japanese style.
In 2021, the game received a standalone story expansion, Aiko's Choice. This is a separate story that delves into the past of geisha-ninja Aiko, adding new locations, characters, and several more hours of gameplay.
Shadow Tactics is an intelligent tactical game with a samurai feel that gives you the satisfaction of every silent victory. This game was created by Mimimi Games, a small studio that revived the tactical stealth genre with incredible attention to detail. They gave players not only Shadow Tactics, but also Desperados III and Shadow Gambit. In 2023, the studio announced its closure, but left behind refined, intelligent games that will delight fans of the genre for a long time to come.
Sengoku Dynasty
Platforms Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Genre: city building, survival
Year 2024
A spiritual successor to Medieval Dynasty, it takes the familiar formula of settlement building and survival simulation to the world of Sengoku period Japan. While the first game was about a European settler in the Middle Ages, Sengoku Dynasty sees the player in a war-torn Japanese village, building a new life from scratch.
It is a hybrid of genres: survival, city building, role-playing game, settlement management and adventure action. The player decides who to become: a warrior, craftsman, leader or monk. You can live alone or lead a community, defend the settlement, complete quests, build, cook, grow crops and create your own dynasty.
The world is open, with full seasons and a day-night cycle. There is co-op for up to four players, a combat system with traditional weapons, and the ability to manage the development of the community in the style of soft strategy.
This is a logical continuation of the idea of Medieval Dynasty, but with a Japanese soul and samurai atmosphere. Ideal for those who want to not only study history, but also live in it.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
Platforms Windows, Linux, Mac, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Genre action/adventure
Year 2019
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is a game from From Software, the creators of Dark Souls, that adapts the Soulslike formula to feudal Japan. There's no character creation or weapon DPS options - just one hero, one sword, and a rigorous path to mastery.
The player controls Wolf, a shinobi sworn to protect the young Lord Kuro, heir to a divine lineage, at all costs. Although the game's world is fictional, it is based on the late Sengoku period, with a large number of yokai, demons, reincarnation, and shamanistic themes.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is distinguished by the fact that it abandons the RPG system, everything is built on reaction, rhythm of combat, parries and accuracy. Death is part of the learning process, and repetition is the path to perfection. The game requires strict concentration, but rewards with a pure feeling of victory after each boss. This is a samurai Soulslike, where even death is part of the gameplay. A dark tale about the path of a warrior who fights not only with enemies, but also with himself.
Nioh + Nioh 2
Platforms Windows, PlayStation 4/5
Genre action/adventure
Year 2017, 2020
If you're looking for more combat challenges and a deeper RPG system with a fantasy slant after Sekiro, then you should check out Nioh and Nioh 2. These are samurai Soulslikes from Team Ninja that explore the theme of demons, spirits, and complex combat. The studio is one of the few that skillfully adapts the formula created by From Software into its projects and develops its own vision of the genre.
Nioh (2017) tells the story of William Adams, an Englishman who becomes a samurai and takes part in key events of the late Sengoku period. He is a real-life historical prototype of the same John Blackthorne from the novel/TV series "Shogun". He faces not only political intrigues, but also a war with supernatural creatures - yokai, who appear at the most critical moments.
Nioh 2 (2020) is a prequel with its own character, part demon. More fantasy, more madness, a deeper combat system with stances, magic, parrying and dozens of weapons. The player can literally transform into yokai, gaining temporary superpowers.
Both games were originally limited-time console exclusives for PlayStation 4, and later released on PlayStation 5 and PC. The PS5 versions can be purchased digitally and on disc as part of The Nioh Collection.
Nioh presents the samurai theme as a rich action RPG with yokai, loot, and leveling systems, in contrast to the balanced, minimalist combat philosophy in Sekiro.
Onimusha series
Platforms Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Genre: Action/Adventure
Year 2019, 2025
Onimusha is an action/adventure series from Capcom that combines the historical setting of feudal Japan with supernatural elements. Players take on the role of samurai who fight against demonic forces using weapons and magical abilities. Two re-releases of the games are currently available for players.
Onimusha: Warlords (2019): The first remaster of the series, available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC. It features updated graphics, widescreen support, improved controls, and remastered music. Players can enjoy classic gameplay with updated visuals and the convenience of modern platforms.
Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny (2025) is set to release on May 23, 2025 for PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. This remaster features improved graphics, new screen formats (16:9 and 4:3), Japanese voice acting for the first time in the Western market, auto-saving, fast loading, and the ability to skip cutscenes.
Of particular note is the new iteration of the series, Onimusha: Way of the Sword, scheduled for release in 2026. Details about the game are scarce. There's only a trailer and an estimated release date.
Also in 2023, an anime based on the series was released on Netflix.
Samurai Warriors series
Platforms Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Genre: musou/hack and slash
Year 2021, 2025
Samurai Warriors is a musou series (a type of massed attack game) from Omega Force that once again takes players back to the height of the Sengoku period. In this genre, the player single-handedly destroys hundreds of enemies on the battlefield, completing tasks in the style of large-scale arcade action. The combat mechanics are simple, but offer depth for fans of combos and special moves.
The story centers on real historical figures depicted in hyper-stylized form: Oda Nobunaga, Sanada Yukimura, Tokugawa Ieyasu and many others. They take part in fictional campaigns inspired by real events. The latest installment in the series is Samurai Warriors 5, a reboot with a revamped style, more cinematics and a focus on the young Oda Nobunaga with a classic musou-style action. Also released in 2025 is Samurai Warriors 4X, an expanded alternative version of Samurai Warriors 4 with new scenarios, tactical features and co-op, now available on Nintendo Switch.
Samurai Warriors characters also appear in the Warriors Orochi series, a fantasy spinoff that brings together characters from Samurai Warriors and Dynasty Warriors in a fictional universe filled with mythology, magic, and gods. It's an even larger, more fantastical version of the same musou-action.
Samurai Shodown
Platforms Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Genre fighting
Year 2019
Samurai Shodown, known in Japan as Samurai Spirits, is the first and only fighting game in our selection, a classic series from SNK that appeared back in 1993 on the Neo Geo arcade machines and immediately stood out among other games of the genre. Its feature is a combat system using cold weapons, where every blow can decide the fight. Unlike Street Fighter or Mortal Kombat, it is not about combos that are important here, but timing, reaction and tactics.
The game takes place in a fictional version of 18th-century Japan, around the end of the Edo period, with a mix of Chinese, Korean, and European characters. The game features both realistic depictions of samurai and ninja, as well as supernatural creatures, demonic forces, and mysticism.
In 2019, SNK released a full-fledged re-release of Samurai Shodown, built on Unreal Engine 4. The game was released on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC, and even Stadia, and retained the slow, tense pace of combat that has become the series' signature feature.
Okami
Platforms Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Genre action/adventure
Year 2006
Ōkami does not recreate Japan literally, but brings its spirit and mythology to life. There are no clan battles or shoguns here - just a world of Japanese legends, where nature, gods and demonic forces struggle for harmony.
The player controls the sun goddess Amaterasu, who is incarnated as a white wolf. Your task is to cleanse the land of filth, restore balance, and bring back light. The game is stylized as traditional Japanese painting (suibokuga), and the main mechanic here is the "divine brush," with which the player draws directly on the screen: controls the elements, cuts enemies, and grows nature.
In 2017, Ōkami HD was released - an updated version with support for modern platforms. And in December 2024, at The Game Awards, Capcom officially announced a full-fledged sequel, which is being developed on the RE Engine as a direct continuation of the story of the first part. The development of the new game is headed by the legendary Hideki Kamiya.
This game is about aesthetics, silence, and light, conveyed through game poetics. A game that not only entertains, but also reminds us that there is a place for beauty and rebirth in the world – even in the form of a white wolf with a paintbrush.
Of course, there's a lot that didn't make it into this selection, because feudal Japan is a very popular setting, and a lot of games have been released in it. From the big and familiar ones mentioned above to the small ones, like the Vampire Survivor-style roguelike Rogue Samurai. Even more different games can be found on the curator's page on Steam, which gives an assessment of historical accuracy.
What are your favorite games in a Japanese historical setting? What would you add to the list? It could be games or additional content - share in the comments.