Few settings fit action games as naturally as the world of the samurai.
Sword duels, clan warfare, wandering ronin, shinobi and the turbulent history of Japan have inspired everything from huge open-world adventures to brutally difficult action RPGs.
And PS5 now has an especially strong selection.
Some games aim for historical authenticity. Others fill feudal Japan with yokai, demons and supernatural powers. A few aren’t strictly “samurai simulators” at all, but still deliver exactly the sword-fighting, Japanese setting and warrior fantasy most players searching for samurai games want.
If you’re looking for the best samurai games on PS5, these are the ones we’d start with.
For a broader historical selection, also see our guide to the best video games set in feudal Japan.
Quick List: Best Samurai Games on PS5
| Game | Best for | PS5 version |
|---|---|---|
| Ghost of Yōtei | Modern open-world samurai adventure | Native PS5 |
| Rise of the Ronin | Combat + historical open world | Native PS5 |
| Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut | Cinematic samurai experience | Native PS5 |
| Assassin’s Creed Shadows | Samurai + shinobi open world | Native PS5 |
| Nioh 3 | Challenging supernatural combat | Native PS5 |
| Nioh 2 Remastered | Yokai action RPG | Native PS5 |
| Like a Dragon: Ishin! | Historical samurai drama | Native PS5 |
| Fate/Samurai Remnant | Anime-style samurai action RPG | Native PS5 |
| Trek to Yomi | Cinematic samurai story | Native PS5 |
| Sengoku Dynasty | Survival and life in Sengoku Japan | Native PS5 |
1. Ghost of Yōtei
Ghost of Yōtei is one of the most obvious starting points for PS5 owners in 2026.
Set roughly 300 years after Ghost of Tsushima, the game follows Atsu, a mercenary travelling through northern Japan on a quest for revenge. The story takes place in the seventeenth century around Mount Yōtei, giving the game a very different landscape and atmosphere from Jin Sakai’s journey.
It’s a standalone story, so you don’t need to play Ghost of Tsushima first.
For players primarily interested in the fantasy of roaming historical Japan with a blade, Ghost of Yōtei is one of the most current PS5 options available.
Why play it: A modern, visually spectacular Japanese open-world adventure built specifically for PS5.
Best for: Exploration, cinematic sword combat and historical atmosphere.
PS5: Native PS5 version, also optimized for PS5 Pro.
2. Rise of the Ronin
Rise of the Ronin takes the samurai fantasy into a much later period of Japanese history.
Set in 1863, it takes place as the Tokugawa shogunate enters its final years and Japan faces enormous political and cultural change. You play as a ronin — a masterless samurai — while travelling through an open world and deciding which characters and factions to support.
The combat is particularly important here. Team Ninja, the studio behind Nioh, gives you numerous melee weapons alongside firearms appropriate to the period.
Unlike some difficult Team Ninja games, Rise of the Ronin also offers multiple difficulty settings, making it accessible to players who mainly want the setting and exploration.
Why play it: Probably the best PS5 option if you want open-world exploration combined with complex sword combat.
Best for: History, character choice and weapon variety.
PS5: Developed specifically for PS5.
3. Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut
Even several years after its original release, Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut remains essential for anyone looking for samurai games on PS5.
You play as Jin Sakai during the Mongol invasion of Tsushima, balancing the traditions of the samurai with increasingly unconventional methods of warfare.
Its biggest strength isn’t simply combat.
The wind-guided exploration, shrines, bamboo forests, villages and dramatic landscapes make travelling through Tsushima as memorable as fighting across it.
The Director’s Cut on PS5 also includes the Iki Island expansion and the cooperative Legends mode.
Why play it: Still one of the strongest complete samurai experiences available.
Best for: Cinematic storytelling, exploration and accessible sword fighting.
PS5: Dedicated PS5 Director’s Cut available.
4. Assassin’s Creed Shadows
After years of players asking for an Assassin’s Creed game in Japan, Assassin’s Creed Shadows finally delivers it.
The game lets you alternate between two protagonists: shinobi Naoe and samurai Yasuke.
That makes it particularly relevant to this list because the two characters play very differently. Naoe emphasizes stealth and infiltration, while Yasuke delivers the heavier warrior fantasy many players expect from a samurai game.
Ubisoft places the adventure in feudal Japan during a period of political turmoil, with a large open world containing castle towns, shrines and rural areas. The PS5 version is also optimized for PS5 Pro.
Why play it: One of the biggest open-world interpretations of feudal Japan.
Best for: Players who want both samurai combat and shinobi stealth.
PS5: Native PS5 version.
5. Nioh 3
Nioh 3 is the newest entry in Team Ninja’s supernatural samurai series and one of the most relevant additions to this list in 2026.
Released for PS5 and PC in February 2026, it continues the series’ mix of Japanese history, mythology and punishing action-RPG combat.
One of its biggest changes is the move toward larger open-field areas, giving players more freedom to explore than in previous Nioh games. PlayStation describes the game as drawing again from Japanese culture, history and mythology while mixing political conflict with supernatural forces.
If you want samurai weaponry but don’t mind fighting yokai alongside human enemies, it’s one of the strongest modern choices.
Why play it: The newest difficult samurai action RPG on PS5.
Best for: Deep combat systems, character builds and supernatural Japan.
PS5: Native PS5 release.
6. Nioh 2 Remastered
If Nioh 3 makes you curious about the series, Nioh 2 Remastered: Complete Edition is still well worth playing.
The game transports you to war-torn sixteenth-century Japan, but its Sengoku setting is filled with yokai and supernatural forces.
Your character can harness yokai abilities in addition to mastering a huge range of traditional weapons and combat stances.
The PS5 remaster includes the complete game and its expansions, with enhancements including faster loading, higher resolution and support for gameplay up to 120 fps under compatible conditions.
Why play it: One of the deepest action RPGs built around samurai combat.
Best for: Players who enjoy difficult games and complex builds.
PS5: Nioh 2 Remastered: Complete Edition is available for PS5.
7. Like a Dragon: Ishin!
Like a Dragon: Ishin! feels very different from most games here.
Rather than creating a fictional warrior, it reimagines familiar faces from the Like a Dragon series as characters in a historical drama set in 1860s Kyoto.
You play as Sakamoto Ryoma, using both a sword and firearms while becoming involved in the political upheaval surrounding the end of the samurai era.
The combat includes four styles — Swordsman, Gunman, Wild Dancer and Brawler — so it isn’t limited to traditional katana combat.
It also retains the strange side activities and personality associated with the wider Like a Dragon franchise.
Why play it: A samurai story with much more personality and variety than the typical serious historical epic.
Best for: Story, characters and players who already enjoy Like a Dragon.
PS5: Native PS5 edition available.
8. Fate/Samurai Remnant
Fate/Samurai Remnant combines the world of the Fate franchise with Edo-period Japan.
The result is more fantastical than Ghost of Tsushima or Rise of the Ronin, but its swordsmen, historical setting and large-scale supernatural battles make it an interesting alternative for players who want something more anime-inspired.
It has a dedicated PS5 version alongside PS4.
This is especially worth considering if you’ve already played the major open-world games and want a Japanese action RPG with a very different tone.
Why play it: Samurai action mixed with the Fate universe.
Best for: Anime and action-RPG fans.
PS5: Native PS5 version.
9. Trek to Yomi
Trek to Yomi doesn’t have the scale of Ghost of Yōtei or Assassin’s Creed Shadows.
Instead, it focuses on style.
The entire game uses a striking black-and-white cinematic presentation as young swordsman Hiroki attempts to fulfill a promise to protect his village and the people he loves.
The story eventually moves beyond straightforward historical drama into the supernatural, but its visual presentation and sword-focused combat remain heavily rooted in the image of classic samurai cinema.
PlayStation lists a dedicated PS5 version with DualSense features.
Why play it: One of the most visually distinctive samurai games available.
Best for: Players wanting a shorter, more cinematic experience.
PS5: Native PS5 version.
10. Sengoku Dynasty
Sengoku Dynasty is the odd one out on this list — and that’s exactly why it’s worth mentioning.
Instead of making you spend the entire game fighting duels, it asks you to build a life and community during the Sengoku period.
You explore an open world, gather resources, build settlements and develop a dynasty in a region affected by war and famine. Combat exists, but it can even be reduced or disabled depending on how you want to play.
That makes it a completely different way to experience the period.
The PS5 version released in August 2025 and supports solo play as well as cooperative multiplayer for up to four players.
Why play it: A rare look at Sengoku Japan outside the usual action-game formula.
Best for: Survival, building and slower-paced historical immersion.
PS5: Native PS5 version, optimized for PS5 Pro.
Which Is the Best Samurai Game on PS5?
That depends on what you’re looking for.
For a modern open-world adventure, start with Ghost of Yōtei.
For deeper combat and character builds, choose Nioh 3.
For a more historically grounded nineteenth-century setting, Rise of the Ronin is an excellent choice.
If you haven’t played it yet, Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut remains one of the easiest recommendations.
And if you want something very different from the usual action formula, Sengoku Dynasty lets you experience the Sengoku period through survival and settlement building rather than constant sword fighting.
Are All of These Games Really About Samurai?
Not exactly — and that’s intentional.
Players searching for “samurai games on PS5” are usually looking for a broader combination of:
- historical Japan;
- katana combat;
- ronin;
- shinobi;
- Sengoku or Edo settings;
- Japanese warrior culture.
For example, Ghost of Yōtei’s protagonist is a mercenary rather than simply a traditional samurai, while Sengoku Dynasty is primarily a survival and settlement game.
We’ve included them because they satisfy the broader experience most players are searching for rather than forcing every game into the exact same historical definition.
More Games Set in Japan
If the Japanese setting matters more to you than samurai specifically, explore our Best Video Games Set in Japan guide.
For more historical games, see 10 Best Video Games Set in Feudal Japan.
And if you’d rather fight yokai and supernatural creatures, our Best Video Games Based on Japanese Mythology and Folklore guide explores games inspired by traditional legends and Japanese mythology.
