The Spirit of the Samurai

Released

Release Date: December 12, 2024

Action, Platformers, Metroidvania, Indie Games, 2.5D, Side-scroll, Japanese Mythology, Samurai, Action Adventure, Singleplayer

The Spirit of the Samurai is an action adventure game set in the feudal Japan, in which we control three different characters - samurai, spirit and cat. The game was developed by Digital Mind studio.

5.6

OpenCritic

6.2

Steam

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Ratings

[1:00] The Spirit of the Samurai Gameplay Trailer - Future Games Show Gamescom 2024

 Videos: 3 

Images: 18 

Plot
Mechanics
Game modes
Technical aspects

The Spirit of the Samurai is a two-dimensional action adventure game belonging to the metroidvania sub-genre. The action of this game is set in feudal Japan, and the player plays three different characters. The game was developed and published by an independent studio Digital Mind. The money for this game was raised through a crowdfunding campaign.

Plot

The Spirit of the Samurai tells a story set in a fantastic feudal version of Japan. The hero of the game is a samurai who tries to regain his body and destroy the ancient evil. In the journey the warrior is accompanied by his cat and the encountered spirit ( kodama). The game focuses on presenting the story in a strongly cinematic way (the effect is achieved, among others, by animated scenes).

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Mechanics

In The Spirit of the Samurai the action is observed from the side ( side-scrolling). During the game the player controls three different characters: samurai, ghost and cat.

The game was created in the metroidvania convention - the gameplay is about exploring non-linear levels (it is a series of different locations combined into one map), fighting enemies and discovering the story prepared by the developers. As we progress, we acquire new equipment, develop characters and unlock new abilities (in the case of the spirit, we also have access to supernatural powers), which often allow us to enter previously unavailable places.

In the game you can find an arcade combat system that allows you to combine attacks into dangerous combos. We can also use special abilities. An advanced AI system also plays a key role - the developers made sure that every enemy behaves and fights a little differently.

Game modes

The Spirit of the Samurai offers only single player mode. The core of the game is a feature campaign.

Technical aspects

The Spirit of the Samurai game has a very good graphic design. Although the action takes place in 2D, the graphics are fully 3D. Both the locations created by the developers, as well as the character models, make an excellent impression and are well animated (which should not come as a surprise - Digital Mind is a studio that has been involved in 3D animation in the past). The game is full of charming atmosphere.

Platforms:

PC Windows December 12, 2024

PlayStation 5 2026

Xbox Series X/S 2026

Developer: Digital Mind

Publisher: Kwalee

Age restrictions: 16+

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Features

System Requirements

System Requirements for The Spirit of the Samurai Video Game:

PC / Windows

Minimum System Requirements:
Intel Core i5-4440 / AMD FX-6300, 4 GB RAM, graphic card 1 GB GeForce GT 730 / Radeon R7 240, 8 GB HDD, Windows 10 64-bit.

Recommended System Requirements:
Intel Core i5-7600 / AMD Ryzen 3 1200, 8 GB RAM, graphic card 2 GB GeForce GTX 460 / Radeon HD 7850, 8 GB HDD, Windows 10 64-bit.

Ratings

Game Ratings for The Spirit of the Samurai Video Game.

5.6

OpenCritic Rating

Game is Recomended by 11% of Critics. There are 15 Critic Reviews.

OpenCritic

GamingBolt: 4 / 10 by Ravi Sinha

Even if The Spirit of the Samurai does little to endear you to its story, the animation provides a decent jumping on point. Unfortunately, it's squandered by the terrible quality of everything else.

Full Review

GamesCreed: 3.9 / 5 by Al Amin

The Spirit of the Samurai’s steep difficulty curve, clunky controls, and sparse, underwhelming puzzles may frustrate newcomers. While optimization is solid, the UI and limited customization options need improvement. Despite these shortcomings, the game’s visuals, atmosphere, and rewarding combat mechanics make it a promising title with room for polish.

Full Review

AltChar: 50 / 100 by Asmir Kovacevic

The Spirit of the Samurai is a game full of great ideas that, unfortunately, fail to shine due to poor execution. The game is held back by terribly unresponsive controls, poorly implemented enemy AI, and developer promises that fall far short of expectations. These shortcomings, among others, ultimately make it difficult for me to recommend this game.

Full Review

62%

STEAM Score

All Reviews: Mixed (402)

STEAM

User Reviews Summary generated by AI

The main pros of the game

Visual Presentation: The stop-motion animation and artistic style are frequently praised, with many users noting the game's unique aesthetic and atmospheric design, which evokes a dark, folklore-inspired world.
Engaging Story: The narrative, rooted in Japanese mythology, is described as compelling and immersive, with players appreciating the emotional depth and cultural authenticity.
Character Variety: The ability to switch between different playable characters (Takeshi, the Kodama, and Chisai the cat) adds diversity to gameplay and keeps the experience fresh.
Customization of Combat: Some users enjoyed the combo system that allows players to create their own attack sequences, adding a layer of depth to combat.

The main cons of the game

Clunky Controls and Combat: Many players reported issues with unresponsive controls, delayed inputs, and inconsistent hit detection, making combat frustrating rather than enjoyable.
Poor Platforming Mechanics: The platforming sections were often criticized for being imprecise, with players frequently dying due to unclear foreground objects obscuring their view or poorly designed jumps.
Technical Issues: Users experienced various bugs, including game-breaking glitches that prevented them from progressing, frame rate drops, and soft locks.
Difficulty Balance: The game was noted for its inconsistent difficulty, with some areas being overly punishing without a fair challenge, leading to frustration.

The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users

Improved Combat Mechanics: Many players expressed a desire for a more refined combat system that includes better responsiveness, clearer hitboxes, and more intuitive enemy AI behavior.
Better Level Design: Users called for improved level layouts that clarify foreground and background elements to enhance visibility and navigation.
More Checkpoints or Save Options: Several reviews highlighted the need for more frequent checkpoints to alleviate the frustration of losing progress after difficult encounters.
Exploration Incentives: Players mentioned a lack of exploration rewards, suggesting that more varied enemy types and hidden secrets could enhance replayability and engagement.

Summary

Overall, "The Spirit of the Samurai" is seen as a game with significant potential due to its artistic vision and narrative depth, but it struggles with gameplay mechanics and technical execution that detract from the player experience.

Summary generated on: October 29, 2025

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