Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
Carve your own clever path to vengeance as you come face-to-face with larger than life foes in FromSoftware's dark and twisted adventure set in feudal Japan. Unleash an arsenal of deadly prosthetic tools and ninja abilities, while blending stealth, vertical traversal, and visceral combat. Survive a relentless and bloody confrontation on a quest to restore your honor and save the one you're sworn to protect.
What it feels like
Sustained edge-of-seat pressure where enemy mistakes and player missteps feel imminent and costly throughout encounters. An unflinching darkness and harsh brutality pervade the setting and narrative without softening the violence. A sincere, unironic heartfelt-ness in the protagonist's commitment to duty, honor, and protecting his ward.
What it's about
A quest for vengeance against those who wronged the protagonist and destroyed his ward drives the entire narrative arc. A grim, decayed fantasy world layered atop historical Japan with supernatural forces and moral weight. Grounded in feudal Japan's texture and historical aesthetic, though with dark fantastical elements.
How it plays
Deliberate, stamina-gated melee combat with emphasis on timing, spacing, and punishing enemy openings is the core of Sekiro's combat system. Precisely timed deflections and ripostes are the primary defensive and offensive mechanism, central to mastering the game's visceral sword combat. Close-quarters sword and prosthetic weapon combat forms the foundation of moment-to-moment interaction.
How it looks and sounds
The camera follows the protagonist from behind the shoulder throughout exploration and combat. Grimy, worn, high-detail realism of rust, dirt, and wear permeates the feudal Japanese setting and characters. Realistic proportions and anatomy pushed toward an exaggerated, artistic interpretation of feudal Japan.
How it's structured
Designed entirely as a single-player experience with no multiplayer component. Every space is deliberately authored by designers, with intricate level design and environmental storytelling throughout. An authored story arc with a definite beginning, middle, and end focused on revenge and honor restoration.
Kindred games
Shares Stealth, Third-Person, Parkour, Tense.
Both lean into Stealth, Third-Person, Parkour, Tense.
Shares Third-Person, Melee Combat, Revenge, Dark Fantasy.
Both lean into Third-Person, Single-Player, Melee Combat, Revenge.
Shares Third-Person, Melee Combat, Handcrafted World, Stealth.
Both lean into Third-Person, Single-Player, Melee Combat, Handcrafted World.
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