* Image is for illustrative purposes only.Nioh 2
仁王2
A 2020 action RPG developed by Team Ninja and published by Koei Tecmo, set as a prequel to the original "Nioh." Players take on a half-yokai "Hunter" who crosses blades with demonic foes while encountering real Sengoku-period warlords along the way.
Description
Overview
"Nioh 2" is an action RPG developed by Team Ninja and published by Koei Tecmo, released in March 2020 for PlayStation 4, with PC and PlayStation 5 versions following later. Serving as a prequel to the original "Nioh" (2017), the game is set during the Sengoku period and casts the player as a half-human, half-yokai "Hunter" who wields swords, naginata, and dual blades alongside supernatural "Yokai Shift" abilities against demonic enemies.
Real Warlords and Historical Ties
The story features numerous real Sengoku-period figures, including Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Akechi Mitsuhide, Ishida Mitsunari, and Sanada Yukimura (Nobushige), and its plot draws on historical events such as the Honno-ji Incident and the Battle of Okehazama. On the swordsmithing side, an NPC blacksmith named Muramasa Senji, presented as a descendant of the famed smith Muramasa, plays a role in the game's weapon-forging systems; this is a fictionalized character modeled on the historical smith rather than a depiction of any specific surviving named blade appearing as an in-game item.
Gameplay
The game overhauls its weapon lineup from the first title (katana, dual swords, tonfa, naginata, odachi, and more) and centers its high-difficulty action around a "Burst Counter" system for deflecting enemy attacks and breaking their stance ("Ki" gauge). Players can switch between multiple combat stances and schools of technique to build their fighting style.
Cultural Impact
"Nioh 2" was received even more favorably than its predecessor and is widely regarded as the series' defining entry. Its fusion of historically grounded Sengoku-period figures and events with Japanese folkloric motifs of yokai and the supernatural earned it acclaim both domestically and abroad, and the franchise has continued to expand, with a sequel, "Nioh 3," announced in 2024.
See authentic Japanese swords
See authentic Japanese swordsRelated Content
Nobunaga's Ambition
Game信長の野望
Japan's longest-running historical simulation game series by Koei Tecmo (1983–). Players control Sengoku warlords including Oda Nobunaga in a quest for national unification. The series systematically parameterizes warriors' swords and equipment, providing one of the most comprehensive frameworks for learning about Japanese sword history, distribution, and connections to historical figures.
Seven Samurai
Film七人の侍
Akira Kurosawa's timeless masterpiece that introduced the world to Sengoku-era warriors and swords, influencing all subsequent action cinema.
Legend & Butterfly (Film, 2023)
Filmレジェンド＆バタフライ（映画・2023年）
Toei 70th Anniversary commemorative work (directed by Otomo Keishi, screenplay Furusawa Yoshita, released January 2023). Kimura Takuya portrays Oda Nobunaga and Ayase Haruka portrays his primary consort Nōhime (Kicho), depicting the unknown bond between Nobunaga and Nōhime. A large-scale historical film with a total production cost of 2 billion yen and cumulative attendance exceeding 1.8 million. Rooted in the historically documented famous swords of Nobunaga — Sozan Samonji (Yoshimoto Samonji) and Heshikiri Hasebe — this is an important work from the perspective of sword culture, in which Nobunaga's sword aesthetics under the banner of 'Tenka Fubu' (Rule the Realm Through Arms) intersect with Nōhime's strength.
Blue Exorcist
Anime and Manga青の祓魔師
A shonen manga where exorcists who banish demons battle with swords. The protagonist's holy sword is central to the story.
This page is intended to introduce Japanese sword culture and is not affiliated with any of the works mentioned.