Muramasa: The Demon Blade is a 2D action role-playing hack-and-slash game developed by Vanillaware, released in 2009 for the Wii and later Wii U. Set during Japan's Genroku era under the rule of shogun Tsunayoshi Tokugawa, the game centers on a conflict surrounding cursed Demon Blades — powerful weapons that bring madness, tragedy, and death to those who wield them in hatred. As these swords spread chaos, evil spirits and divine figures including Dragon and Demon Gods are drawn into the mortal world. Players choose between two protagonists, a male ninja or a female kunoichi, navigating side-scrolling stages that incorporate both horizontal and vertical progression. The game is distinguished by its hand-drawn 2D artwork, which reflects the aesthetic and mythological heritage of feudal Japan. Vanillaware, the studio behind Odin Sphere, drew on ancient Japanese lore to construct the game's world and narrative.
