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. Released in 2019.
The game takes place in a re-imagined late 16th century Sengoku period Japan. At the end of the Sengoku era, warlord Isshin Ashina stages a bloody coup and seizes the land of Ashina. During this time, a nameless orphan is adopted by the wandering shinobi Owl, who names the orphan "Wolf". Twenty years later, the Ashina clan are on the brink of collapse due to a combination of the now elderly Isshin having fallen ill and the clan's enemies steadily closing in from all sides. Desperate to find a way to prevent the fall of his clan, Isshin's grandson Genichiro captures the Divine Heir Kuro, in hopes of using his "Dragon Heritage" to create an immortal army.
Many players consider Sekiro harder than Dark Souls because it demands precise timing and parrying rather than allowing players to level up or summon help to overcome difficulty. The combat is more aggressive and reflex-based, with fewer options to grind past tough encounters.
No, Sekiro is strictly a single-player game. Unlike Dark Souls and Elden Ring, there is no co-op, PvP, or any online multiplayer component. FromSoftware designed the game around a focused single-player combat experience.
No, Sekiro does not have selectable difficulty modes. Director Hidetaka Miyazaki stated this was intentional to ensure all players share the same experience. However, an optional in-game Demon Bell item can increase difficulty, and a Kuro's Charm mechanic adds further challenge in New Game Plus.
A first playthrough of Sekiro takes approximately 25–35 hours depending on skill level. Completionists aiming for all endings, prosthetic upgrades, and optional bosses can spend 60–70 hours across multiple playthroughs.
Sekiro is not open world but features interconnected, semi-linear levels similar to classic FromSoftware design. Players progress through distinct areas with some freedom in the order they tackle certain zones, but the structure is more guided than Elden Ring.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice was developed by FromSoftware and published by Activision. It was directed by Hidetaka Miyazaki and won Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2019.
