Our Onimusha: Way of the Sword mission list shows you at a glance how many missions you still have ahead of you and where you currently are in the story.
I’m currently on Mission 13, “Bloodbath on the Bridge,” after 12.7 hours. Below you’ll find all 22 main missions in Onimusha: Way of the Sword in the correct order.
- Note: This article mentions mission names and locations from throughout the game. It does not reveal any story details.
How is Onimusha: Way of the Sword structured?
The game is divided into missions, not chapters. In the progress menu, they appear under the heading “Way of the Sword,” the game’s subtitle itself.
The structure is mostly linear. You move through handcrafted areas that lead you from A to B, with East Kyoto serving as a semi-open hub in between that expands as you progress through the story. New districts only become accessible once you have cleared the Miasma from them.
- Note: Onimusha is not an open-world game, even if East Kyoto may initially give that impression. The missions themselves are usually guided levels. East Kyoto is where you pick up and complete side quests, visit merchants, and collect upgrades.
All 22 main missions
| # | Mission |
|---|---|
| 1 | The Ruckus at Rendaino |
| 2 | The Stage is Set at Kiyomizu |
| 3 | Kyoto, Corrupted |
| 4 | The Oni’s Apprentice |
| 5 | Careful What You Wish For |
| 6 | The Curse of Kiyomizu-zaka Slope |
| 7 | A Strength in Refuge |
| 8 | Patching Up the Pouch |
| 9 | Windswept Kennin-ji |
| 10 | An Immortal Talent |
| 11 | What Lurks in the Shadows |
| 12 | The Roots of All Evil |
| 13 | Bloodbath on the Bridge |
| 14 | Shadows Fall |
| 15 | A Tempest at the Temple |
| 16 | To Live is to Suffer |
| 17 | Okuni’s Kabuki Dance |
| 18 | The Demon on the Mount |
| 19 | A Haunted Distraction |
| 20 | Storm Chaser |
| 21 | In the Light of an Icy Moon |
| 22 | The Clash at Rendaino |
When does East Kyoto open up?
The hub feels small at first, but that impression is misleading. Once you arrive in East Kyoto, you’ll get three missions in a row, starting with Rasho Gan. After that, things really open up: The city gradually expands, with new missions and activities appearing on a regular basis.
From that point on, East Kyoto is no longer just somewhere you pass through. In my playthrough, roughly half of my total playtime was spent there, and not because of side quests. Several major main missions also take place in the city.
- Note: Between missions, the game usually takes you back to the temple, where you’ll find upgrades and the bell leading to the training grounds. Expect to return there regularly before the next section begins. It’s a good opportunity to spend your Red Souls instead of hoarding them.
How long does each mission take?
The game doesn’t provide fixed completion times, but there is a clear pattern. Side missions are generally shorter, and main missions that take place entirely in East Kyoto also tend to move fairly quickly.
Missions take longer whenever you move to a different area. If a mission takes you out of the city to a new location, plan on spending more time there.
For reference, here’s where I was in my own playthrough: I reached Mission 13 after 12.7 hours, although I skipped cutscenes and completed only a handful of side quests. If you take your time, expect your playtime to be significantly higher.
Mission 8 introduces a game system
“Patching Up the Pouch” stands out from the other missions because it revolves around the Hozuki Bag, which holds your healing supplies. The name is somewhat misleading, though: You have the bag with you from the very beginning.
The mission is actually about its upgrades. There are several of them scattered across different locations in Kyoto. The mission introduces you to the system, while finding the rest becomes an ongoing collectible task throughout the game.
The point of no return comes before the final mission
The game warns you before you start The Clash at Rendaino. Once you begin the mission, you can no longer return to the open city, so any unfinished side quests or collectibles will have to wait until another playthrough.
So if you want to complete Kyoto’s Mysteries, collect the Komainu, or finish upgrading your equipment, make sure you do it before starting this mission.
- Note: That said, nothing is permanently missable. Onimusha has no missable trophies. Anything you leave behind can be collected in New Game Plus, although doing so will require a second playthrough.
Kyoto’s Mysteries and Random Encounters are not the same thing
These two categories are often confused because both appear directly below the main missions in the progress menu.
Kyoto’s Mysteries are eight story-driven side quests with their own characters and titles, such as “The Light of Retribution” or “The Blessed Man.” They’re the more interesting part of the side content and can unlock rewards.
Random Encounters are eighteen short assignments that appear throughout East Kyoto once you’ve cleared an area. They also have their own names, such as “Clarity Through Purity,” but follow a simpler structure.
Both categories have a Bronze and a Silver trophy tied to them: one for completing the first activity and another for completing them all.
