Beloved Action-RPG Muramasa: The Demon Blade Returns in 2027 With Stunning Remake

Having played Muramasa: Revenant Blades for an hour at a Tokyo Game Show event last month, the rerelease quickly shot up my list of most anticipated games, thanks to its mix of fast-paced action, depth in fighting styles, and (of course) gorgeous artwork. (As is often the case with Vanillaware games, the in-game food looks incredibly mouth-watering.)

Muramasa: The Demon Blade is a Wii classic

Image: Vanillaware/Marvelous Entertainment

Vanillaware and Marvelous Entertainment released the original Muramasa: The Demon Blade on Nintendo’s Wii platform in 2009, with a PlayStation Vita port following in 2013. The original game is a 2D side-scrolling action RPG, with a game design structure that lands somewhere between Metroidvania and pure arcade-style slash-’em-up. Players explore Edo period Japan as one of two protagonists — Momohime and Kisuke — battling ninja, samurai, evil priests, and imaginative yokai in environments inspired by artwork of the period.

Muramasa: The Demon Blade and now Muramasa: Revenant Blades are as much about exploration as they are about frantic swordfighting action. As Momohime or Kisuke, players set out on a journey across Honshu amid a great conflict over the ownership of powerful swords forged by the legendary Senji Muramasa. His swords are said to instill both power and a bloodthirsty madness in their owners, drawing supernatural beings into a war to claim them. Momohime and Kisuke have their own personal reasons for engaging in the story’s conflict, and the story is fleshed out with four additional playable characters.

Muramasa: Revenant Blades throws players quickly into the action. Exploring Honshu as Momohime during my hands-on time with the Muramasa remaster, I was thrust into swordfights with overwhelming odds. Ninja, ghosts, and imps swarmed me from both sides, but they are generally easily dispatched; Momohime has a short sword for fast, combo-building attacks and a longer sword for slower, more powerful strikes, as well as a handful of combat skills to employ in battle. Marvelous and Vanillaware promise 100 swords to forge and dozens of skills to customize, upgrade, and master.

Some of those skills include the slashing move Haze Splitter, which flanks an enemy and cuts at them twice; Moonslash, which fires a crescent of energy at enemies; and Moonbeam, which executes a rising slash that unleashes a shockwave. Those skills can be indispensable in battle, getting our heroes out of very tight jams.

Weapons can be damaged, and even temporarily break, in battle, forcing players to be strategic about when to guard, when to attack, and when to swap to one’s alternate weapon so the busted one has time to “heal.” The game’s powerful skills are also on a cooldown, but none of this slows down the pace. Muramasa: Revenant Blades is a game of constant action during combat. Swordfighting in Muramasa feels spectacular, with tight, responsive controls and very visible feedback on your moment-to-moment performance.

There are quieter moments in Muramasa: Revenant Blades, during which Momohime and Kisuke chat with NPCs, purchase and upgrade gear, or simply dine on local cuisine. In one teahouse I visited, Momohime loaded up on sweet treats: tri-color dango, mochi, and fruit jelly, all of which jiggled, as Vanillaware is wont to do with its animation.

My time with Muramasa: Revenant Blades ended just as I was starting to get a firm grasp on its mechanics. I barely scratched the surface, considering the game’s vast arsenal of swords, skills, equipment, and food recipes that players can unlock over its adventure. I only got a peek at the vast map of Honshu, which sends players into caves, to serene beaches, and to otherworldly places.

What’s new in Muramasa: Revenant Blades

Image: Vanillaware/Marvelous Entertainment

In addition to the base game, which now renders in 4K resolution, Muramasa: Revenant Blades will feature new weapons and combat systems. Original protagonists Momohime and Kisuke are joined by four more: Okoi, Gonbe, Arashimaru, and Rajaki, who were introduced in the PlayStation Vita version of the game. All six stories are available from the start of the game. (They were originally available as downloadable content.)

Marvelous and Vanillaware have also relocalized the game, with an English-language voiceover available.

Additionally, players will have a training mode at their disposal in order to master techniques and various swords. Fishing and a relaxing hot-springs vacation option will also offer players some chilled-out activities when they grow weary of cutting down monsters. Other extras include a gallery of illustrations, a full-game script, and cutscenes and character viewers. Vanillaware knows players want to ogle the game’s lush graphics, and it’s meeting players where they want to be.

When does Muramasa: Revenant Blades come out?

Image: Vanillaware/Marvelous Entertainment

Muramasa: Revenant Blades will be released worldwide on Feb. 4, 2027 for Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, and Windows PC. The new Muramasa is Vanillaware’s first PC release.

Physical versions of the game are available for the PS5, Switch, and Switch 2 releases of Muramasa: Revenant Blades. The Switch 2 version features the full game on the cartridge, Marvelous notes. A Limited Edition release is also available, featuring the game itself, a collectible art book, a limited CD soundtrack featuring select tracks from Basiscape’s score, and a 10-inch by 14-inch byōbu folding screen featuring Vanillaware artwork.

Image: Vanillaware/Marvelous Entertainment