Best Open-World Games For Feeling Like An OP Samurai

Summary

• Playing as a samurai in video games is a great experience, focused on honor and cool combat vibes.
• Top open-world samurai games like Zelda and Ghost of Tsushima offer players a powerful, immersive journey.
• Whether exploring ruins or battling foes, embodying the samurai spirit in games like Dynasty Warriors 9 is epic.

Two big video game archetypes are a lot of fun to assume the role of: cowboys and samurai. The two archetypes have a lot in common as they are often quiet and brooding warriors who can snap at the crack of a branch. Samurai are often more noble, and there are plenty of games where players can take on the role.

Many of the best examples are open-world games, but feeling like a samurai isn’t all about literally controlling a samurai. It’s about honor and looking cool while in combat, which again, can be seen in many Western games too. Let’s highlight the best open-world games with samurai vibes, based on how strong players can feel.

The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild

A Silent Ronin

Players will not start out overpowered in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, as the game is quite hard at first. However, as players explore the ruins of Hyrule, they will increase their gear load and level up their stats to make Link into a beast.

Even the fearsome Guardian robots will eventually fall before Link. Between costume choices and weapons like the Eightfold Blade, players can definitely make Link role-play as a samurai in this game. He fits the bill with his presence, too, as a silent wanderer who arrives just in time to save the day.

Dynasty Warriors 9

Become An Eastern Samurai

Omega Force’s two biggest franchises are Dynasty Warriors, which is based on Chinese history, and Samurai Warriors, which is based on Japanese history. There are no open-world Samurai Warriors games, so Dynasty Warriors 9 is the next best thing. Even though the two franchises take place in different countries, they play the same way as Musou games and even feature similar weapon selections between various swords, spears, and bows.

It may lack the polish of other open-world games, but Dynasty Warriors 9 will make players feel the most powerful as they will literally mow down thousands of warriors with ease in just one battle, and sometimes, in just one swing.

Rise Of The Ronin

The Declining Age Of Samurai

Rise of the Ronin takes place in an age where samurai are being phased out as the Japanese borders have been lowered to allow Westerners into the country. As one of the last ronin, a wandering samurai, players have free rein to choose to be a part of this change or to cling to the old ways.

Players will get a nice range of classic weapons, like katanas, along with Western weapons to deal out their own brand of deadly justice. The Fire Pipe is a flamethrower, for example, and nothing will make players feel like a samurai god more than that.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Geralt’s Noble Quest

Geralt may not be a samurai in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, but he is one of the most gentle and intelligent souls in his universe. He’s a mercenary by trade, taking coin from villagers to solve their problems, especially if a monster is involved (and they often are).

Geralt is not shy about helping others find missing cookware either, as most quests lead to something bigger than they initially seem to. Between his swordplay and magic, players will get to see how deadly of a Witcher Geralt truly is. To a lesser extent, the playable Ciri moments are fun, too.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows

Unlock Yasuke, Dominate Japan

Assassin’s Creed Shadows finally took the series to Japan to give players two distinct flavors of Japanese history. Naoe is a female ninja, while Yasuke is a Japanese-trained foreigner in the art of the Bushido. Players can go loud with Naoe, but she plays better as a stealthy assassin.

Yasuke, on the other hand, is a massive brute who can take on enemies one at a time or in groups. Both characters can get strong enough where even the deadliest warriors will quake in fear, but Yasuke definitely has an advantage in the brute force department.

Ghost Of Tsushima

The Obvious Answer Is Obvious

Until Ghost of Yotei releases later in 2025, Ghost of Tsushima will dominate the top picks for anything samurai and gaming-related. The hero, Jin, can choose to follow the ways of the samurai to uphold traditions, or he can skulk in the shadows to eliminate the Mongol invaders like a ninja.

Stealth kills will definitely make Jin come across as an unflinching god, but it’s so much cooler to face opponents in black and white while standing still, countering enemy moves, and then striking them down in a single blow. No matter how players enjoy it, Ghost of Tsushima is a beautiful-looking and engaging samurai game.