Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

 PC
User Score
8.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 3214 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2,674 out of 3214
  2. Mixed: 202 out of 3214
  3. Negative: 338 out of 3214
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  1. AbdNuhr93
    Apr 14, 2019
    8
    Sekiro is not what i expected. I expected basically samurai souls, just like nioh was samurai gaiden, but what i found was not that. However, i can also say that i want more of what i did find.

    Sekiros combat-system feels great, its fast-paced and even regular mobs can destroy you if you screw up. You have a rather simple arsenal of techniques to use to defeat the challenge that is    Sekiro is not what i expected. I expected basically samurai souls, just like nioh was samurai gaiden, but what i found was not that. However, i can also say that i want more of what i did find.

    Sekiros combat-system feels great, its fast-paced and even regular mobs can destroy you if you screw up. You have a rather simple arsenal of techniques to use to defeat the challenge that is sent your way, but that also means that your own understanding of those same techniques and how they interact becomes more important than before. Your own play-style sometimes doesnt work with certain encounters and trivializes others, and i personally love that. An example of this is the contrast between two bosses, Lady Butterfly and Genichiro.

    Lady Butterfly is regularly one of the bosses people tend to talk about as very difficult and several people have told me that they stopped playing the game due to not being able to beat her. For me, she was kind of trivial. Dash in, get her timing down and parry, shuriken when she is in the air to knock her down etc. (Lots of similarities between her and the succubus in Nioh actually). I took her down after about an hour of trying.

    Genichiro, however, destroyed me. He is really fast, tends to make distance and punish you for trying to close that distance and then also punish you when you dont. He has a mid-air volley that wrecks your posture and your day. So my way of playing didnt work, and after a few hours i decided to go back to basics; Be aggressive, punish everything, parry when needed and always try to get attacks in whenever there is an opening. After a few tries, he was dead. That, i feel is the key to the game, being able to adapt.

    The prosthetic arm is fun. I still giggle when i run around and spray peasants with fire or parries an attack and appear behind the enemy whispering softly in their ear: "Nothing personal, kid". However, Its sadly easy to forget in combat and most of its tools are seldom useful outside of very specific situations.

    The story is great, even if it feels like it gets interesting far too close to the end. The lore feels like it desperately needs dlc and sequels to be fleshed out. The characters are okay and the world feels interesting.

    So lets discuss the elephant in the room. The design when it comes to difficulty. I think personally that the difficulty is fine, it gives you a false sense of strength sometimes just to slap you out of it, but you always get to struggle to get that feeling back. However, some bosses feel like they dont cater well to the games mechanics, one i particular. This boss is the blazing bull. This boss feels, in my opinion, really out of place. It is cool, and it sure as hell isnt expected when it pops up, but it doesnt make use of the combat mechanics as much as your patience and ability to react to its erratic movement. I didnt find it fun, but i do accept that not everything can be perfect. Bloodborne had the amygdala, DS3 had the ancient wyvern and Sekiro has the blazing bull, thats fine but i do feel like it could have been better on that point.

    And god damn it, Miyazaki. Please, just give us more weapons, the ability to modify the katana and change our outfits. Please. The weakest point in this game is quite literally the lack of customization, but given a sequel, im sure it will be improved just like dark souls was a large improvment on demon souls.

    To summarize, Do i recommend this game?
    Yes. Hell yes, i do. At least if you dont expect dark souls 4 out of this, cuz youre not gonna get that. However, it is a fun challenge, the world is interesting and the combat is in my opinion the next best one yet, only falling slightly behind bloodborne. This game feels like an attempted trip into unfamilliar waters and it does well, but a sequel is needed to really see what From software can actually do with this setting and these new mechanics. I personally cant wait for an expansion or a sequel.    … Expand
  2. Tanabe
    Jul 21, 2020
    10
    The game is good, beautiful graphics, common story and interesting gameplay. The biggest point of this game is precisely the gameplay, which makes it unique. I think it's harder than dark souls! I suffered a lot with the mini bosses
  3. luisflopez
    Aug 12, 2020
    10
    I'm not sure if calling Sekiro an evolution of the Souls series is appropiate, because while it is obviously based on the same core formula, it also takes that formula into a different direction. Sekiro is more of an action game and less of an RPG. Fortunately, almost all of the positive aspects of the Souls games are present or even enhanced in Sekiro (except for multiplayer).

    I think    I'm not sure if calling Sekiro an evolution of the Souls series is appropiate, because while it is obviously based on the same core formula, it also takes that formula into a different direction. Sekiro is more of an action game and less of an RPG. Fortunately, almost all of the positive aspects of the Souls games are present or even enhanced in Sekiro (except for multiplayer).

    I think the best thing about Sekiro is how it does away with most of the filler and artificial dificulty of the Souls games. Sekiro is infinitely more agile than previous Souls characters. The addition of the grappling hook makes traversal a lot more entertaining and fast, and there's also stealth, which was made deliberately OP and very forgiving. If you feel stuck in any area of the game, you can just run past everything in a flash. This also makes the game very fun to replay.

    At the core of the experience lies the combat, which is similar but at the same time very different from that of Souls games. I think it is safe to say that this is the most engaging and refined combat system From Software has ever made, with a big emphasis on good timing and getting to know both your own and your enemies' movesets. Sekiro is both the From Software game where bosses can kill you the quickest, but also the only game where you can realistically take down a boss without getting hit once, and that is immensely rewarding. The bosses are absolutely excellent, to the point where I'd like to replay them over and over again, simply to get better at them and have fun.

    The downside of dropping most of the RPG elements is that one of my favorite aspects of Souls games, which is trying out different character builds, is almost entirely gone. In theory, this would make Sekiro the least replayable From Software game in my eyes, yet I see myself wanting to replay Sekiro in the future more than any other Souls game. The diveristy of builds may be gone, but Sekiro makes up with its addicting and engrossing combat system and its fast paced, 'to the point' nature.

    In the art department, this game is as exquisite as you'd come to expect from a modern From Software title. The story is enjoyable and the lore has a good amount of depth, although isn't quite as intrincate and elaborate as the lore of the Dark Souls series or Bloodborne. Visually, this game isn't anything to marvel at, but it does have it's highlights. Finally, the soundtrack is largely forgettable, and a step back from the quality of DS3 and Bloodborne in my opinion.

    In concluison, Sekiro is a terrific game that absolutely lives up to From Software's name. It's is obviously hard, but when you grasp the basics of combat, I'd say the difficulty is on par with that of any Souls game. Combat is intensely satisfying, from the clashing sounds of blades to the variety of moves at your disposal. The only significant donwside to the game is that is reuses areas a lot. For example, you'll be running through the exact same Ashina Castle area three times over the course of the game. But if you like soulslike games, you cannot by any chance miss Sekiro.

    Score: 9.5
    -    … Expand
  4. A-Rose
    Feb 16, 2020
    10
    This game straight up has my favorite action gameplay in any game period. The combat is so damn satisfying and so damn hard too. Virtually every single boss save for maybe 1 or 2 of them are absolute monsters and require so much trial and error to eventually beat. But when you do, holy smokes does it feel good. The soundtrack is pretty damn solid throughout, with some particular bangersThis game straight up has my favorite action gameplay in any game period. The combat is so damn satisfying and so damn hard too. Virtually every single boss save for maybe 1 or 2 of them are absolute monsters and require so much trial and error to eventually beat. But when you do, holy smokes does it feel good. The soundtrack is pretty damn solid throughout, with some particular bangers along the way. The story is...fine I guess. Its probably the weakest part of Sekiro, but it doesn't really bring the game down in any way. The voice acting is good in literally every single language this game has.
    I should note however that this game very much will not be for everyone, even some Soulsborne veterans I know didn't really care for this game as much as others. That is mostly due to the fact that there is only one way really of fighting in this game. Theres no great swords, daggers, bows, or magic. There is no variety essentially, you'll be slashing, deflecting, jumping and mikiri countering the whole way through to the very end. Now I really like this style of gameplay, but if you were the kind of guy/gal to hit and run in games like dark souls or you perhaps used to rolling through most attacks with ease, this game will take some real getting used to or you may just straight up not enjoy it. If you can adapt to this singular style of gameplay, you should have an extremely difficult but extremely satisfying time with this game. Its a #P4P great!    … Expand
  5. boeph
    Nov 10, 2019
    5
    Лучше всего проходить игру на youtube, если в играх не любите рутину.
  6. 4ever
    Feb 25, 2021
    1
    This game was very promising, but in reality it is terribly boring. Only two interesting bosses with unique gameplay, everything else based on parry + mikiri counter. Can't even call it a souls game, in which you can fight against bosses with your own way. Every battle is the same , you are just learning boss moves and then you are doing parry+mikiri actions. Dont waste you time on thisThis game was very promising, but in reality it is terribly boring. Only two interesting bosses with unique gameplay, everything else based on parry + mikiri counter. Can't even call it a souls game, in which you can fight against bosses with your own way. Every battle is the same , you are just learning boss moves and then you are doing parry+mikiri actions. Dont waste you time on this overhyped ****… Expand
  7. Rodrick55
    Feb 29, 2020
    10
    One of the best games ever, good job from software! Dont listen to people who are crying that its too difficult, just learn to parry :)
  8. PantsuPillow
    Feb 1, 2020
    9
    If you are a fan of Dark Souls , you will probably like this.
    Sekiro has excellent depth and lore , and the combat keeps you entertained for hours.
    The vertical scaling of the world is interesting , and adds a new feel to the traditional Dark Souls recipe.

    Negatives are that some parts do feel slightly drawn out, but that is a minor complaint.
    Overall an excellent experience.
  9. IsshinAshina
    Feb 2, 2020
    10
    Despite the mechanical and artistic differences with the Souls games, Sekiro manages to recapture the feeling I got when playing Dark Souls for the very first time.
    A very exciting and meaningful experience!
  10. TomyVercEty
    Oct 19, 2020
    10
    Simply Beautiful, I see many who complain about the difficulty, the fact that it is difficult does not mean that it is bad stop giving it bad marks for being handicapped, those who reached the final congratulations prros.
  11. ShadowOfTheMoon
    Apr 3, 2020
    10
    This is a masterpiece of the soul series. The game gives emotions when you fully understand the mechanics and begin to read the boss like an open book. It's just a bomb
  12. saxman
    May 5, 2020
    10
    the combat in this game is the best in any game i've ever played, and all of sekiro is built off of it. from switching from the slow paced stealth to the fast paced attack/deflect, everything flows perfectly and smoothly. only slight knock for too much grapple and some bad mini bosses, but that's not enough to affect my overall score. 9.6/10
  13. phoenix26
    Jul 5, 2020
    10
    sekiro inanılmaz bir oyun olmuş bölüm tasarımı silahların işlevi ve zorluğu harika olmuş oynadıkça deneyim kazandığınız ve deneyim kazandıkça zorluğunun kolaylaşması geliştiğiniz hissiyatını çok iyi veriyor tek kelime ile muğazzam
  14. GustaCNXFL
    Nov 1, 2020
    10
    Muito Bom um ótimo jogo pra se jogar gráficos e jotabilidade muito boms recomendo
  15. Wolvesblade
    Jul 23, 2020
    10
    Best game ever! It is very difficult at the beginning but I got by because it is just so addictive and challenged you to made it through every boss. Fantastic masterpiece!
  16. fooba
    Jul 28, 2020
    10
    One of the best games of all time. I wish they were more confident with the game and put more resources into making it and marketing it. Game should have been longer as well.
  17. Hozuki
    Sep 2, 2020
    10
    Sem duvida alguma uma obra de arte, um jogo que te desafia o tempo todo, te dando uma motivação para querer praticar, melhorar e tentar de novo.
    uma verdadeira lição de narrativa e jogabilidade para a industria de jogos atuai, um sistema de aparar completamente novo, que te dá satisfação visual de ver em pratica, algo que chega a beirar o cinematográfico em seus combates.
    Sekiro: Shadows    Sem duvida alguma uma obra de arte, um jogo que te desafia o tempo todo, te dando uma motivação para querer praticar, melhorar e tentar de novo.
    uma verdadeira lição de narrativa e jogabilidade para a industria de jogos atuai, um sistema de aparar completamente novo, que te dá satisfação visual de ver em pratica, algo que chega a beirar o cinematográfico em seus combates.
    Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice é um dos poucos jogos em que tive vontade de fazer 100% de tudo o que tem a oferecer, o jogo conta com seu audio original em japones, e a atuação e relação dos personagens é incrivelmente detalhada, retratando um Japão em período de guerra, onde as pessoas quase não possuem mais emoções ou esperanças, e você sendo o Lobo de um braço só, precisa fazer o que lhe foi confiado a fazer, proteger seu mestre a todo custo, seguindo sua honra como um shinobi e se guiando por sangue com um poder desconhecido.
    Parabéns From Software.    … Expand
  18. ADEGaming
    Nov 2, 2020
    10
    What a beautiful game! It's so difficult at first but all you need is some patience and resilience if you want to beat the game. Moreover, Mouse and keyboard make this game sufficiently harder rather than the controller counterpart. Once you learn how to deflect at the perfect moment and learn the enemy's weaknesses -- everything will be much easier.
  19. Fatbastard19
    Apr 13, 2021
    10
    "Git Gud" - These words have never rang truer.
    As a long time soulsbourne veteran I will begin by saying that Sekiro is one of the most difficult, if not the most difficult, of the genre. It is also one of the best.
  20. Mirukahia0207
    May 14, 2021
    10
    PROS:
    - Story / Samurai / Shinobi folclore
    - Stealth is not boring
    - Better dynamic combat than other Souls
    - Fast , agressive combat
    - Bosses
    - Enviroment / Landscapes / Map transitions
    - Weapons / Sub-weapons / skills
    - Combos
    - Deflection / Parry system that works and feels damn good
    - Choices matter

    CONS:
    - The Headless
    - The headless
    - The headless
    - The headless
  21. Noo7vi
    Jun 16, 2021
    10
    Honestly one of the best games i've ever played in my life. Loved everything about it.
  22. Forkinlads86
    Jun 17, 2021
    10
    Every boss requires you to adapt a new strategy. Then, there comes the two final bosses, One requires you to master everything you have learned so far, Isshin the Glock Saint and Demon of Cheese and the other requires you to abandon everything you have learned so far.
  23. Trojan9757
    Jun 18, 2021
    10
    The amount of people saying this game is bad because they suck at the game is just hilarious.
  24. Theohyeda
    Aug 26, 2022
    0
    Sucks, never buy this stupid **** game , not worth it, “oh but after you defeat bosses it feels good” go get some **** it’s not worth all the rage, don’t waste your time
  25. Cevlic
    Mar 24, 2019
    10
    Amazing game love it so much I have played all the soulsbornes games and so far this is my favorite combat feels good movement feels good this game feels good to play
  26. Allthat
    Mar 24, 2019
    10
    FromSoftware have grown into one of those studios whose game releases are big events. And I'm really glad as they are one of the few companies out there devoted to strong singleplayer games and the Soulsbourne games are one of the reasons I got into gaming.

    That being said, Sekiro is a masterpiece. Its a natural evolution on the soulsbourne games and is different in all the right ways.    FromSoftware have grown into one of those studios whose game releases are big events. And I'm really glad as they are one of the few companies out there devoted to strong singleplayer games and the Soulsbourne games are one of the reasons I got into gaming.

    That being said, Sekiro is a masterpiece. Its a natural evolution on the soulsbourne games and is different in all the right ways. I bestow my highest praises on FromSoftware, they are true masters of the art of making videogames, and while I play Sekiro, I eagerly await their next game no matter how long it takes.    … Expand
  27. Bruc3e
    Mar 23, 2019
    10
    Great game super amazing Great game super amazing Great game super amazing Great game super amazing Great game super amazing Great game super amazing Great game super **** game super amazing Great game super amazing Great game super amazing Great game super amazing I LOVE THIS GAME !!!
  28. bestreviews2020
    Nov 13, 2020
    2
    Just came here to say, here's my negative review for this awful game............
  29. Aghanim
    Mar 24, 2019
    10
    I finished Demon's Souls, Dark Souls 1,2,3, Bloodborne. I liked these games. And I liked Sekiro too. Thanks From Software!
  30. jozzeed
    Mar 23, 2019
    10
    They surpassed themselves with this game. This is by far my favorite game from "From Software". The setting is fantastic, the graphics are amazing, the ambiance is sublime. The combat feels very good and is very rewarding if you take the time to learn the mechanics of the game. I don't consider myself a very good gamer and I had no problem with the difficulty. Yes it is hard but that makesThey surpassed themselves with this game. This is by far my favorite game from "From Software". The setting is fantastic, the graphics are amazing, the ambiance is sublime. The combat feels very good and is very rewarding if you take the time to learn the mechanics of the game. I don't consider myself a very good gamer and I had no problem with the difficulty. Yes it is hard but that makes it soo much better when you are able to beat a boss that you worked hard for. I see some reviews saying the game is too hard for human reflexes but I am telling you that they are wrong. The hit boxes are very accurate and the levels design is fantastic. I recommend !… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

9
#9 Best PC Game of 2019
6
#6 Most Discussed PC Game of 2019
69
#69 Most Shared PC Game of 2019

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
88

Generally favorable reviews - based on 25 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 24 out of 25
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 25
  3. Negative: 0 out of 25
  1. Game World Navigator Magazine
    May 15, 2019
    80
    There’s no leveling (in Soulsborne sense of the word), no covenants, no multiplayer, no variety in armor and weapons. It could be written off a stylistic choice, if the rest of the game didn’t feel very similar to the previous FromSoftware games. But it does, so Sekrio comes across as rather shallow. [Issue#237, p.28]
  2. MGG
    Apr 27, 2019
    88
    Sekiro Shadows Die Twice is a milestone in the genre. It offers complex, stunning and precise sword fights and duels that its predecessors lacked, and from which its successors will have to keep up with. You no longer simply learn by repeatedly and unfairly dying, but you refine your talents as a player. You seek unique methods to overcome each boss, rather than just rolling at the right time before spamming a few hits.
    Read full review
  3. Edge Magazine
    Apr 25, 2019
    90
    Dozens of hours later, we're still not sure how we feel about it. It's a game of contradictions, open and flexible in its level design, yet resolutely strict in its combat... It is a brilliant game, that is certain. but it is often a difficult one to truly love. Naturally, we can't put it down. [Issue#332, p.104]
See all critic reviews »