Samurai Shows & Games You Won’t Want To Miss If You Enjoyed Disney+’s ‘Shogun’

Disney+’s Shōgun, an adaptation of James Clavell’s 1975 book of the same name, and starring Hiroyuki Sanada as Lord Yoshii Toranaga, Cosmo Jarvis (Persuasion) as Pilot-Major John Blackthorne, and Anna Sawai (Pachinko) as highborn noble Toda Mariko has brought the samurai to life with historical accuracy and exciting fights. As the series, which is about a sailor who finds himself shipwrecked in Japan as he navigates its political landscape, hurtles towards its epic finale, here are other well-regarded samurai-themed shows and games to get your fix.

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GAMES

1. Total War: Shogun 2 (2011)

Platform: PC

Rival clans fight for the position of Shogun in Total War: Shogun 2, a fun strategy game where you assume control of one of the clans and begin your rise to power. Manage your territory and armies and fend off attacks or take down your rivals, alternating between the clan leader and general. There’s DLC content which adds additional bonus content, but the base game is pretty solid on its own.

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2. Like a Dragon: Ishin! (2014)

Platform: PS4

A spinoff from the Like a Dragon action role-playing games, Ishin is an action-packed game set at the end of the Edo period where disgraced ronin Sakamoto Ryōma gets entangled in the shadowy world of the Shinsengumi. 

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3. Nioh (2017)

Platform: PC, PS5, PS4

With a protagonist directly inspired by historical figure William Adams, an Englishman who became a samurai during the Edo period (1603 to 1868). In the game’s fantastical world, Nioh’s version of Adams fights yokai, supernatural monsters that inhabit the world, while chasing after sorcerer Edward Kelley, the game’s main antagonist. The game’s commercial success landed it a sequel, and continues to be one of the more memorable games. 

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4. Katana Zero (2019)

Platform: PC, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch

A neo-noir themed action-platformer, Katana Zero’s graphics are a pixelated treat. The game transports the samurai genre into a dystopian future, as an assassin with amnesia fights his way back to regaining his memories. It quickly became an indie hit, and was nominated for several gaming awards.

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5. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice (2019)

Platform: PC, PS4, Xbox

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice was 2020’s Game of the Year and for good reason – the game’s branching storyline and endings made it a standout when it was first released. Set during the Sengoku period (1467 to 1615), orphan Seikiro is the bodyguard to clan heir Kuro, but are separated after a brutal duel that sends him on a quest to save Kuro. 

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6. Ghost of Tsushima (2020)

Platform: PC, PS5, PS4

A classic samurai game, Ghost of Tsushima is set on Tsushima Island during the first Mongol invasion (1274-1281) of Japan. Samurai Jin Sakai fights to protect the island, but soon finds himself an enemy of the shogun. The game’s visually immersive art design will have you feeling like you’re on Tsushima itself, and resolves its storyline with a narratively satisfying conclusion. And it looks like we might be seeing a film adaptation of the game soon, as development continues on the project.

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7. Trek to Yomi (2022)

Platform: PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch

What’s unique about Trek to Yomi is its stylistic choices – a black-and-white side scroller set during the Edo period (1603 to 1868), focusing on the apprentice of deceased samurai, Hiroki, and his quest through Yomi, the Japanese underworld for vengeance. The game switches between exploration and fixed side-scrolling, giving players a fresh gaming experience. 

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Bonus: Assassin’s Creed Codename Red (expected in 2025)

Assassin’s Creed’s samurai-themed open world game is highly-anticipated by fans, and takes place in Feudal era Japan. Players will get to live out their Shinobi fantasy and slash their way through stunning landscapes when the game is expected to arrive somewhere in 2025.

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MOVIES

1. Seven Samurai (1954)

Director: Akira Kurosawa
Cast: Toshiro Mifune (Rashomon), Takashi Shimura (Sanjuro), Seiji Miyaguchi (The Inheritance)

Since 1954, the story of the Seven Samurai has enthralled audiences, bringing together seven samurai warriors who defend their village against bandits. The film inspired the development of the Star Wars films, and the original film, about a group of ragtag misfits, has seen plenty of remakes over the years. 

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2. Yojimbo (1961)

Director: Akira Kurosawa
Cast: Toshiro Mifune (Rashomon), Tatsuya Nakadai (Sanjuro), Seizaburô Kawazu (Street of Ronin)

The samurai film boom in the 70s also resulted in Yojimbo’s 1961 release, following a nameless ronin that ventures into a village divided by rival businessman, who he manipulates into starting a destructive gang war. A controversial Western remake released just three years later, and lost the ensuing lawsuit to filmmaker Akira Kurosawa. 

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3. Harakiri (1962)

Director: Masaki Kobayashi
Cast: Tatsuya Nakadai (Sanjuro), Akira Ishihama ( Kamen Rider Black: Terrifying! The Phantom House of Devil Pass), Rentarō Mikuni (Free and Easy)

Harakiri has a place in the hall of fame for one of the greatest samurai films ever made in 1962, and for good reason. A ronin journeys to the manor of a feudal lord with the intention of committing seppuku, but has other intentions in store, as duels and bloodshed ensue. Its storytelling, direction, and characterisation were praised for their complexity, and the film even inspired a 3D remake. 

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4. Lone Wolf and Cub (1972-1992)

Director: Kenji Misumi
Cast: Tomisaburo Wakayama (Black Rain), Akihiro Tomikawa

One of the most iconic samurai manga series adapted into various TV shows over the years, Lone Wolf and Cub has plenty of material that fans loved, and its main plot, centered around former executioner Ogami Ittō and his young son’s revenge quest for the murder of his wife, is central to plenty of shows involving the ‘grumpy man takes in young child’ trope. 

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5. Zaitochi (2003)

Director: Takeshi Kitano
Cast: Tadanobu Aasano (Battleship), Daigoro Tachibana, Taka Gadarukanaru (Boiling Point)

Since Japanese novelist Kan Shimozawa created Zaitochi, blind masseur and swordsman, the character has inspired a series of 26 films up to 1989, after which there have been several remakes over the years. The latest 2003 film was a commercial success, grossing over US$23.8 million in Japan, and tells the story of Zaitochi defending a town from the local yakuza.

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6. The Last Samurai (2003)

Director: Edward Zwick
Cast: Tom Cruise (Top Gun: Maverick), Ken Watanabe (Godzilla), Hiroyuki Sanada (Shogun)

Starring Tom Cruise, The Last Samurai has plenty of heart. Cruise plays Nathan Algren, an American calvary captain who ends up involved with the samurai after a battle gone wrong, and grows to admire their culture as a battle for the future of Japan looms over the horizon.

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7. 13 Assassins (2010)

Director: Takashi Miike
Cast: Kōji Yakusho (The Blood of Wolves), Takayuki Yamada (House of Ninjas), Ikki Saramura (Zettai Reido)

13 samurai plot to assassinate the tyrannical Lord Matsudaira Naritsugu in a remake of the popular period drama, which was praised for its complexity and memorable characters. With plenty of political intrigue and shenanigans, you won’t want to miss putting this one on your list. 

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8. 47 Ronin (2013)

Director: Carl Rinsch
Cast: Keanu Reeves (The Matrix), Hiroyuki Sananda (Shogun), Tadanobu Asano (Battleship), Rinko Kikuchi (Pacific Rim)

When someone mentions samurai movies, 47 Ronin is the first to come to mind, and the film, while a loose adaptation of actual historical events, still is an iconic work. Lord Asano is punished for injuring Lord Kira and asked to commit seppuku. When Kai and the other samurai realise that their master was not at fault, they set out to seek revenge against Lord Kira, but have to commit seppuku for their crimes. 

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Shows

1. Samurai Jack (2001)

Director: Genndy Tartakovsky
Cast: Phil LaMarr (Futurama), Mako (Avatar: The Last Airbender), Grey DeLisle (Avatar: The Last Airbender)

Samurai Jack’s retro-futuristic setting and shenanigans involving time-travel are fun to watch, and while the series’ design seems aimed at a younger audience, there’s plenty in the plot that appeals to both audiences. Japanese Samurai prince Jack finds himself sent forward in time before he can kill the tyrannical new ruler of his kingdom, and fights his way back home.

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2. Samurai Champloo (2004)

Director: Shinichirō Watanabe
Cast: Kazuya Nakai (One Piece), Ginpei Sato (Akagi), Ayako Kawasumi (Fate/Stay Night )

Rival samurai Mugen and Jin don’t get along, but they’re forced to overcome their differences when they’re sent on a quest along with a tea waitress, who requests them to accompany her in her search for a sunflower samurai. Samurai Champloo is an entertaining, found-family anime that appeals to fans of the genre, and has a cast of memorable characters.

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3. Afro Samurai (2007)

Director: Takashi Okazaki
Cast: Samuel L. Jackson (The Avengers), Tara Strong (Loki), Jason Marsden (Full House)

A samurai anime with a unique twist, Afro Samurai follows the titular character in search of a headband that grants the user immortality, but he’ll need to defeat the current user of the headband to achieve his goal, and he’s not the only one. The anime is adapted from the Afro Samurai manga, and has just five episodes, along with a companion film. 

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4. Blue Eye Samurai (2023)

Director: Jane Wu
Cast: Maya Erskine (Wine Country), Darren Barnet (Gran Turismo), Brenda Song (The Suite Life on Deck)

Apart from the animated series’ visually appealing art style, Blue Eye Samurai goes deep into the samurai genre, set in the Edo period and tells the story of warrior Mizu’s quest for vengeance, disguised as a man and tracking down four targets who have personal connections to her.