Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is a single-player action-adventure built around precise sword fights, stealth, traversal and prosthetic tools. Reviews praise the satisfaction of mastering its demanding combat, but that same steep learning curve can frustrate players who want adjustable difficulty or many different builds. The key question is not whether it is hard, but whether learning its combat is the kind of challenge you enjoy.
What reviewers agree—and disagree—about
Metacritic’s all-platform snapshot accessed October 8, 2026, lists a 90 Metascore from 77 critic reviews, labeled “Universal Acclaim,” and an 8.6 user score from 7,452 ratings, labeled “Generally Favorable.” These are live aggregates that can change, not permanent ratings or a guarantee that every player will agree. Metacritic’s review page also shows platform-specific figures, so the numbers here refer to its all-platform totals.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
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| 1 |
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Sekiro Shadows Die Twice - PlayStation 4 | $77.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
![Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice [Game of the Year Edition]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51umFzUyMBL._SL160_.jpg)
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Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice [Game of the Year Edition] | $54.90 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Sekiro Shadows Die Twice - PlayStation 4 (Renewed) | $68.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Sekiro Shadows Die Twice (PS4) | $72.75 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Nier, Automata Game of the Yorha Edition - PlayStation 4 | $24.70 | Buy on Amazon |
The praise commonly centers on the tension and payoff of difficult encounters. Daily Star’s excerpt describes the game as “impossibly hard at times” and says defeating a tricky boss or clearing an area can bring an unusually strong sense of achievement. Meristation calls it “A brutal and challenging game that admits few shortcuts to success.” Those are critical reactions to the experience, not an objective measure of difficulty.
There is a real counterargument: a demanding fight can feel less satisfying when it seems prolonged or restrictive. A Slant Magazine excerpt on Metacritic criticizes some bosses’ “contrived lengths,” and user reviews include complaints about limited approaches and the punishment associated with death. The split is useful when deciding whether to play: people who enjoy reading opponents and improving through repeated attempts are more likely to value the challenge; those who want to change difficulty or solve encounters through a wide range of builds may find it limiting.
#1 Best Overall
- Carve your own clever path to vengeance in an all-new adventure from developer fromsoftware
- Explore late 1500S sengoku Japan, a brutal period of constant life and death conflict, as you come face to face with larger than life foes in a dark and twisted world
- Take revenge. Restore your honor. Kill ingeniously
What kind of game is Sekiro?
FromSoftware developed Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice; Activision’s product page identifies Activision as publisher and distributor, while Kadokawa describes the game as jointly developed by FromSoftware and Activision. It launched March 22, 2019, for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Windows. It is a one-player game, set in late-1500s Sengoku Japan, where the player takes the role of a shinobi known as the “one-armed wolf,” bound to protect a young lord. Activision’s official product page describes a mix of sword combat, stealth, vertical traversal, prosthetic tools and ninja abilities; Kadokawa/FromSoftware’s notice lists the release platforms and one-player classification.
This is not best understood as a broad, build-heavy role-playing game. Its review appeal is more focused: use stealth and movement to navigate, then learn the timing and patterns required to win direct fights. Prosthetic tools add options, but the critical discussion still revolves around whether the central combat loop feels rewarding or punishing to you.
Rank #2
- Kill Ingeniously – FromSoftware delivers their best in class combat in this fast-paced, action-adventure game featuring all new mechanics
- Exploration is key – Players will experience the thrill of exploration and discovery in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice like never before. Through exploration, players can uncover new items, meet new characters, and encounter hidden enemies
- One-armed wolf – Play as a highly talented shinobi in the service of a young lord raised in isolation. After suffering defeat at the hands of a shadowy Ashina samurai seeking the unique heritage of your master, the two of you are separated. Deep in the mountains, in a dilapidated temple, you reawaken to your fate. You must take back your master and exact revenge on your enemy at all cost
- Hard to the core – Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is a hard-core game worthy of the name FromSoftware. Miyazaki designed Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice this way! Fans of FromSoftware will find the gameplay challenging, yet fun and rewarding. The quality of combat, level of challenge, and creative enemies and bosses are something that can only be found in a FromSoftware title
- Reimagined world – This reimagining of Japanese aesthetic blends a withered, yet vivid, world of the late 1500s Sengoku Japan as the age of warring states nears its end. Witness a world brought to its knees by constant bloodshed; a ravaged world on the brink of destruction. Explore these environments, rich with FromSoftware’s intricate design and steeped with secrets to discover
Which version and platform should you consider?
| Choice | What the sources establish | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Original release platforms | PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Windows; released March 22, 2019. Kadokawa/FromSoftware | Confirm the specific storefront and system requirements for the platform you plan to use. |
| Playing on PS5 | PlayStation describes the PS4 version as playable on PS5 subject to compatibility information; this is compatibility, not a separate native PS5 release. PlayStation’s listing | Check the current compatibility notes for your region and setup. |
| Standard versus GOTY content | Steam lists Reflection and Gauntlet of Strength boss challenge modes, Remnants, and three unlockable cosmetic skins for the Game of the Year Edition; download is required. Steam’s listing | Verify the edition’s included content on the platform and storefront where you intend to buy it. |
| Physical GOTY edition | Kadokawa’s official notice specifies the physical GOTY edition price/format line for PS4 only. Kadokawa/FromSoftware’s notice | Do not assume that every platform’s edition has the same physical format or packaging. |
Who is likely to enjoy it?
- A good fit: You want a focused single-player action game, enjoy stealth and traversal alongside sword fights, and find satisfaction in learning demanding encounters.
- A riskier fit: You prefer adjustable difficulty, co-op, ranged combat as a main approach, or many interchangeable character builds. Those preferences may conflict with the game’s focused combat design; this is a recommendation based on the described features and review reactions, not a formal feature checklist.
- Worth knowing: The GOTY challenge modes extend the boss-focused play, while the listed Remnants and cosmetic skins add other extras. The edition content does not change the central question of whether the core combat suits you.
How strong is its reputation?
The dated review snapshot is strongly positive overall, but the score is only one part of the picture: the most important recurring distinction is how players respond to its difficulty. For launch context, Activision reported on April 11, 2019, that the game had sold more than 2 million copies worldwide in less than 10 days. Kadokawa/FromSoftware later reported more than 10 million units sold worldwide, without a publication date in the available notice. Sales figures indicate commercial reach, not whether a particular player will enjoy the combat.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Game of the YoRHa Edition includes the game along with DLC and bonus content for the full experience of the award winning post-apocalyptic action RPG; See description below for complete details
- Action packed battles and fluid combat perfect for both newcomers and experienced action gamers
- Includes RPG elements such as leveling, different weapon types, combat skills, and customizable load outs
- The desolate open world features beautiful vistas and a wealth of sidequests in addition to the main storyline
- Pods assist in and outside of battle and can be upgraded with new attack variations and abilities
Rank #4
- Carve your own clever path to vengeance in an all-new adventure from developer FromSoftware, creators of Bloodborne and the Dark Souls series
- In Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice you are the “one-armed wolf”, a disgraced and disfigured warrior rescued from the brink of death. Bound to protect a young lord who is the descendant of an ancient bloodline, you become the target of many vicious enemies, including the dangerous Ashina clan. When the young lord is captured, nothing will stop you on a perilous quest to regain your honor, not even death itself.;Number of Players: 1 player; ESRB Content: Blood and gore|Violence; Genre: Action and Adventure
- Explore late 1500s Sengoku Japan, a brutal period of constant life and death conflict, as you come face to face with larger than life foes in a dark and twisted world. Unleash an arsenal of deadly prosthetic tools and powerful ninja abilities while you blend stealth, vertical traversal, and visceral head to head combat in a bloody confrontation.
- Take Revenge. Restore your honor. Kill Ingeniously.
Rank #3
- CARVE your own clever path to vengeance in an all-new adventure from developer fromsoftware
- Explore late 1500S sengoku Japan, a brutal period of constant life and Death conflict, as you come face to face with larger than life foes in a dark and twisted world
- Take revenge. Restore your honor. Kill ingeniously
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