Onikira: Demon Killer

Onikira: Demon Killer is a side-scrolling 2D beat-'em-up set in a fantasy version of feudal Japan. As Yamazaki Jiro, a lone samurai, you fight to stop the forces of Yomi, the Japanese underworld, from consuming the land of the living.

Fight across the levels

Combat combines deep fighting mechanics with 2D platforming. You can take on enemies up close with heavy weapons or fight at range to avoid melee encounters. Wall jumps, wall runs, moving platforms and grappling let you maneuver through combat, while environmental hazards offer ways to attack: you can bring down support pillars, or throw enemies into spikes, pits and moving hazards.

The game has over 40 moves and four weapons: a sword, tetsubo, naginata and arm blades. Each weapon has multiple unlockable moves, which you can link into combo chains for score multipliers. Strategic, skill-based fighting lets you create combos beyond those explicitly designed by the developers.

Areas and enemies

The story unfolds across seven hand-painted areas, including rain-drenched villages, destroyed opulent cities, mountaintop locations and an erupting volcano. Each level contains demons to send back to the underworld, along with environmental aids for combat. You also face two mini-bosses and two mega bosses.

Enemy types have distinct vulnerabilities that encourage different fighting styles. A floating, possessed Mempo mask, for example, favors air combat, while a monstrously twisted high-ranking samurai is best handled with hit-and-run tactics.

Souls and challenges

Souls serve as currency. You can use them to revive your health or trade them with benevolent spirits in rifts to Yomi found at certain points in each level; the spirits offer moves in exchange for collected souls.

Challenge Arenas set combat-related tasks where you can work on your score and skill and earn achievements. Their leaderboards are integrated with Steam's online leaderboards.