The best games like Shōgun to keep the historical Japan vibes going
Shōgun, the limited TV series based on the historical-fiction novel by James Clavell, quickly asserted itself as one of this year’s best new series, thanks to a captivating cast of characters and a stirring performance by lead Hiroyuki Sanada as Lord Toranaga.
If you’re still devastated by this week’s series finale and are looking for a game to sate your desire for more great storytelling set in historical Japan, we’ve got you covered. We’ve hand-selected some of our favorite games to help ease the transition into a post-Shōgun world. Let’s dive in!
Where to play: PlayStation 4, Windows PC, Xbox One
Sometimes, a veiled knife in the dark is worth more than a hundred swords on the battlefield. Case in point: The end of Shōgun’s second episode, when a shinobi disguised as a longtime house servant tears through guards and bystanders alike, leaving blood in his wake, before being cut down by Lord Toranaga. So, if you’re looking for a stealthy action game where strategy and patience are king, Mimimi Productions’ 2016 real-time tactics game is a must-play.
Set in feudal Japan shortly after the reigning shogun has unified the country, Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun follows a group of unlikely allies who band together in their common quest to take down a mysterious warlord that threatens the shogunate. It’s an excellent and thoroughly underrated stealth game that puts emphasis on making the most of each skill your party of playable characters brings to every challenge. —Toussaint Egan
Where to play: Windows PC
Shōgun takes place during the end of the Sengoku period, a time in which incessant civil warfare has divided the country into countless domains overseen by warlords looking to expand their territories. The series’ finale ends on the cusp of war, with Toranaga reflecting on what will be known as the Battle of Sekigahara. If you were disappointed by the lack of a huge battle at the end of Shōgun, this classic RTS is the perfect way to experience that.
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