Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is an action-adventure game from FromSoftware, released on 22 March 2019 for PlayStation 4, Windows and Xbox One (a Stadia version followed in October 2020). Activision published it worldwide, with FromSoftware publishing in Japan. You play Wolf, a shinobi sworn to protect his young lord Kuro, the Divine Heir, in a dark fantasy version of Sengoku-era Japan. After Kuro is taken by the Ashina clan and Wolf is left for dead, the game becomes a story of rescue and revenge.
Unlike FromSoftware's Souls games, Sekiro is single-player only (the developers deliberately avoided multiplayer) and you play the same shinobi throughout rather than building a class. Combat revolves around Posture: you deflect attacks by guarding at the moment they land, which damages the enemy's Posture, and a broken Posture opens a Shinobi Deathblow. Progress comes from Skill Points, from boss Memories that raise Attack Power, and from items such as Gourd Seeds and Prayer Beads.
The world is a semi-open set of connected areas including Ashina Castle, the Sunken Valley, Senpou Temple and Mibu Village. Your prosthetic arm holds interchangeable tools such as the Shuriken, Flame Vent and Loaded Umbrella. Instead of an automatic checkpoint, Sekiro lets you resurrect on the spot after dying; charges are restored by resting at a Sculptor's Idol and by defeating enemies. At The Game Awards 2019 it won both Game of the Year and Best Action/Adventure Game, and a free update on 31 October 2020 added new cosmetics and a boss rush mode.
Guarding at the moment an attack lands deflects it. Deflecting deals Posture damage to the enemy, while thrust attacks cannot be guarded and call for a Mikiri Counter instead.
Enemies and bosses have a Posture gauge as well as health. Filling it opens a Shinobi Deathblow, so pressure and timing matter as much as raw damage.
Your prosthetic arm holds interchangeable tools such as the Shuriken, Flame Vent, Loaded Umbrella, Firecracker and Spear, each useful against particular enemies.
Skill Points are spent on combat arts and passive skills; Mikiri Counter, for example, is a 2-point skill in the Shinobi Arts tree.
Release facts, mechanics and boss details on this page were checked against these sources on 12 October 2026. Spotted an error? Tell us.