Ghost of Tsushima is a gritty game set in 13th century Japan, showcasing an impressive level of realism and careful attention to historical detail. Though its story and some of the fighting details were markedly different from reality, Sakai's rogue justice left an impression on many. Here are five action anime recommendations that offer up a similar feel and story.
Sword of the Stranger
This is a landmark animated film in terms of fluid, dynamic sword-fighting action. Sword of the Stranger is a story about a samurai with a mysterious past, who finds a new reason to fight in a runaway young boy’s desire to survive. Though the film is short and its story simple, it still creates a compelling world with different codes of honor employed by warriors from different cultures. The main characters are well-developed, with convincing motivations for these individuals to fight.
People seeking to prove themselves, find thrill in battle and to defend what’s important to them meet on the battlefield again and again, resulting in bloody duels and scuffles. Sword of the Stranger manages to balance the action and bloodshed with finesse, making the stakes feel high without stuffing scenes full of gratuitous violence. But don’t be deceived by the abundance of fight scenes, either: the plot is full of twists and foreshadowing, making it both hard to predict and very satisfying once the pieces fall into place.
Dororo
For those who wanted a little more “ghost” in Ghost of Tsushima, the beasts and humanoid creatures that plague Hyakkimaru on his journey in Dororo might be up to the task. In a world full of monsters and possessed people not altogether dissimilar to Berserk, the mute fighting prodigy Hyakkimaru and scrappy young Dororo travel together to find a way to break free of their respective familial curses. However, it’s not easy: Hyakkimaru fights with embedded sword prosthetics, as much of his body is missing.
While there are moments when the animation becomes choppy, the anime, on the whole, delivers on its promise of grand fights with lives on the line. Not to mention, the music absolutely rocks. In addition, the cheerful presence of young thief Dororo helps to both narrate their tale and add some much-needed comic relief; for all their youth, they already have too many skeletons in their past that don’t seem to stop coming after them. Each episode illustrates another step on their uncertain journey to freedom, whether it’s through the kindness of strangers, or by cutting down those who stand in the way.
Blade of the Immortal
This one’s not for the faint of heart. Blade of the Immortal may shock unfamiliar viewers with its unabashed depictions of violence, from beheadings to torture. The immortal swordsman Manji is dismembered in most of his fights, risking it all for victory. This makes for creative and interesting fighting styles; in order to make his opponents a challenge, the author has come up with all sorts of insane specialized weapons and motivations for them to go up against him. These enemies range from power-seekers with warped morals to fighters simply defending the place that finally accepted them.
However, Manji has good reason to repel these individuals, as he’s on a mission — to die. In order to relieve himself of his immortal body, he has to kill a thousand evil men, a task he aims to achieve in part by helping a young woman named Rin avenge the murder of her family. Things are not always clear-cut, however, and more than once they find themselves only perpetuating the cycle of violence. For thrill-seekers who love seeing both brawls and psychological drama, Blade of the Immortal will more than satisfy that craving.
Samurai Champloo
Samurai Champloo is a story set on the cusp of the end of the age of samurai, borrowing from modern influences. Combining the catchy hip-hop vibe from the music of Nujabes with Edo-era Japan, hints of the modern age seep into a nostalgia-filled landscape of tradition. The cast of characters is equally fun and colorful — the reserved and handsome ronin Jin, the thuggish breakdancing fighter Mugen and Fuu, an independent and strong-willed girl who (albeit clumsily) recruits the two men as bodyguards.
This anime is set at least a few hundred years after the events in Ghost of Tsushima, so for those looking to see a re-enactment of samurai life before the Warring States period, this might not be the show for you. Nevertheless, the world-building, as well as character interactions and developments, are fascinating and compelling. The word “champloo” itself is a play on words, combining chanpurū (a mixed stir-fry dish from Okinawa) and chambara (the samurai cinema genre). This is a perfect description for the show, which is a melting pot of cultural influences.
Vinland Saga
Set in the Middle Ages, this anime follows the dramatic grabs for power and fraught politics involved with Denmark and the Vikings. While this is certainly a geographical leap from Japan to the icy northern reaches of Europe, a number of major themes align with Ghost of Tsushima. Proud warriors with codes of honor and loyalty, military tactics that affect towns and hamlets, vengeance, and dirty power struggles are all reflected in the story of Vinland Saga.
The brutal coming-of-age story follows Thorfinn, who embarks on an unforgiving journey to kill the man who murdered his father. Childhood dreams of sailors who reached a land of warmth and peace are all but forgotten as he teaches himself to fight, taking down opponents larger and stronger than him standoffs that are reminiscent of David and Goliath. Ideals and morals clash between those who desire to die fighting and the teachings of the church; however, for Thorfinn, the only truth is found in revenge and death.