Sekiro’s world is breathtaking in every sense. From the snow-covered rooftops of Ashina Castle to the haunting serenity of Senpou Temple, every corner oozes atmosphere. The art direction is less about spectacle and more about evoking feeling: a crumbling dynasty, fading honor, and the ghosts of ambition whispering through the wind. Even the grotesque—from rotting monks to centipede-infested bodies—feels meaningful, never gratuitous. Decay has purpose here.

At the heart of Sekiro is a tale of devotion and identity. Wolf, a shinobi bound by an oath, must navigate loyalty, loss, and the burden of immortality. Yet, unlike FromSoft’s more cryptic entries, Sekiro’s narrative is remarkably intimate. The bond between Wolf and Kuro is the emotional axis around which the game turns. Their quiet interactions say more than most games manage in pages of dialogue. This is a story not just about saving a lord, but about what it means to let go.

What truly elevates Sekiro for me is its quiet meditation on Buddhist ideas:
• Impermanence (Anicca): Every landscape is in decline. Every character clings to something vanishing—glory, power, revenge. The world of Sekiro is dying, and only those who accept change move forward.
• Suffering (Dukkha): Immortality is not a gift here—it is a curse. Those who seek to escape suffering (like the monks or Genichiro) deepen it. Only through embracing pain and confronting attachment does Wolf find peace.
• Non-Self (Anatta): Sekiro, the character, struggles with identity—shinobi, tool, protector, killer. His journey mirrors the Buddhist path of shedding ego and purpose to reach inner stillness.
• Attachment and Letting Go: The different endings reflect this principle clearly. True peace comes not from power, but from releasing what we most cling to—life itself, even love.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice isn’t just hard—it’s honest. It challenges not just your reflexes, but your philosophy. It asks you to die, again and again, until you understand why you fight at all. With stunning visuals, masterful storytelling, and rich philosophical depth, Sekiro is a quiet, brutal masterpiece. It doesn’t scream its truths—it whispers them beneath falling cherry blossoms and blood-soaked blades.

This is my favorite FromSoft game of all time. Tight controls, fun combat, convoluted story, it has it all.

Hesitation is defeat