Updated daily · 28 Oct 2026
Player reception
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
As of 28 October 2026, 95% of 261,569 player reviews of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice recommend it. Players rank Sekiro’s parry-based combat among the most satisfying in any game, and warn that it offers no easier way in.
In short
Players describe a steep start that turns into some of the most satisfying combat they have played, once deflections and posture breaks click. They praise the bosses, the Sengoku setting and the music, and the win after a long run of deaths. The complaints are the lack of any easier mode, a single katana with few build choices, and retries that start with a walk back past the same enemies. Players who enjoy learning hard fights by repetition get the most from it.
What players say
What players say about Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice.
Players praise the parrying combat, the bosses, the art and the music. No easier mode, thin build choices and long walks back to bosses draw the complaints.209
Read in full
We read every one of these reviews on 22 October 2026 and judged each by what it says.
- Parrying combat feels excellent once it clicks.
- After a steep start, deflections and posture breaks settle into a rhythm, and the combat ranks among the most satisfying in any game. Clean breaks ending in a deathblow give each fight its payoff.209
- Beating a hard boss feels earned.
- Long runs of deaths end in a win that feels earned. Some say the confidence from that win carries into everyday life.209
- Art, music and atmosphere carry the world.
- The Sengoku-inspired environments, boss designs and soundtrack stand out. Bright areas give way to gloomier ones, and the score fits each encounter.209
- The story and voice acting hold up.
- The plot is more direct than earlier FromSoftware games, and the voice acting, folklore and mythic touches give the Sengoku setting weight.209
- Steep start and no difficulty options.
- Early fights are a steep wall for many, and the game has no easier mode. Grinding for skills and consumables is the only easing, and fights often feel fair only after a long run of deaths.209
- One katana and thin build choices.
- There is one weapon, no armor sets and no way to reset skills, so variety comes mostly from prosthetic tools. Some find the finishers and enemy patterns repetitive over a long run.209
- Dying costs progress and respawns drag.
- Each death takes a share of experience and currency, and dragonrot builds up for anyone who keeps dying. Respawns can sit far from the boss, so each retry starts with a walk through trash enemies that some find padded.209
- The PC version has rough edges.
- Some players report a 60 fps cap with no ultrawide option, a few crashes, or a port that feels buggy. Stability is otherwise described as good.209
Themes raised
| Theme | Most helpful, of 74 | Latest, of 27 |
|---|---|---|
| Combat and parrying | 59 | 11 |
| Difficulty and learning curve | 56 | 11 |
| Visuals, music and atmosphere | 29 | 3 |
| Story and setting | 27 | 3 |
| Level design and stealth | 15 | 1 |
| Progression, skills and grind | 23 | 1 |
| Tools, enemies and variety | 13 | 0 |
| Content, length and replay | 21 | 0 |
| Performance and PC stability | 14 | 1 |
| Price and value | 8 | 0 |
Questions
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, in short.
Is Sekiro worth it?
Most players say yes. As of 28 October 2026, 95% of 261,569 reviews recommend it, and many call it worth the full price.209
How hard is Sekiro?
Players call it the hardest FromSoftware game they have played, and fights often feel fair only after many deaths. There is no difficulty setting, so the only easing comes from earning skills and items.209
How long is Sekiro?
First runs take roughly 12 to 30 hours, and players who know the game finish in about 10.209
How does Sekiro run on PC?
Most players report a steady 60 fps on mid-range PCs at high settings, with few crashes. The frame rate is capped at 60, and some miss an ultrawide option.209
What PC do you need for Sekiro?
The minimum is a Core i3-2100 or FX-6300, 4 GB of RAM and a GeForce GTX 760 or Radeon HD 7950. The recommended setup is a Core i5-2500K or Ryzen 5 1400, 8 GB of RAM and a GeForce GTX 970 or Radeon RX 570. It needs 25 GB of storage.209
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Link
https://creativecult.digital/games/sekiroCitation
Creative Cult (2026). How players received Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Updated 28 October 2026. https://creativecult.digital/games/sekiroBadge
<a href="https://creativecult.digital/games/sekiro"><img src="https://creativecult.digital/games/sekiro/badge.png" width="320" height="100" alt="How players received Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, by Creative Cult"></a>Sources
- 209Steam: Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, store page and user reviews (opens in a new tab) Accessed 22 Oct 2026