Fit check
Is Skulls of the Shogun worth it for you?
We tell you who should skip it, too.
Play it if you…
Good fit- Strategy players who want fast-paced turn-based battles
- Solo players seeking a 24-level fantasy campaign
- Groups looking for real-time local or online matches for up to four players
Skip it if you…
Saves you a refund- Players seeking slow, highly granular strategy may bounce off the arcade-influenced pace and action-oriented combat.
- Those wanting a long-form solo campaign may find the main story's 24-level structure too limited.
- Players specifically seeking asynchronous multiplayer will not find that mode in the current offering.
- Players looking for a realistic military setting may not suit the samurai Afterlife theme and magical units.
Our take on Skulls of the Shogun
The bounce point comes when asynchronous multiplayer is expected: Skulls Anywhere is no longer offered, leaving real-time local or online play. Players who prefer a slower, highly granular strategy system may also stop at the arcade-influenced combat pace.
What is Skulls of the Shogun?
Enter the Samurai Afterlife and command an army in a fast-paced, turn-based strategy game with arcade-inspired combat.
The single-player campaign spans 24 levels and features ghost-samurai warriors, magical animal monks, and samurai generals. The Bone-a-Fide Edition adds a new episode, the Tanuki Monk unit, an experience and emblem-fusion progression system, persistent troops in the added episode, and developer commentary. Players can power up their army and face opponents on multiplayer maps with local or online matches for up to four participants. Multiplayer is available through the real-time Skulls Online mode. The former Skulls Anywhere mode no longer provides asynchronous multiplayer.
How Skulls of the Shogun plays
- 0124-Level Campaign
- The single-player campaign contains 24 stages set in the Samurai Afterlife.
- 02Tanuki Monk Unit
- The expanded edition adds the Tanuki Monk as a new army unit.
- 03Four-Player Multiplayer
- Real-time matches support up to four players in local or online play.
- 04Army Progression
- The progression system gives players experience and allows emblems to be fused.
- 05Persistent Troops
- Troops persist within the added episode.
Skulls of the Shogun compared to similar games
Skulls of the Shogun combines a 24-level samurai-themed campaign with real-time multiplayer for up to four players. Men of War: Assault Squad focuses on large-scale World War II battles and direct control of every unit, while Xenonauts uses small persistent squads against an alien invasion. Shogun Showdown centers on positioning, attack tiles, skill selection, deck building, and roguelike progression rather than a multi-level army campaign.
Skulls of the Shogun: platforms & release
Is Skulls of the Shogun worth it?
It is worth it if: strategy players who want fast-paced turn-based battles. Skip it if: players seeking slow, highly granular strategy may bounce off the arcade-influenced pace and action-oriented combat.
Where can I download Skulls of the Shogun?
Use the Download Now button on this page: it opens Skulls of the Shogun's store page, where you can choose how to get it.
What platforms is Skulls of the Shogun on?
Windows, macOS and Linux.
