Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess (PS5) review: A wonderfully unique and refreshing game

Capcom’s Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is a wonderfully refreshing take on the action-strategy genre, and it’s unlike any other games that I’ve played this year. In fact, it reminds me of the good old Capcom classics such as Okami – experimental, fun and fantastically unique.

Like Okami, Path of the Goddess is set in a world brimming with Japanese folklore and the game places you in the role of Soh, a spiritual swordsman tasked with helping a priestess, Yoshiro. Yoshiro’s task is to cleanse the land from the Seethe, a demonic force. While the story is classic good-versus evil, what makes Path of the Goddess interesting is its combination of strategy and action mechanics, mixing base-building with direct combat in a way that forces players to think tactically and adapt quickly to changing threats.

At its heart, the game is like a tower defence game – it’s all about preparation and execution. During the day, you clear defiled areas and build up your defenses by assigning villagers different roles. At night, you face waves of enemies, and this is where the tower defense mechanics come into play. It’s crucial that you place your villagers strategically and making sure you have the right mix of melee fighters, archers, and other unit types to handle different kinds of threats. The game keeps you on your toes by offering a variety of enemy types from flying monsters to giant bosses – there’s a variety to learn and understand because they require different strategies to defeat.

One of my favourite aspects of the game is how it constantly pushes you to experiment with new tactics. Every battle feels unique because you are given different tools to work with. As you progress through the game, you’ll unlock new unit types and abilities, giving you even more ways to approach combat. The inclusion of Mazo Talismans later on also adds another layer to this as it offers buffs that can dramatically change the course of a battle. Whether you’re speeding up your carpenter’s build time or enhancing your attack power, these talismans allow for flexible and dynamic gameplay​. Even offering countless replayability value too.

The Tsuba Guard system also deserves a mention. By equipping these special items, you grant Soh access to powerful new attacks, as well as abilities like teleportation – which can make the difference in a tight spot. The game's strategic depth is truly impressive, as you’re not just bashing through enemies because each fight demands careful planning, whether it’s deciding where to position units or figuring out when to use your special abilities​.

Visually, Path of the Goddess is stunning. Capcom has leaned heavily into a painterly style that captures the essence of ancient Japanese art, and there are certainly plenty of Okami-ish influences here. Every level is full of vibrant colours and rich textures that make the world feel alive. From lush forests to eerie, defiled landscapes, the game’s environments are as varied as they are beautiful.

But the game isn’t just all looks. There’s a real sense of weight to the narrative, too. Yoshiro’s role in the game as the Maiden, who performs ritual dances to summon spiritual powers, adds a layer of mysticism that elevates the story beyond the typical good-versus-evil trope. These moments, where you watch her perform the Kagura dance, provide a respite from the chaos of battle and ground the story in something deeply spiritual​.

Of course, Path of the Goddess has its quirks just like any other games. The pacing for one, was frustrating for me. As your units’ upgrades are reset after every level, it forces you to start from scratch every time. As someone who prefers a more traditional progression system, this felt like an unnecessary grind.

All in all, I really do like Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess and can’t recommend the game highly enough. And this is coming from someone who don’t even play tower defence games! It is truly a unique and rewarding experience for players who enjoy strategy games with a twist and offers plenty of action for those who like to get their hands dirty in combat. The combination of Japanese folklore, strategic depth, and stunning visuals makes this one of Capcom’s more memorable releases in recent years and I do hope this is the start of something reminiscent of the company’s PS2 days, when it churned out fun, great-looking and absolutely quirky, bonkers games like Viewtiful Joe and Okami.

Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is available for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and PC via Steam.

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