Sekiro: Shadows Die Twicebrought the traditionalDark Soulsformula to a whole new world by introducing a new version of the challenging yet engaging gameplay to a more traditional setting in a fictional version of Japan. Even thoughSekiro: Shadows Die Twiceis tied to the Soulsborne family of games, it is definitely the black sheep of the group that has done a lot to ensure that it stands out from the rest.
Sekiro’s focus on well-timed deflections over blocking, rolling, and traditional parrying has piqued the interest of many fans and has essentially reinvented the already diverse and challenging combat within the Soulsborne games. On top of changing the gameplay,Sekirohas gone against the grain ofDark Souls’ storytelling by featuring a fairly straightforward storyline and named protagonist. ConsideringSekirois such a unique entry in the series and the canon ending leaves a lot of loose ends, it’s worth asking whether the hit title warrants a sequel.
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How Sekiro’s Ending Sets Up a Sequel
Like many other FromSoftware titles,Sekirofeatures different endings that depend on decisions the player makes during the course of the game. In true Soulsborne fashion, the path to the true ending is exceptionally convoluted. Of the four different endings inSekiro,the canon ending is titled Dragon’s Homecoming. This ending requires the player to acquire multiple different items throughout the story before defeating the final boss. Like other canon endings, the game does not help the player in any way but instead relies on them to read into NPC dialogue and discover how to change the ending of the game on their own.
Dragon’s Homecoming hasWolf cooperating with the Divine Childto end the curse of Kuro’s Dragon’s bloodline. To do so, the Divine Child must absorb Kuro’s spirit and return to the birthplace of the Divine Dragon. The final cutscene shows the Divine Child and Wolf announcing they are embarking on a journey to the west, to finally remove the divine powers of the Dragon bloodline from Japan.
Though the other three endings are more cut and dry, Dragon’s Homecoming essentially implies that there is more to this story and importantly leaves Wolf alive and traveling with the Divine Child, likely as a bodyguard and also to honor Kuro. Though it is not unlike creative director Hidetaka Miyazaki to leave loose ends that are never neatly tied off,the final dialogue inSekiromakes a sequel very possible.
What a Sequel to Sekiro Could Entail
Sekiro’s story leaves very little to interpretation, but that is not necessarily a bad thing. Though it isunlike other Soulsborne titles, it is a little refreshing to have such a straightforward story and such a strong, personable lead character.
Sekirofocuses on the story of the One-Armed Wolf, otherwise known as Sekiro, and his master, Kuro. The story follows along closely withSekiro’s fatherand Kuro’s upbringing which allows the player to become more invested in each character, as opposed to the nameless, player-created characters of other titles that work for the dynamic of the Soulsborne games, but lack personality and charm.
A sequel toSekirocould further develop Wolf as a character as well as his relationship with Kuro and the Divine Child. Given that the ending shows the duo about to embark on a journey, players would be able to further exploreFromSoftware’s fictional, slightly fantastic version of the real world, which is much different from the otherworldly settings usually featured in its games.
Sekiro’s combatis arguably the most fluid fighting system in any action-adventure game, and FromSoftware has the potential to truly capitalize on this unique gameplay. The combination of different skills, prosthetic abilities, and swordplay makeSekiro’s combat difficult, yet exceptionally rewarding when used correctly, and the potential to further expand this formula should not be ignored.
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Potential Issues with a Sequel to Sekiro
It is no secret thatMiyazaki is not fond of creating sequelsto his titles. He has previously stated, in regard to his lack of involvement inDark Souls 2, that he appreciates the titles he works on but more so enjoys creating new IPs to avoid oversaturating one single series. Even though Miyazaki stepped back in to help withDark Souls 3, many consider his absence inDark Souls 2a large reason for its lackluster performance.
It’s possible that Miyazaki would approve of a sequel toSekiro, though it is unlikely, especially considering the recent release and outstanding success of his latest game,Elden Ring. The creator and his team will likely be pouring all of their energy intowhat is coming afterElden Ring, whether that be DLC or a brand-new idea. Just as fans have been hoping for a sequel toBloodborne, as the years go by, they will likely continue to ask for a sequel toSekiro. Even though neither is off the table, there are reasons the sequels could be far off or difficult to do.
For example, Sony owns theBloodbornetrademark, which means that even though FromSoftware developed the title, any sort of sequel or remake would have to go through Sony. In the same vein,Sekirowas published by Activision, which was recently acquired by Microsoft; however, FromSoftware has retained the rights toSekirowhich would make a sequel easier to develop.
Even though the true ending ofSekiroleaves a lot of loose ends, it does not necessarily leave the story unfinished. Wolf has stayed loyal to his master and the Divine Child in choosing to rid Japan of the cursed bloodline; for all intents and purposes, Wolf and Kuro’s story has come to a close. Since many considerSekiroto be a near-perfect game, any attempts to try to recreate it or add on to it might tarnish the otherwise solid and concise story.
Some stories should be left to interpretation and leave the players wondering what could potentially come next.Sekirohas established itself as an interesting and uniqueone-off compared to the other Soulsborne gamesand whether it ever receives a sequel does not take away from its outstanding combat or masterful story.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twiceis available now for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
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