Polygon’s review of Onimusha: Way of the Sword called it the best parry in video games right now. The praise landed the week the series celebrated its twentieth anniversary, and it put demon-slaying, katana-first action back on people’s radar.
Onimusha itself is not on Android, but the itch it leaves — hack, parry, break a demon, level up, do it again — is one that a lot of mobile games serve well. We picked seven Android games that carry the same energy in different flavours: dark-fantasy loot grinds, mobile MOBAs with heroic weapon combat, survival hacks and clean gothic ARPGs.
What to look for
- Weight of combat. Sword and monster should feel like they have mass. Sluggish taps ruin the fantasy.
- Parry or block window. The best Onimusha successor has a defensive move that rewards timing.
- Offline mode. Not every session needs a live server. Prefer games that support offline play for the campaign.
- Controller support. A gamepad turns a decent mobile ARPG into something that feels console-quality.
- Fair monetisation. Skippable cosmetics, not paywalled progression.
Quick comparison
| Game | Parry / block | Offline mode | Controller support | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diablo Immortal | Timed block | Limited | Yes | Free |
| AnimA ARPG | Shield block | Yes | Yes | Free / paid full |
| Dungeon Hunter 6 | Timed parry | Limited | Yes | Free |
| Shadowgun Legends | N/A (FPS) | Limited | Yes | Free |
| Vainglory | Team combat | No | Limited | Free |
| Grim Soul | Timed block | Limited | Yes | Free |
| Eternium | Simple combat | Yes | Limited | Free |
1. Diablo Immortal — Best big-budget demon hunter
Diablo Immortal is the closest mobile game gets to the classic demon-slaying loop. Six classes, an open world stitched together from Diablo II-era locations, and combat that revolves around timing dashes, shields and ultimate abilities against packs of demons.
The parry equivalent — the Barbarian’s timed shield-slam or the Crusader’s block — is not Onimusha-precise, but it is genuinely tactile. Boss fights reward reading tells over button-mashing.
Where it falls short: the endgame gear grind has been criticised heavily. Play through the campaign and drop off when it stops being fun.
Pricing: free with a live-service store.
Download: Aptoide · Google Play
Bottom line: the best-produced demon-hunter on the platform. Ignore the store.
2. AnimA ARPG — Best offline gothic ARPG
AnimA ARPG is a Diablo-inspired gothic ARPG built by a small studio that got the important things right: crunchy combat, deep loot, no live-service store nagging you every twenty minutes. The tone is closer to Van Helsing than Diablo — vampires, wolves, corrupted knights — but the combat rhythm carries the same demon-slaying weight.
Runs offline entirely after install, which puts it ahead of Immortal for anyone who commutes.
Where it falls short: the free tier is a demo. The paid full unlock is a one-time purchase.
Pricing: free demo with a one-time paid full version.
Download: available on Google Play under “AnimA ARPG” from Exilium Games.
Bottom line: the offline pick. Buy the full version and forget the store forever.
3. Dungeon Hunter 6 — Best classic Gameloft revival
Dungeon Hunter 6 is the latest in Gameloft’s long-running series and it went back to what made the third and fourth entries beloved: fast dungeon runs, dramatic boss fights, a parry system that rewards precision.
Runs on modest hardware and looks better than most mobile ARPGs in this class.
Where it falls short: live-service model with the usual daily-login pattern.
Pricing: free with a store.
Download: available on Google Play under “Dungeon Hunter 6” from Goat Games.
Bottom line: the Gameloft-legacy pick. Nostalgia works in its favour.
4. Shadowgun Legends — Best if you want gun combat instead
Not every demon-slaying itch needs a sword. Shadowgun Legends is the pick if you want the same monster-hunting loop with modern firearms and futuristic power armour. The combat feel is heavy, the boss fights are well-designed set pieces, and the loot chase is real.
Where it falls short: the anti-cheat measures got aggressive after a wave of exploits. Some older devices see false-positive bans. Uses monthly patch cadence.
Pricing: free.
Download: available on Google Play under “Shadowgun Legends”.
Bottom line: for players who want the demon-hunt loop with a gun instead of a katana.
5. Vainglory — Best hero-combat MOBA
Vainglory is not an ARPG but it earns a spot for the hero-combat feel: every hero has a two-handed sword or spellblade equivalent, boss neutrals are dangerous, and the moment-to-moment fights favour timing over mashing.
Where it falls short: MOBAs have a learning curve. Set aside a few games before it clicks.
Pricing: free.
Download: Aptoide · Google Play
Bottom line: the MOBA pick for players who like the fantasy but want PvP instead of PvE.
6. Grim Soul — Best survival-flavoured demon hunter
Grim Soul blends dark-fantasy survival with combat that has a genuine parry window. You scavenge a plague-ridden world, upgrade your gear, and take on demonic bosses with tools you crafted yourself.
The survival layer means more downtime than a pure action game, but it also means the combat feels earned when it comes.
Where it falls short: live-server model with periodic wipes. Not for everyone.
Pricing: free with a store.
Download: available on Google Play under “Grim Soul: Dark Survival RPG” from Kefir.
Bottom line: for players who want the demon-slaying set inside a broader survival world.
7. Eternium — Best simple isometric ARPG
Eternium is the accessible entry to the isometric hack-and-slash genre. Combat is one-tap or gesture-driven, the campaign is long and fully playable offline, and the game is unusually respectful of your time — no daily login pressure, no aggressive store.
Where it falls short: combat is shallower than Immortal or AnimA. That is the point.
Pricing: free with an optional cosmetic store.
Download: available on Google Play under “Eternium” from Making Fun.
Bottom line: the low-friction pick. Perfect for phones that struggle with heavier ARPGs.
How to choose
If you want the closest thing to console-quality demon hunting on your phone, get Diablo Immortal and stop before the endgame grind. Add AnimA ARPG as an offline sibling. Dungeon Hunter 6 is the pick for Gameloft-series nostalgia. Eternium is the low-battery, low-pressure option.
For a MOBA twist, install Vainglory. For survival-flavoured combat, Grim Soul. For gun-based monster hunts, Shadowgun Legends.
FAQ
Is Onimusha available on Android?
Not directly. Capcom has not released Onimusha on Android. Way of the Sword ships on Steam and consoles. On mobile, the games above carry the same demon-slaying combat energy.
Which app has the best parry mechanic?
AnimA ARPG and Dungeon Hunter 6 both have real parry windows that reward timing. Diablo Immortal’s block equivalent is close but frame-loose.
Do any of these work offline?
AnimA ARPG (after the paid unlock) and Eternium are fully playable offline. Diablo Immortal, Grim Soul and Dungeon Hunter 6 have limited offline play. Vainglory and Shadowgun Legends are online-only.
Do they support Bluetooth controllers?
Diablo Immortal, AnimA, Dungeon Hunter 6, Shadowgun Legends and Grim Soul all support 8BitDo, Xbox and PlayStation controllers over Bluetooth.
What is the best free demon-slaying game on Android?
Diablo Immortal for production values, AnimA ARPG demo if you want offline. Both are free to try.
