"Swordsman delivers some of the most weighty and authentic melee combat in VR, with gritty encounters that remain satisfying and replayable for hours on end."
Game Overview.
Swordsman is a VR melee combat game that focuses on realistic swordplay, physics-driven encounters, and the gritty chaos of armed combat. Weapons feel heavy and deliberate, and battles carry a grounded intensity that sets it apart from more arcade-style VR brawlers.
It’s part training ground, part gladiatorial fantasy, and part physics playground. The result is combat that feels weighty, dirty, and surprisingly authentic.
Player Experience
General Enjoyment
I’ve clocked around 40 hours in Swordsman so far, and it continues to pull me back. Combat feels impactful and real compared to many other VR games — weapons carry weight, and throwing a sword or knife into an opponent adds a messy, satisfying edge that makes encounters feel “dirty” and more believable.
Encounters where I was outnumbered were especially intense in the best way possible, forcing me to think, block, and strike with real urgency.
Session Length & Replayability
Most of my sessions lasted 20–30 minutes, which was more than enough to feel a sense of progression without overstaying its welcome. That makes it easy to enjoy in short bursts, but with plenty of replayability if you want to grind further.
The game has remained fun across dozens of hours, and even after losing my save data once (thanks to a cloud sync fail), I still wanted to jump back in.
Gameplay and Controls
Mechanics
Combat in Swordsman revolves around physics-driven swordplay, blocking, parrying, and occasionally throwing weapons. The system rewards patience and precision while still letting you improvise in chaotic encounters.
Lower-level fights are approachable, but higher-level battles can be brutal and unforgiving — especially against multiple enemies. That difficulty makes victories feel well-earned.
Comfort & Bugs
The game runs smoothly overall, with no motion sickness issues for me. I did lose all my progress once due to a cloud save error, which was frustrating, but performance during play has otherwise been stable.
Action & Movement
Physical Intensity
Swordsman is a solid workout. Intense duels had me sweating, and I even managed to slam my shins into my metal bedframe a few times during desperate dodges. Expect to work your arms, legs, and core if you play actively.
Accessibility
The game leans more on the hardcore side of melee combat. One-handed play is possible, but some encounters demand tighter defense and weapon control, which makes it less friendly to casual players. Comfort options are limited, but the straightforward movement and focus on close combat make it manageable for most.
Value for Money
Content vs Cost
Swordsman offers a surprising amount of depth for its price. Between the wide variety of weapons, enemy types, and progression systems, it feels like more than just a sandbox — it’s a fully fleshed-out combat experience. The sense of weight and impact adds value in itself, since every duel feels different depending on how you approach it. For the amount of hours you can sink into it, it’s hard not to call it a bargain.
Replay & Updates
The game has received a steady stream of updates since launch, adding new weapons, mechanics, and refinements. While those updates are less frequent now, the core package is already strong enough to keep players coming back. Between the challenge of mastering combat, experimenting with weapons, and replaying encounters in different ways, Swordsman has lasting replayability built in.
Swordsman FAQ
Platform Availability.
Swordsman is available on the following platforms: Meta Quest 2, Meta Quest 3, PC, PC-VR, and PS-VR2.
Supported Peripherals
Swordsman supports the following peripherals:
- ☑ Motion Controllers
Is There Any Mature Content?
Swordsman is rated PEGI 18+ and contains:
- ☑ Graphic Violence
Swordsman features realistic melee combat with blood, dismemberment, and decapitations. It’s not horror-focused or particularly scary, but the violence is graphic enough that it’s clearly not suitable for children. The game is rated Mature 17+ (ESRB) and PEGI 18.
Final Verdict.
Swordsman is one of the most satisfying VR melee combat experiences available. Its weighty physics, gritty encounters, and replayability make it a must-try for fans of sword combat.
It has some rough edges, like occasional bugs and tough difficulty spikes, but the intense, physical battles more than make up for them. For players who enjoy grounded, impactful swordplay, it is easily worth picking up.
Is Swordsman Worth Playing in 2025?
We found Swordsman to be a great game, meaning it delivers a memorable experience with only minor imperfections that don't detract from the overall enjoyment of the game.
