During the 2023 Xbox Games Showcase, Capcom dropped a vague reveal trailer for a peculiar-looking action game calledKunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess. At the time, it was hard to tell what exactly this title was. However, as more information about it was shared, it became evident thatKunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddesswould be a rather distinct addition to Capcom’s extensive catalog of releases, one that’d harken back to some of the publisher’s previous works from prior console generations.
Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddessboasts an eclectic mash-up of genres, as the title is an action-strategy game that fuses RTS elements and tower defense mechanics with an ethereal fantasy setting that’s heavily inspired by ancient Japanese mythology. Thanks to its unique concept, reception to the game was largely positive leading up to its release, although some were unsure if the title would actually succeed at mashing these gameplay elements together into a cohesive experience. Fortunately, this doubt quickly subsided, asKunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddesswas met with great reviewsupon its June 28, 2025 launch, with many outlets praising the title for its inventive approach to combat and its stunning art direction. If this game’s critical acclaim translates into commercial success, however, then it could mark the start of a new, less risk-averse era for Capcom.
Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess Could Mark the Start of a New Era for Capcom
Capcom’s Acclaimed Titles from Tentpole Franchises Have Led to Major Success
Over the last several years, Capcom has gained a reputation as one of the better publishers in the industry, thanks to the abundance of well-received games it’s recently released. Many of the new installments in the company’s biggest franchises, such as titles likeMonster Hunter World,Resident Evil 7,Street Fighter 6, andDevil May Cry 5, have garnered widespread critical and commercial success, with some of them even selling upwards of 5-10 million units. The popularity ofCapcom’s acclaimed gameshas led the publisher to accumulate record-breaking revenue. In fact, back in May 2024, the Japanese game giant reported that net sales for the company were up 21% year-over-year, with profit being up 18%.
Much of Capcom’s success in recent years, however, can be attributed to its reliance on established franchises. After all, the company has rarely gone outside of the precedent it’s established for itself lately, as it’s opted to focus primarily on releasing remakes, remasters, and sequels. The majority of Capcom’s latest titles, likeResident Evil 4(2023),Monster Hunter Rise, andMega Man BattleNetwork Legacy Collection, have largely fallen under these categories. This immense dedication toits best-selling franchiseshas sadly resulted in the Japanese publisher’s push for new intellectual properties to fall to the wayside.
Capcom Hasn’t Created Many Original Properties Lately
In the last decade or so, Capcom has only made a handful of new IPs. Prior toKunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess, the last original property that the Japanese publisher had created wasExoprimal, a multiplayer third-person shooter with PvPvE elements. When it was released in 2023, this title ended up being a rare critical and commercial failure for Capcom, in large part due to criticism directed toward its live service aspects and limited amount of content. Low interest in the game post-launch resulted inCapcom pulling the plug onExoprimalroughly a year after its release, as the publisher recently announced that the third-person shooter would no longer receive new seasonal content.
BeyondKunitsu-GamiandExoprimal, though, the only other notable IP that Capcom’s released since 2014 isShinsekai: Into the Depths. This 2D, side-scrolling action-adventure game made its debut as anApple Arcade exclusivein September 2019, but it eventually landed on Nintendo Switch roughly seven months later. Unfortunately, outside of this, Capcom’s new properties have largely been relegated to free-to-play mobile titles and Japan-exclusive releases as of late, such as the 2013 rhythm battle RPGOtorangerand the 2016 simulation gameMegami Meguri.
Capcom Released Many New IPs During the PS2 Generation
The current state of new IPs when it comes to Capcom is a far cry from the number of original properties the company churned out during previous console generations, namely the PS2 era. In the early-to-mid 2000s, the Japanese game giant published a multitude of new IPs, from the quirky third-person brawlerGod Handand the brutal hack-and-slash titleShadow of Rometo the cel-shaded action-adventure gameOkamiand the Western horror FPSDarkwatch.
Some of theseCapcom PS2 gameswere not only based on original intellectual properties, but they were also inventive in their own right. Titles likeGod Hand,Viewtiful Joe, andOkami, in particular, were often noted for being some of the most unique games of their time.
Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is an Important Release for Capcom
Bringing all this information into consideration highlights just how significant of a releaseKunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddessis for Capcom. This innovativeconsole strategy gamemay not be a blockbuster AAA title likeDragon’s Dogma 2orMonster Hunter Wilds, nor is it likely to sell millions upon millions of copies, but its mere existence shows that the Japanese publisher is willing to invest in more experimental projects again.
Whether this leads to Capcom developing a slew of new, creative intellectual properties remains to be seen, but at the very least, the fact thatKunitsu-Gamiwas even greenlit and not scrapped in favor of the next bigResident Evilgame is a promising sign.
In an industry that’s becoming increasingly risk-averse due to ballooning budgets and prolonged development cycles, it’s somewhat surprising to see Capcom finally take a shot at making unique, single-player IPs like it once used to. Nonetheless, the prospect of what this could mean for the future of the publisher is quite exciting. For the time being, though, when it comes to new original properties outside ofKunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess, the only other title Capcom fans have to look forward to isthe mysterious sci-fi gamePragmata.
Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess
WHERE TO PLAY
A new tale of the Kami awaits…Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is a unique Japanese-inspired, single player Kagura Action Strategy game.The game takes place on a mountain covered by defilement.During the day, purify the villages and prepare yourself for sundown.During the night, protect the Maiden against the hordes of the Seethe.Repeat the day and night cycle until you cleanse the mountain of defilement and return peace to the land.The setting is Mt. Kafuku—a mountain covered in defilement. The game offers a taste of Japanese culture, including Kagura dance, masks, as well as the music that plays in the background.
