Onimusha: Way of the Sword mask puzzle solution

Spoiler warning: This guide reveals part of the “What Lurks in the Shadows” quest in Onimusha: Way of the Sword.

During the search for Hinagiku inside Nijo-jo Castle, Musashi and Okuni eventually reach a locked door marked by a smiling face. The door stands between you and the room where Dokyo escapes, so solving its mechanism is essential to continue.

The puzzle appears after following the available route beyond the locked door near the Underground Level Three Spirit Mirror. In the next room, four masks hang from the ceiling, while matching replicas appear on four windows beside the entrance.

How to solve the mask puzzle

Your task is to shoot the hanging masks with arrows in the correct sequence. A wrong shot resets the masks to their starting positions, but the room contains everything needed to work out the answer.

Start by examining the mask replicas on the wall beside the entrance. View them from outside the room and pay attention to the shadows cast through the windows. The spotlights reveal a distinctive feature on each mask: the number of openings, or orifices, visible in its shadow.

Those opening counts provide the order. You do not need to search another area for a clue; the masks and their shadows are the complete hint.

Onimusha: Way of the Sword mask order

From left to right, identify the hanging masks as numbers one through four, then fire at them in this sequence:

1. Third mask: the green mask with wavy red stripes.
2. Fourth mask: the red mask with black details.
3. First mask: the yellow mask with wavy purple stripes.
4. Second mask: the purple mask with yellow wavy stripes.

In short, the required order is third, fourth, first, second. The sequence follows the number of openings shown by each mask’s shadow when viewed from outside the room.

For players who prefer a visual reference, the mask arrangement and correct firing order are shown below.

What to do after solving the puzzle

Successfully hitting all four masks opens the cage beneath them. Take the Unsettling Mask, then carry it back to the door mechanism near the Spirit Mirror.

Place the Unsettling Mask in the mechanism to unlock the passage and continue the search for Hinagiku. If you enjoy working through game-room mechanisms, explore RETROCADE’s arcade guides and gaming news, or browse our arcade machines and arcade parts.