Afro Samurai is a third-person action game where the protagonist, Afro, seeks revenge for his father's murder. His father was killed by a man wearing The Number One headband, which bestows the power of a god. Afro's life mission is to become The Number Two and kill the man who wears The Number One.
Afro Samurai stars Samuel L. Jackson as the main character, with gameplay based on the anime created by Takashi Okazaki and Gonzo. Each stage tells a significant story event in Afro's quest for revenge, culminating in a final boss fight. The combat system features "focus mode," where the screen goes black-and-white, slows down time, and allows for a "perfect slice" attack that can slice enemies to pieces.
As Afro kills enemies, he earns experience points to level up and acquire new skills and abilities. Collecting mementos around each stage unlocks special abilities called "father's legacy," which provide extra-powerful moves to defeat stronger foes.