The fourth instalment of the Samurai Warriors franchise is set in Japan's Feudal era and follows historical events. The story is divided by clan, with each battle featuring a different set of available characters that can be unlocked as the story progresses. All stories ultimately lead to one of two main conflicts: the Unification conflict between the Eastern and Western armies, or the Sanada clan story.
The gameplay in Samurai Warriors 4 builds upon the series' trademark controls while introducing new features such as the Godspeed Action crowd control move and the Secret Musou ability. Players can select two officers to switch during battle, a system similar to other games in the series or the Warrior Orochi games. The game features 55 playable characters, including returning favorites and three new ones.