Samurai Shodown takes place in early feudal Japan, where a man named Shiro Tokisada Amakusa preaches a heretic religion. Unbeknownst to the people, Amakusa is actually a servant of the evil Ambrosia, who has possessed and taken over Amakusa's body, with Ambrosia seeking to shroud the world in eternal darkness.
The player must choose from 12 fierce warriors and 3 bonus characters to fight for the honor of defeating Amakusa and fulfilling specific missions for each warrior in the game.
Gameplay involves one-on-one battles between fighters, with an emphasis on strategy and timing-based attacks. The game features a variety of unique techniques and special moves for each character, adding depth to the combat system.
Samurai Shodown was released in 1995 for the Sega Mega CD platform.