In the June 1989 edition of "Games International" (Issue 6), Ian Marsh was impressed by how much of the social, spiritual and cultural was highlighted, saying, ""Bushido" developed the idea that a game should be more than a rules system by making culture a strong element in play." But Marsh noted that subsequently, "its attractions to mainstream roleplayers are limited." He also noted the lack of published adventures, commenting, "anyone who buys "Bushido" has to develop their own scenarios, making the game less appealing to referees who have little enough time to run games as it is." He concluded by giving this game an above average rating of 4 out of 5, saying, "It's a cult game, and nothing's going to change that [...] which is a shame for "Bushido" genuinely presents a role-playing challenge."