Nioh 3 [REVIEW] – Samurai on the Streets, Ninja in the Sheets 

Team Ninja has never been one to rest on its laurels, but with Nioh 3, they haven’t just iterated on a successful formula… they’ve completely reinvented it. By trading the strict mission structure of the past for expansive open fields and introducing an exhilarating dual-style combat system, Nioh 3 feels like a brilliantly bold release that proves the success of previous titles in the series was no fluke.  

Check out some screenshots down below: 

The highlight of Nioh 3 is undoubtedly the combat, which somehow manages to be even better than that seen before. The big shake-up is the new dual-style system, because you aren’t just a Samurai anymore, but a style-shifting killing machine. With a tap of a button (R2 specifically), you can instantly swap between two completely different ways of fighting. 

On one hand, you’ve got the Samurai style, which is your bread and butter if you’ve played the previous games. It’s weighty, armoured, and relies on those satisfying Ki Pulses to keep your stamina in check, which is perfect for standing your ground and trading blows. On the other hand, you’ve got the new Ninja style, which changes the game entirely. You lose the ability to Ki Pulse or change stances, but become incredibly nimble. Instead of blocking, you’re dodging around leaving little silhouettes to trick enemies, whilst you can spam Ninjutsu without burning your Ki. It’s fantastic for hit-and-run tactics or when you just need to unleash a flurry of shurikens to keep a boss busy while you catch your breath… honestly, it’s a ton of fun and completely changes how Nioh 3 feels to play when compared to its predecessors. 

What’s brilliant is how the game forces you to engage with both styles in order to succeed. You might find yourself parrying a heavy axe swing in Samurai mode, only to instantly switch to Ninja to dash behind the enemy for a critical backstab, adding a layer of depth that makes min-maxing your build an absolute joy. It’s fluid, it’s responsive, and just makes each encounters a complete thrill… I loved it. 

The other massive change is the structure of the gameplay loop, with Nioh 3 waving goodbye to the strict mission list of old and saying hello to open fields. Now, don’t panic – it’s not a bloated, empty open world where you spend twenty minutes riding a horse across nothingness, but carefully designed locales that are a treat to explore (and look the part too). 

“It is punishing, beautiful, and endlessly rewarding, with Nioh 3 not just a worthy sequel, but the best that the series has ever been.” 

You’ve got these huge maps separated by time periods, and they are stuffed with things to do. There are enemy encampments to clear, classic dungeons that hide fearsome bosses, and enough loot to drown in. It’s the Ubisoft-style of icons on a map, sure, but because the core gameplay is so good, clearing out a bandit camp never feels like a chore. Plus, the new traversal options make getting around a blast, and since the world itself isn’t overly bloated with things to do, it never feels overwhelming. 

This new format also does wonders for accessibility, with Nioh 3 a bit more forgiving when compared to the other titles in the series. Stuck on a boss that’s kicking your teeth in? In previous games, you’d just have to bang your head against the wall until you EVENTUALLY succeeded, but here, you can just wander off, explore a different part of the map, grind some levels, find some better gear in a side quest, and come back when you’re stronger. It makes the whole experience feel much less suffocating, all without losing that signature difficulty that fans love. 

Speaking of difficulty, the bosses are, as expected, brutal – but in the best way possible. Team Ninja has thrown in everything but the kitchen sink: historical figures, giant rock-throwing ogres, and imp-like creatures that are terrifyingly large… the designs are grotesque and beautiful in equal measure, ensuring your foes are as visually impressive as they are challenging. They’re masterfully designed to ensure that very encounter feels like a puzzle where you have to learn the telegraphs, manage your spacing, and exploit weaknesses… yeah, they’re a real highlight, and when paired with the excellent combat, stand out as one of the best things about Nioh 3. 

And if it all gets too much? You can still summon help. You can bring in two other players for co-op, or summon AI ‘Acolytes’. Admittedly, I haven’t dabbled in the co-op too much yet since I’ve played pre-release, but if it’s anything like Nioh 2, it’s going to be a blast. And hey, for those who don’t want to rely on real-life players, the AI companions hold up alright in some of the more tense encounters of the game. 

Check out some screenshots down below: 

It’s not all sunshine and cherry blossoms, though, and as good of a game Nioh 3 is, it has some quirks that Team Ninja just can’t seem to shake. First off, the loot system is still overwhelming. You are constantly bombarded with gear drops – weapons, armour, accessories – and sorting through it all and figuring out what suits your build can be a headache. The menus are dense, leading to sub-menus and more sub-menus, and the tooltips don’t always make it clear if that new katana is actually better than the one you’re already using. It can be a bit much, and whilst I can appreciate some gamers love number-crunching, it isn’t really for me. 

Then you have the story, which is… well… it’s there. You play as a Shogun-to-be dealing with a jealous brother and time-travel shenanigans, which is a decent enough framework to get you from point A to point B (and that does sound a little wild), but never does enough to keep you completely absorbed in everything that’s going on. It’s mostly background noise to the sound of swords clashing, and honestly? That’s good enough for me.

Developer: Team Ninja 
Publisher: Koei Tecmo Games 
Platform(s): PlayStation 5 (Reviewed), PC 
Website: https://www.koeitecmoeurope.com/games/nioh-3/