The latest entry in Team NINJA Studio and Koei Tecmo‘s dark samurai action RPG series, Nioh 3 has players setting out to claim the title of Shogun.
See whether lightning strikes thrice with our review…
Nioh 3 Review
With players gearing up to become Shogun at the beginning of Nioh 3, a number of Yokai attack and one of your allies has betrayed you, wanting to become Shogun himself.
Before being taken out, players are sent back in time to come back stronger to ultimately claim the title of Shogun for themselves.
Nioh 3 lets players go to a few eras, kicking things off with the Warring States period. Unlike previous entries, players will not take on Nobunaga but rather Shingen Takeda – the Tiger of Kai.
Its land suffers from Yokai attacks, rogue bandits, and samurai battling one other. By helping your predecessor, you ensure the Tokugawa line takes the Shogunate and power up, so one is ready to claim the title for yourself.
While tough to give an exact playtime number, we’d estimate one’s initial Nioh 3 playthrough to clock in at approximately 30-40 hours.
While Nioh 3’s story is true to the series, its difficulty has been toned down a considerable amount. Not that it isn’t hard – it is – but Nioh 3 features more open areas compared to the original two releases. As such, there are far more places to explore and grind in Nioh 3.
In addition, up to two allies join you on your adventure. The best part? They don’t disappear after a boss fight or when switching acts; they just travel with you. I had a great team in Nioh 3, and it made things a lot easier for us all.
The combat in Nioh 3 is largely the same, albeit one huge difference: the new Ninja style stance.
The Samurai stance is there for bigger armor, along with heavier weapons and the ki pulse to regain stamina and clear Yokai realms.
However, Ninja stance is quicker and features dual weapons, ninjutsu moves like firebombs and caltrops, and a shadow dodge.
The dodge in particular leaves a clone that enemies attack, allowing players to hit foes from the side. While my playthrough started in Samurai stance, upon getting the Tonfas I almost exclusively used the Ninja stance.
It comes down to speed versus power in Nioh 3 – and speed kills in this game.
All previous weaponry returns in Nioh 3, including spears, katanas, dual axes, and the kusarigama chain weapon. Both stances also feature variations of the basic katana and fist weapons; ninjas have claws, and samurai get the cestus.
There are also crucible versions of weapons that do increased damage, but those that are hit lose a percentage of max HP until healing. It can be a bit overwhelming to have all these weapon types; best to focus on two or three you favor and stick to them.
In addition to weapons, Nioh 3 also lets players wield magic. It has received a change from the last game, now attached to Soul Cores gained from killing enemies.
Simple magic like shooting water or lightning returns, but Nioh 3 also features new elements like the familiar talismans. These surround the player in whatever element they are, ranging from water, wind, and so forth.
With them, players can get close, smack enemies with your weapons, and then have the familiars crash into the enemy for extra damage. The sheer amount of combat options in Nioh 3 is insane, and again it is best to focus on select spells and sticking with them.
While Nioh 3 isn’t quite an open world in the traditional sense, its areas are big and encourage exploration. There are side quests, treasure chests, Kodama, merchants, shrines, and plenty of other things to see.
Most important, none of Nioh 3’s vast amount of content feels like filler. For instance, going off the beaten track to shoot down a Chijiko will reward players with loot alongside a permanent luck buff, ensuring better loot down the line.
Filling the exploration level of a zone in Nioh 3 will also grant big buffs like more attack, defense, and even more luck.
Everything in Nioh 3 is well-designed, and other open world title could take some ideas from this title.
Nioh 3 also features a deep crafting system, one that players can easily lose hours to – assuming one has the gold.
When making a weapon, certain stats are randomized alongside its rarity. The higher the rarity, the more bonuses on the gear.
This system is a bit like a slot machine, one where you gamble on making awesome weapons and armor. If you can get it on a set piece and complete your set, even better.
Put simply, Nioh 3 features a lot to lose yourself in.
When it comes to Nioh 3, one annoyance comes with its loot I’m a loot goblin – I love my loot – but Nioh 3 absolutely floods you with it.
Players can hold 2,000 items when the game starts, which is absurd. It got to a point where I equipped what I wanted, and then sold, broke down, or donated gear for extra EXP.
In addition, Nioh 3 features 16 skill trees between all weapons, Samurai, and Ninja stances.
Again, focus on what you are using and ignore the rest, lest you become overwhelmed.
Not only is Nioh 3 the best entry in the series, it’s also the most accessible entry as well. Whether you’re a fan of Soulslikes, previous Nioh entries, or just good samurai action, don’t hesitate to check this one out.
Nioh 3 Review
Reviewed On: PlayStation 5 (A digital code was provided)
Release Date: February 5, 2026
Platforms: PlayStation 5, PC,
Developer: Team NINJA Studio
Publisher: Koei Tecmo
Aggregate Scores: Metacritic / OpenCritic / CriticDB
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