Nioh 3 marks Team Ninja’s return to the action RPG series, which has now grown into a full trilogy. Each entry has introduced meaningful changes while preserving the core gameplay, allowing what was once labeled a soulslike to establish its own identity over time.
The story of Nioh 3 is set in an alternate version of Japan, centered on the rise of monsters known as the Yokai. Players step into the role of a custom-created avatar, similar to Dynasty Warriors Origin, though this time the protagonist is fully voiced. The narrative revolves around a supernatural plague called the Crucible.
As expected, the story quickly takes a dark turn. During the struggle to decide the next shogun, Tokugawa Takechiyo stands at the forefront, but his younger brother, Tokugawa Kunimatsu, attempts to seize power for himself and turns toward darker forces. He begins working to unleash a Yokai apocalypse upon the world. With the help of the guardian spirit Kusanagi, the main character gains the ability to travel through time in an effort to save Japan from the devastation of the Crucible. The story draws heavily from Japanese folklore and features several historical figures in important roles. Players familiar with the earlier games may also recognize some returning characters.
The combat is easily the best the series has delivered so far, building on the foundation set by the first game. Players can switch between multiple roles on the fly, while mechanics such as Ki management and stance switching remain central to creating a dynamic combat experience. The boss fights stand out as some of the strongest in the franchise, offering a satisfying balance between challenge and enjoyment. The new dual job system allows players to switch between styles such as Samurai and Ninja in real time. These two styles feel clearly different and lead to distinct gameplay experiences. Each style also comes with its own set of weapons.
The Samurai style stays close to the first two Nioh games, focusing on stance management, Ki pulsing, and flux mechanics. The Ninja style, on the other hand, emphasizes speed and ranged attacks, along with access to a toolkit of ninjutsu abilities such as bombs, shurikens, and smoke techniques. Defensive options include parrying and dodging, which are simple in design but effective in practice. Players can also unleash charged attacks by filling a meter during combat.
The loot system in Nioh 3 is well-developed. Gear drops are varied and come with different stats and perks, allowing for a wide range of build options depending on playstyle. This becomes even more important for those who choose to continue into New Game Plus. This mode introduces additional challenges not present in the first playthrough and adds to the overall replay value.
The game is not a traditional open-world experience like Elden Ring. Instead, it follows an interconnected world design where areas link together while still offering wide spaces that encourage exploration. There are plenty of moments to wander off the main path and discover hidden content. The game also supports co-op for those who want to travel through this world together. However, I would recommend playing it solo the first time and saving co-op for a replay or a New Game Plus run.
The game offers hundreds of hours of content. The depth of build customization through gear, abilities, and skills, combined with co-op support, makes it easy to invest a long time into it. It rarely feels repetitive because there is usually something new waiting to be found. The public demo only scratches the surface of what the full game offers. While it may not be very challenging for experienced souls players, it makes up for that with a strong sense of fun.
One area where Nioh 3 falls short is performance and visuals. On PC, it is not the best-looking game, and it does not justify its disappointing performance. Although it can run at 60 FPS, the game is heavily demanding on the CPU. There have also been occasional crashes and noticeable stuttering. This is a major drawback for an action-focused game that relies on quick reflexes. If the visuals showed a clear improvement, the performance issues might have been easier to accept, but the upgrade feels minimal.
That said, the art direction remains strong, and the soundtrack is equally impressive. The game features a variety of locations and environments, with well-designed enemies and boss encounters. Cutscenes look good in motion, though their flaws are easier to spot on PC. I also appreciated how Team Ninja made exploration feel rewarding, supported by a loot system that complements it well.
Nioh 3 delivers the trilogy’s most refined combat via its fluid dual-job system, yet technical polish remains as elusive as a Kodama. While the boss encounters soar, lackluster visual growth and CPU-straining stutters prove that even time-traveling ninjas can’t outrun a poorly optimized PC port.
