Nioh 3’s Open Level Design Might Be Its Biggest Evolution Yet

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Team Ninja has evolved a lot since the success of Nioh 2, a challenging action game that put a unique spin on the genre. Their next game, Rise of the Ronin, offered a more accessible experience with a large, engaging open world. Most recently, Wolong: Fallen Dynasty ramped up the difficulty again, adding a ‘Reputation’ system that kept players on their toes and emphasizing skillful parrying as a core combat mechanic.

These advancements all stem from a willingness to experiment with new gameplay ideas and, crucially, to learn from player feedback. This bold approach makes us confident that Nioh 3 will be the culmination of everything the developers have learned. While only a demo is currently available, it clearly shows the game isn’t compromising on its unique vision.

The developers could have simply refined Nioh 2, a game that was already well-received. However, they chose to make significant changes to the combat and level design, building on ideas they’ve explored since Nioh 2. This makes the new game a strong and deserving continuation of the series.

A key feature of the new game is its expansive open-world design, which really shows how ambitious Nioh 3 is. This bold approach improves every aspect of the game, and we’re thrilled to explore it. Let’s take a closer look at what makes the open world in Nioh 3 so appealing.

A Distinct Visual Identity Made Grander

I’ve always been a fan of Team Ninja games like Nioh, but honestly, they’ve sometimes played it a little safe with how they look. Still, you can always tell a Team Ninja game, and they’ve really built a unique style over time. When I jumped into the Nioh 3 demo, I immediately recognized that familiar look, but something felt different this time around – in a good way!

The game has a refined visual style, clearly showing the developers listened to feedback and worked hard to improve it. The environments are filled with impressive details that really pull you into the game’s world, and the developers clearly aimed for a strong visual presentation. Even in an early version, the character designs and textures looked fantastic. Overall, the graphics in Nioh 3 are a significant step up from previous games in the series, while still maintaining the unique look that defines them.

The game’s expansive new open areas are where the graphics really stand out. Being available on both PlayStation 5 and PC allows Nioh 3 to utilize modern hardware, resulting in a more visually impressive game than previous installments. It also builds upon existing ideas from other games developed by the same studio.

The game builds on the strong open-world design of Rise of the Ronin, but streamlines it for a more concentrated experience. Like that previous game, the quest to find our Blood Twin felt like a true adventure, filled with interesting characters and realistic social interactions that enhanced the game’s world.

Look, Nioh 3 doesn’t need to be some massive open-world game, but giving us bigger, open areas to explore would really fix one of the biggest complaints with games like this: feeling too linear. Nioh 2 let you do side missions whenever you wanted, but the levels themselves still felt like just different paths through the same old places. An open field would change that, letting us actually explore instead of just rushing through the story, and I think the developers know that. It feels like they’re directly addressing those complaints with this new game.

Similar to how it lets players experience the game more freely than previous titles, making Nioh 3 open-world significantly improves the variety of environments. This allows Team Ninja to fully express their creative vision, maintain their distinctive art style, and create a more expansive and immersive experience.

Just like its graphics, the gameplay improvements in Nioh 3 really shine thanks to the game’s open-world environments.

Great Gameplay Made Greater

Unlike Wolong, Nioh 3 doesn’t demand you fight for control of every area, but its open world still encourages exploration. Exploring allows you to find different enemies and complete challenges, which in turn unlocks helpful bonuses and keeps you feeling like you’re making progress with your character.

In challenging Souls-like games, skilled players appreciate unlocking new abilities, even if they don’t instantly make the game easier. These abilities offer worthwhile advantages that encourage continued play. A vast, open world, like the one in Elden Ring, enhances this feeling. It provides more chances to master a combat system that builds upon an already excellent foundation, and that’s a welcome addition.

Nioh 3 improves on its predecessors by making stealth a truly useful strategy for weakening groups of strong enemies before fighting them. The game’s open environments give you more freedom to approach combat, allowing you to avoid enemies and choose your battles in ways that weren’t possible in more restrictive, linear levels.

Open-world design enhances the level-grinding often found in Soulslike games. While some dedicated players might dislike it, the ability to quickly switch between areas to gain levels and overcome difficult enemies will likely make the experience more accessible and less frustrating for many, turning a potentially endless cycle of defeat into a more manageable challenge.

We always appreciate more options for players to explore the different combat styles of the Samurai and Ninja, and the flexibility they offer. This could make the game more accessible for those juggling gameplay with their daily lives, as it’s designed to be engaging over a long period. Plus, we think the game’s story would really benefit from a more open-world approach, like the one in Nioh 3.

A Personal Narrative

Team Ninja has often prioritized action over storytelling in games like Nioh 2. However, after Rise of the Ronin, we’re hopeful that Nioh 3 will offer a more engaging narrative. The story is already shaping up to be quite personal, with the main character striving to become Shogun while facing betrayal from their younger brother, who is harnessing the supernatural power of yokai.

The vast, open landscapes are central to the game’s story, making the entire world feel like your potential kingdom and adding to the immersive experience. Everything you do – every battle and every achievement – directly contributes to building and securing your kingdom from the very beginning. If successful, these open fields in Nioh 3 will feel like a familiar home, yet tragically lost due to the schemes of the game’s enemies.

This change makes the world feel less like a game and more like the central part of the story Team Ninja wants to share. Exploring isn’t just about defeating enemies and finding items; it’s about defending the land and its people from those who want to destroy it.

A Bold New Direction

The latest installment in the Nioh series is a great evolution, clearly influenced by games like Elden Ring but staying true to what makes Nioh unique and enjoyable. Early looks at Nioh 3’s open areas show a promising direction, combining the series’ challenging gameplay with a design that emphasizes its strengths.

As a long-time fan, I’m really impressed with what the developers have done here. It feels like everything they’ve learned over the years has come together in one place, and it genuinely makes this game stand out – which is exactly what we need in a genre that’s getting so packed with options. It’s like the best of their past games rolled into something new, and it finally gives the franchise a chance to really deliver on all its potential. It feels like a true evolution!

Please be aware that the opinions shared in this article are solely those of the author and don’t reflect the official stance of GamingBolt.

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2026-02-04 16:46