Review: Nioh 3 (PS5) – Superb Action Fronts a New Team Ninja Gem

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I’ve been a big fan of what FromSoftware has done with games like Dark Souls and Elden Ring, and it sounds like Team Ninja wants to achieve something similar! They’ve already proven they can make a fantastic, challenging action RPG with the Nioh series, and now they’re aiming for that same breakout success – their own ‘Elden Ring moment,’ as they put it. It’s exciting to think about what they’ll come up with next!

Nioh 3 doesn’t completely reinvent the wheel, but it’s still a standout title in the series. It successfully combines all the best elements from the developer’s previous games – including the Nioh titles, Rise of the Ronin, and Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty – into a single, cohesive experience.

Unlike the first two games, which had straightforward stories, the third game offers a much larger, open world to explore. You can travel across various maps set in different places and times, gaining experience, completing optional tasks, and ultimately progressing towards the main goal.

Imagine Elden Ring’s vast world, but chopped into smaller sections separated by loading screens, and covered with icons pointing to everything – that’s what this game feels like. It uses an older, predictable open-world formula: you’ll find and clear enemy bases, open chests for new items, and collect things scattered around the map. The game practically holds your hand, marking everything on the map as you approach, leaving little room for genuine discovery or hidden secrets.

Despite these small additions, Nioh continues to deliver a satisfying experience. The challenging combat the series is famous for is actually enhanced by these elements, giving players fresh opportunities to hone their abilities and refine their character builds.

Maps vary quite a bit. Some feature open fields dotted with towns and villages, while others are more like detailed urban areas filled with streets, buildings, and enemy locations. Each area also has a unique feel, like a zone stuck in a harsh winter or one that’s falling apart.

The game features story-driven levels that are shorter and more focused, appealing to fans of the original Nioh games. But because you can’t revisit these story sections, the replay value of Nioh 3 largely depends on how engaging its bigger, open-ended areas are.

While lacking originality, it just about thrives.

I’m really enjoying how this game lets me explore freely when I get stuck – just like Elden Ring, but it feels a bit more manageable. There’s always something else to do, whether it’s a side quest or just exploring, which helps me level up and get stronger. And the loot! Oh man, the Nioh series is famous for its awesome gear, and this game is no different. I’m constantly finding new and better weapons and armor, which is super addictive!

The game’s overall structure isn’t groundbreaking – many modern action RPGs follow a similar design, and its side quests aren’t particularly unique. However, Nioh 3 remains enjoyable because the constant drive to find better equipment and improve your character makes even familiar gameplay loops rewarding.

The game’s expanded world is powered by the well-known Nioh combat system, now featuring two unique styles: Samurai and Ninja. You can switch between these styles mid-battle, allowing you to use each one’s special moves and advantages.

Samurai builds on the gameplay of the original Nioh, demanding players carefully manage stamina and use Ki Pulses, in addition to blocking, parrying, and wielding powerful weapons.

Unlike the Samurai, the Ninja class focuses on speed, trickery, and quick strikes. Instead of a Ki Pulse, Ninjas can dodge, leaving a decoy behind to confuse opponents – whether they’re monsters or other players. They also utilize items like bombs and throwing stars, recover stamina by dodging, and excel at stealthy attacks.

It’s beneficial to learn both combat styles because different enemies and challenges require different strategies. The game offers a lot of customization with skill trees for each style and weapon, creating a deep and complex combat system. While you can succeed focusing on just one style, you’d be missing out on half of what the game has to offer – there’s simply a lot to master.

This game offers more than just basic attacks. You’ll enhance your character with a Guardian Spirit that provides magical skills, and you can even transform into a powerful Living Artifact for a short time, adding a lot of variety and excitement to combat.

Nioh 3 builds on everything Team Ninja has learned over the past decade, and the result is some of the best close-combat action you’ll play all year.

Nioh 3 is the most accessible game in the series so far. It’s a little easier than previous installments – we beat it with only a handful of tough boss fights. The game also offers help through AI companions and online co-op, making the roughly 45-hour story more manageable.

While still a challenging game that doesn’t forgive errors, Nioh 3 is ultimately more approachable thanks to its open areas, which offer more opportunities to improve and recover from mistakes.

Ultimately, this game feels like a classic title, but with welcome improvements and additions. The fast-paced, challenging combat that defines the Nioh series is still the best part, and the larger levels offer even more opportunities for thrilling encounters.

Okay, so there’s a story about time travel, but honestly, it fades into the background pretty quickly. What really matters in Nioh 3 is building up your character – tackling the open-world stuff, finishing quests to get awesome loot, and then taking down those huge bosses. The combat is where the game shines, and it’s seriously the best part. It’s all about the action!

The game is generally playable when it first releases, but it needs updates to fix noticeable drops in frame rate, even on powerful hardware like the PS5 Pro when set to Performance Mode. When there are a lot of enemies on screen, the game frequently stutters and doesn’t run smoothly. This happens even when just exploring the environment.

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2026-02-04 17:16