Nioh 3 Reviews
Nioh 3 is a dark action-RPG with subtle influences from Souls-like games and Ninja Gaiden. This third installment is a major step forward for the series, and it shows throughout. It has a better combat system and many new additions that make the gameplay much more enjoyable. Without a doubt, the best Nioh yet.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
Overall Nioh 3 is a fantastic, action-packed, “Soulslike” that has changed up the formula enough to keep things extremely enjoyable. Yes you will die a lot and yes there’s a big learning curve here once again but I did find that the game onboards you a lot smoother this time around and players will be able to actually progress a lot easier than before thanks to the ability to play the game co-operatively with 2 others and being able to summon help from other players.
With the introduction of a seamless open-world and the brilliant dual shogun and ninja playstyles, Nioh 3 offers a level of depth and tactical freedom that few other Souls-likes can match.
Nioh 3 feels like the culmination of lessons from past Nioh titles, resulting in a game that’s a significant step up and the best entry in the series. The addition of the Ninja Style is such a game-changer, offering a playstyle that feels distinct and really fun to use. There’s a lot to see and do in this game, with content maybe reaching close to 100 hours if you choose to exhaust all areas.
For veterans, Nioh 3 is a refined masterpiece that deepens everything they already love - for newcomers, it’s a challenging but inviting entry to one of the best series in its genre.
Nioh 3 proves to be more than just another Souls-like entry in an abundant genre. Nioh 3 turns out to be an experience that was both rewarding and deeply engaging. Its greatest strength lies in its combat depth. The dual-stance system—Samurai and Ninja—creates a dynamic back-and-forth that forces players to think, adapt, and master timing rather than rely solely on button-mashing. The KI system, switching between stances, varied weapons types, Ninjutsu, martial arts abilities, talent tree, and expansive build options ensure that no two battles feel the same. Boss fights are challenging yet fair, offering flexibility and strategic freedom that make victories feel earned rather than frustrating. Beyond combat, the open-field design marks a major evolution for the series. Exploration feels meaningful and rewarding, filled with mini-bosses, side missions, and powerful loot that truly impact your build. The added mobility through sprinting and jumping enhances both combat tactics and world traversal, making the environments feel alive and immersive. Even with minor technical hiccups in performance mode on PS5, the overall experience remains smooth and visually impressive. Ultimately, Nioh 3 refines everything that made its predecessors strong while boldly expanding the formula. It is challenging yet accessible, complex yet well-introduced, chaotic at first yet deeply satisfying once mastered. For fans of action RPGs—and especially those who enjoy strategic, skill-based combat—Nioh 3 stands as the most complete and ambitious entry in the series to date.
Nioh 3 was more of a discipline to study than a game to finish for me. Every loss made me better; every win felt like I had really worked for it. Not only is it a sequel, but it is also the end of the story. It shows how good Team Ninja is at making high-intensity action RPGs and is a defining statement in the genre’s ongoing evolution.
Nioh 3 makes considerable changes that feel second nature to the essence of the series and makes for its most exciting and accessible title. A copy of the game was provided by the publisher for review. PC version reviewed.
Players, both new and used to soulslike games, should dive into the world of Nioh 3 if they are looking to experience some ARPG goodness to kick off 2026 the right way.
Nioh 3 is undoubtedly an evolution of Koei Tecmo's Soulslike-tinged action RPG formula. This is thanks to the introduction of the Ninja style and the openness of its maps. All of this is achieved while maintaining the technical depth in combat that characterizes Team Ninja. However, the game has its flaws, such as: repetitive content, overuse of recurring enemies, a somewhat uninhabited open world that sometimes feels deserted after clearing out enemies, and inconsistent difficulty spikes. Fortunately, if you enjoy its combat, you'll find the deepest and most fun title in the entire trilogy.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Nioh 3 masterfully carves out a distinct identity, marrying its tactical stance-based roots with a blistering, Ninja Gaiden-esque fluidity. While the time-hopping narrative and repetitive enemy skins occasionally falter, the exhilarating combat flow and refined accessibility make this the franchise’s most polished and exhilarating evolution to date.
Nioh 3 shines with a thrilling narrative and unique art style that more than compensate for its engine's shortcomings. Its dual samurai-ninja system is gameplay perfection, enhanced by masterful sound and complete freedom of builds. While its technical aspects are mediocre and in need of an upgrade, it's the price to pay for the best combat and narrative in the series.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Nioh 3 refines and expands the franchise into an exhilarating, deeply rewarding action RPG experience. With fluid combat, dense exploration, and countless layers of progression, it sets a new benchmark for Soulslike design.
Nioh 3 is another Team Ninja home run when it comes to action combat in video games, this time with a new system that lets players choose between the strength of a samurai and the agility of a ninja, unfortunately it's held back by a middling narrative and my experience was dragged down by tons of crashes and bugs.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Nioh 3 nails the marriage between RPG and hack-and-slash from a gameplay perspective. I’m excited to jump back in to leave no stone unturned in its open world, too, but not without compromise. Barring the essentials required to make a kick-ass Samurai/Ninja hybrid, I’ll be keeping my distance from its most annoying spreadsheet simulators and lavishing attention on mastering Style Shift. Could Nioh 3 be prettier? Sure, but its looks aren’t a deal-breaker. Being discouraged from following the time-hopping narrative as a result of flat voice acting is the biggest downer alongside unnecessary feature bloat. Ignoring or accepting those as downsides, Nioh 3 is one hell of an adventure. It will gladly devour your free time and richly reward you for mastering its combat, which continues to be the star of the series.
Nioh 3 is Team Ninja firing on all cylinders. Combat hits harder and feels more varied than anything else in the genre right now. This is the action RPG to beat this year.
The transition into an open-world game feels natural and gives you plenty to do when not in an intense and gruelling battle. The action-packed and unapologetically difficult battles are where the game truly shines, testing your skills and reflexes. Nioh 3 is easily the best in the series and an incredibly rewarding experience.
Nioh 3 is Team NINJA firing on all cylinders, with the semi-open world structure being a huge improvement to the flow and momentum. I also loved the dual-style Samurai and Ninja setup that keeps combat flexible, and lets you experiment and instead of locking you in.
Nioh 3 is a sequel in every sense of the word, as it substantially enriches the gameplay and bridges the gap between newcomers and veterans of the genre in the best possible way.
Review in Greek | Read full review
Nioh 3 gave me, throughout his adventure, the feeling of playing a Ghost of Yotei DarkSoulished. Nervous, twirling, he has not managed to get rid of his defects inherent in the equipment or his generosity in terms of personalization (powers, skills, blessings, preparations, ...). Consumables, items in general are too many if you do not have a fixed idea quickly enough. Technically a little in pain and with an open world facade, the lovers of the 2 will love the 3.
Review in French | Read full review