Nioh 3

Nioh 3 marks Team Ninja’s return to feudal Japan with an ambitious evolution of its soulslike formula. This new entry blends demanding combat, supernatural horror, and an open world that expands player freedom. The major innovation is a dual combat system that allows real-time switching between samurai and ninja styles, creating more dynamic and tactical encounters than ever before.

Overview

In Nioh 3, feudal Japan is devastated by supernatural forces and increasingly powerful yokai. The game moves away from a strictly mission-based structure to embrace an interconnected open-world design, preserving the series’ signature difficulty while offering greater freedom of exploration.

The story revolves around the mystery of the Crucible, a dark force that corrupts villages, empowers yokai, and threatens to destroy the balance of the land. On the path to becoming shōgun, the protagonist must confront this threat while exploring demon-infested regions filled with hidden secrets.

Combat System

The biggest change in Nioh 3 is its dual combat system, which allows instant switching between two styles during the same fight:

• Samurai Style: focused on strength, defense, and heavy weapons
• Ninja Style: focused on speed, stealth, mobility, and special tools

Combat features include:

• Seamless style switching
• Unique weapons for each style
• Combos that blend samurai and ninja techniques
• Style-based environmental interactions
• Independent skill trees

This system forces players to constantly adapt, analyzing enemies and terrain to choose the most effective approach in every situation.

Open World and Exploration

The shift to an open-world design is one of the most important changes in the series. Nioh 3 presents an interconnected feudal Japan filled with corrupted villages, alternative routes, and hidden areas.

Ninja techniques allow access to elevated or secret locations, while the samurai style excels in direct confrontations. This duality creates multiple paths to overcome challenges and rewards players who master both styles.

Villages act as exploration hubs, offering side quests, narrative secrets, and powerful equipment that expand progression options.

Artistic Direction and Atmosphere

Visually, Nioh 3 retains a deeply Japanese aesthetic, combining natural landscapes with supernatural horror elements. The beauty of the environment contrasts with yokai corruption, creating a constant sense of danger.

Enemy design draws from Japanese folklore, reinterpreted with a darker and more aggressive tone. Armor and equipment reflect the dual system, clearly distinguishing between samurai protection and ninja agility.

Multiplayer and Additional Content

The game supports cooperative play for up to three players, ideal for tackling the toughest challenges together. A season pass will expand the experience with new stories, enemies, and equipment.

The Digital Deluxe Edition includes the Infernal Weapons Set, featuring 14 unique weapons that showcase the depth of the combat and customization systems.

Nioh 3 represents a solid and ambitious evolution of the franchise. Its dual combat system adds a new strategic layer, while the open world expands exploration without sacrificing the difficulty that defines the series.

For players seeking a challenging, deep action RPG rich in Japanese identity, Nioh 3 promises to be one of Team Ninja’s most complete and intense releases to date.