Nioh 3 feels like the moment Team Ninja finally stop reaching for something and just grab it. This is not a radical reinvention of the series, and it does not pretend to be. Instead, it feels like the fully realised version of ideas they have been refining, breaking, rebuilding, and occasionally overcomplicating across the last few games. Everything here feels deliberate. Confident. Like a studio that knows exactly what kind of game it wants to make and no longer feels the need to apologise for it.
From the start, there is a clarity to Nioh 3 that immediately stands out. This is still a brutally demanding action RPG, still obsessed with precision, still uninterested in holding your hand. But it is also more focused. Less cluttered. Systems talk to each other better than they ever have before, and that alone makes the experience feel sharper.
The biggest change, and the one that defines the entire game, is the ability to switch between samurai and ninja combat styles on the fly. This is not a shallow stance system or a cosmetic swap. These styles feel genuinely distinct in how they ask you to approach fights. Samurai combat is grounded and methodical, built around timing, spacing, and deliberate Ki management. Ninja combat is faster, looser, more aggressive, and clearly designed to reward momentum and positioning over restraint.
Switching between the two mid fight is where the magic happens. You are constantly reading enemies, spotting openings, and making snap decisions about how you want to approach the next few seconds of combat. It adds a level of expression that goes beyond weapon choice or stat builds. When it clicks, it feels incredible.
That said, this new system does come with trade offs, and they are worth talking about. I really miss having two weapons per style. In previous games, being able to swap between something fast and something heavy added a huge amount of flexibility, especially in long or unpredictable encounters. Losing that option does limit expression slightly, even if the style switching helps offset it.
The absence of Ki Pulse in ninja mode is another adjustment that never fully stops feeling odd. From a balance perspective, it makes sense. Ninja combat is clearly designed to play differently, to push movement and aggression over rhythm. But when Ki management has been so deeply ingrained across the series, not having access to that familiar tool does take some getting used to.
Despite those issues, the new system is a net win. It adds tension, creativity, and variety to every encounter, and it pushes players to actually learn the game rather than settle into comfortable habits.
Another major concern going into Nioh 3 was the shift away from tightly designed, linear levels toward more open environments that encourage exploration. On paper, this felt risky. Nioh has always excelled at intentional level design where every enemy placement and shortcut feels carefully considered. Opening things up too much could have easily led to bloat.
Thankfully, that never happens. Nioh 3 is not trying to be Elden Ring. It is not interested in vast empty spaces or aimless wandering. The environments are more open, yes, but they remain controlled and focused. Exploration is rewarded, but it never feels mandatory or indulgent. Every path feels like it exists for a reason.
Nothing here feels bloated. There are no areas that exist purely to pad runtime. Every environment feels purposeful, whether it is testing your mastery of specific enemy types, forcing you to manage verticality, or simply giving you room to experiment with the expanded combat systems. It is tight design disguised as openness, and it works beautifully.
Combat remains the absolute star of the show, and Nioh 3 does not soften its edges. This game is still hard as hell. Enemies are aggressive, bosses are relentless, and mistakes are punished instantly. It demands attention, precision, and commitment at all times.
I still stand by the opinion that Nioh is the most challenging and rewarding Soulslike series out there, and Nioh 3 reinforces that belief more than ever. Where other games in the genre often lean on ambiguity or spectacle, Nioh thrives on clarity. You always know why you died. You always know what you did wrong. And when you finally overcome a wall, it feels earned in a way that few games manage.
Boss fights are a particular highlight. They are fast, mechanically dense, and completely uninterested in cheap victories. You cannot cheese your way through most encounters. You are expected to learn patterns, manage Ki intelligently, switch styles at the right moments, and stay composed under pressure. When a boss finally goes down, the sense of relief and satisfaction is immense.
Progression systems are still deep, still layered, and still intimidating at first glance, but they are far better communicated than in previous entries. There is a ridiculous amount of loot, stats, and modifiers, but the game does a better job of steering you toward meaningful decisions rather than overwhelming you with noise. Builds feel powerful without ever trivialising the experience, and experimentation is consistently encouraged.
Visually, Nioh 3 is confident rather than flashy. It does not rely on sheer scale to impress. Instead, it leans into atmosphere, enemy design, and environmental detail. Everything feels cohesive. Performance is rock solid, which is absolutely essential for a game this demanding.
If there is a lingering criticism, it is that Nioh 3 still does not compromise. This is not an accessible game. It expects you to meet it on its own terms, to invest time, patience, and genuine effort. Some players will bounce off it hard, and that is fine. Team Ninja are not chasing mass appeal here. They are refining their craft for players who already understand what makes Nioh special.
Nioh 3 feels like a studio at the top of its game. Confident, brutal, refined, and deeply rewarding. While I miss some elements from earlier entries, particularly weapon flexibility and Ki Pulse options, the overall experience is stronger, sharper, and more cohesive than ever.
This is the game Team Ninja have been building toward for years. And the result is worth it.
Score: 9/10
