Nioh 3’s Near-Perfect Action Is Weighed Down By Bloat

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Nioh 3 is the newest game in the Nioh series, developed by Team Ninja. The team has consistently delivered action games with challenging combat and rich historical settings.

Okay, so with Nioh 3, it feels just like the previous games in terms of the awesome combat, but now you get to explore a really cool open world. Honestly, the story and leveling up stuff aren’t the greatest, but the action is so good it totally makes up for it. I’m really getting into it just for the fights!

Nioh 3 Lets Players Shift Between Ninja and Samurai

Nioh 3 brings back the popular Samurai combat style and introduces a brand new Ninja style, creating a fantastic gameplay experience. Players can seamlessly switch between these two styles with a single button press, and this dynamic shifting is a key feature that makes Nioh 3 so engaging and worth playing.

Okay, so playing as a Samurai feels a lot like the old Nioh games – it’s all about precise timing, blocking attacks, and then hitting when your opponent leaves an opening. But if I switch to Ninja, everything changes! It’s way faster and more about constantly attacking. The attacks don’t hit as hard as the Samurai’s, but I can move so much quicker and get in a ton more hits, which really gives me an advantage.

This creates a balanced interplay between the two styles, ensuring neither feels stronger than the other. Each style allows for unique approaches, leading to diverse and interesting gameplay. Plus, switching styles also alters your gear, making it more than just a visual change.

The fast pace of the game keeps you engaged, as Nioh 3 never feels sluggish. Each fighting style has extensive skill trees and customization options, and as you level up, you unlock new abilities and movement techniques. This constant progression ensures there’s always something fresh to try and discover.

Nioh 3’s Difficulty Level Is Perfect

Like previous games in the series, Nioh 3 is challenging – enemies hit hard, and even a small mistake can be fatal. It’s a difficult game, but in a way that feels rewarding. Nioh 3 lived up to the high expectations, and the feeling of finally defeating a tough boss after many attempts is incredibly satisfying – it’s still one of the best experiences gaming has to offer.

While demanding, Nioh 3 is never truly unfair. You’ll succeed by studying enemy attacks and changing how you fight. With practice, you’ll improve and begin to anticipate your opponents’ moves, just like a skilled player.

One of the best parts of Nioh 3 is its enemy design. The creatures are both terrifying and beautiful, with an otherworldly look that can be captivating. Players might even find themselves lost in admiring them until an enemy attacks, bringing them back to the fight.

Nioh 3’s Open Field Feels Like an Open-World

Team Ninja isn’t calling Nioh 3 an open-world game; they’re describing it as having “open-fields.” This means the game features large, connected areas for players to explore. You’ll have more space to roam and collect Amrita—the game’s equivalent of experience points—than in previous Nioh titles. While some have drawn comparisons to Elden Ring, that comparison isn’t quite accurate.

Unlike the free-form exploration of Elden Ring, Nioh 3’s open areas are packed with specific goals to complete, like clearing enemy camps, defeating bosses, and finishing side quests. This structured approach isn’t necessarily a drawback – it’s satisfying for players who enjoy ticking off every item on a list. Plus, the challenging enemies keep you on your toes, as a moment of carelessness can lead to a quick defeat.

Over time, the many different things players can do can start to feel repetitive, and the game’s pace might slow down. The challenging combat, with its frequent deaths, can also interrupt the flow of the game. Even though the developers call it an “open-field” design, Nioh 3 is likely to receive the same complaints often leveled at open-world games.

Nioh 3 Tries To Do Too Much

The main problem with Nioh 3 is that it demands so much from the player, it can become overwhelming. This applies to both the combat and the story. While the concept of traveling between different time periods seemed promising, the story itself didn’t really capture my interest during my playthrough.

Nioh 3 tried to build a rich story and historical background, but it ended up being overwhelming. I didn’t connect with the characters or their problems. This game really shows that sometimes, simplicity is better – especially in video games.

The game has a lot going on mechanically. Between upgrading stats, switching combat styles, and navigating skill trees, there’s already a lot to keep track of. Nioh 3 adds even more complexity with Soul Cores and blessings, which can quickly become overwhelming. It’s easy to get lost in all the systems and miss just how beautiful the game truly is.

The game gives players an overwhelming amount of loot. The open world constantly provides new gear, and while you can sell it, it quickly becomes a repetitive task. Spending time sorting through endless weapons and armor to create a character build can be frustrating, especially when everything starts to look the same.

Nioh 3 Is Held Up By Its Phenemonal Action Gameplay

Okay, so Nioh 3 isn’t perfect – there are definitely some things that hold it back. But honestly, the combat itself is so good, it really carries the whole experience. I love being able to switch between the ninja and samurai styles whenever I want, and it stays fun even when you’re really far into the game. They feel really different from each other, and I appreciate being able to tweak things to fit how I like to play. But the best part? When you’re out in a big open area and really get into the flow of combat, that’s when Nioh 3 truly shines. It just clicks.

However, as the game’s story and various features build up, things start to become overwhelming. Keeping track of everything becomes difficult, and the initial fun can eventually lead to frustration. Despite this, Nioh 3 remains a solid game and a satisfying experience for players who enjoy complex and challenging combat.

Nioh 3 releases on February 6 and will be available on PlayStation 5 and PC.

This review was written with a review code of Nioh 3 for PlayStation 5 provided by Koei Tecmo.

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2026-02-04 20:10