DEPTH BEYONDDifficultyReview by: JJ & LILMoMarch 26

Nioh 3 strikes a good balance between mystery
and terror in feudal Japan, blending historical myth with precision-driven combat. It immerses players in a world where danger lurks in every corner,
and every strike and shadow determines whether they’ll live or die. The latest entry in the Nioh series was developed by Team Ninja and published by Koei Tecmo. Team Ninja presents an ambitious action RPG set in a semi-open world. Nioh 3 takes place in the mythic tapestry of Japan’s Sengoku era, unfolding new weapons, deeper combat systems, and expanded mechanics. The gameplay is unforgiving, offering a steep learning curve designed to help players master the combat fundamentals.

Team Ninja’s latest entry introduces the Ninja transformation, which makes combat more dynamic and allows for greater customization.
Nioh 3 pushes players into a brutal chapter of
the series set in a demanding world filled with unforgiving adventures.

RATING

DESIGN

STORY

GAMEPLAY

PERFORMANCE

PUBLISHER

Koei Tecmo Games Co.

GENRE

Action, RPG

RELEASE DATE

4 March 2025

PLATFORMS

PS5, PC

“What makes a shogun?” – Kunimatsu

TESTEDBy Fire

The gameplay mainly focuses on aggressive melee attacks, dashes, and stance control. In addition, Ki Pulse timing allows players to
recover stamina, influencing the combat rhythm. These mechanics transform the combat from
the usual attack and dodge cycles to actual engagements where precision and timing are crucial for survival. Nioh 3’s core gameplay revolves around clearing threats in hostile territories, defeating unforgiving Yokai bosses, or human Masters that challenge your skills and adaptability.
Compared to other Souls-like games, Nioh 3 has
a faster pace and more in-depth techniques
and combos.

The adventure is full of side quests across different levels, offering missions beyond your main objective. The title is always willing to give you second chances; however, they come at a price. Each time you die, you lose resources and reset cooldown timers, forcing you to face the same enemies again. Given the steep learning curve, the franchise includes a co-op assistance system that helps those new to the Nioh series.

The world is designed to encourage exploration with hidden shortcuts connecting different battlefields. Nioh 3 challenges your skills in every way, keeping the gameplay fun yet intriguing.

“You were a ray of light that pierced
the Crucible’s darkness.” – Kunimatsu

THE COST Of Complexity

Although the game struggles with performance,
the controls remain responsive, and the combat remains skill-based. The level of difficulty is particularly high, especially with the first boss, as the developers intentionally made it harder
than later bosses to ensure players develop
precise and refined combat skills.

Furthermore, players must also familiarize themselves with the new ninja transformation to adjust their combat approach with various mobility skills and techniques. Combining the Samurai with the Ninja style spices things up and adds more depth to the gameplay.

The Samurai approach is designed for heavy weapons, precise blocks and confrontational battles. Whereas, the Ninja style is designed for
fast-paced evasive moves with more ranged attacks; however, it consumes more stamina.

Both styles become essential during combat, allowing you to get creative on how to defeat a tough boss. With the enemy variety and unique attacking patterns, combat remains engaging, pushing players to try new strategies each fight. Most enemies are brutal and punish mistakes quickly, forcing players to adapt and refine their timing with each attempt. Players meet different types of Yokai, ranging from monsters to spirits
and demons, each with different attack techniques that force players to adapt by choosing the right stance and wisely adjusting their timing.

“Even when I was a child, everyone in the clan praised my capabilities…” – Kunimatsu

THE ART Of Mastery

Beyond the core combat skills, the title features deep progression systems, such as skill trees and equipment upgrades, keeping the gameplay rewarding and engaging. Gear is obtained by defeating enemies with different levels and stat variations, encouraging players to experiment with new builds and explore. Moreover, loot is critical to your character progression, as enemies drop random equipment with various stats. You can use the unwanted equipment to make offerings in exchange for Amrita and consumables. Afterward, you can use the Amrita to upgrade core attributes such as heart and stamina.

The combination of samurai and ninja styles creates a totally different layer of combat, allowing players to customize their combat approach based on their preference. However, the demanding difficulty in Nioh 3 might feel overwhelming for new players.
That said, the title suffers from significant performance issues and could use some improvement.

Kodama Shrines are the main checkpoints where you get to rest and regain health. This is where players prepare for fights, obtain blessings,
and make offerings in exchange for Amrita
and other consumables.

SYSTEMS BUILT FORMastery

Nioh 3 is specifically designed for gamers who enjoy complex systems and thrive on challenges.
The gameplay and systems are designed to foster a relationship with characters, support long-term play, and the progress you’ve made.
The Samurai and Ninja transformation system is a major addition to combat depth and strategy that engages players wanting more control over their playstyle. However, the systems’ complexity might feel overwhelming to new players, especially when they’re not familiar with the game mechanics. This may be frustrating and discouraging to newcomers, but it becomes increasingly rewarding the more you invest time to learn combat systems and master your precision.

Beyond the systems and mechanics, this title has its own artistic world in an atmosphere filled with supernatural Yokai. It keeps encouraging players to experiment with different builds, and Team Ninja continues to refine its performance, so it should run smoothly in no time.

In the end, Nioh 3 remains one of the strongest action RPGs in the market, and the unforgiving part of the gameplay is part of its identity.
Despite its performance problems, it still delivers a unique, immersive experience, and with a bit of graphics tweaking, it runs smoothly.

“The light of hope lies unseen at the end of time… Go, now!” – Himiko