Nioh 3 (2026) Game Review

Ever since playing Dark Souls, I fell in love with this style of game, especially everything FromSoftware released, so when Nioh came out in 2017 it was a no brainer. This game scratched that Souls itch and then some. The pace was much faster but it was extremely easy to learn the mechanics, making the frenetic gameplay a breeze. The looting was rewarding, the fighting was pure joy, and the way you could build up weapons and gear was refreshing.

However, when Nioh 2 came out in 2020 I was disappointed in the new burst mechanic that I could never seem to time right, and while I’ll admit I’m partially to blame as the “get gud” bit perhaps applied to me (and I’m not exactly young), I wasn’t alone when it came to this complaint. Nioh 2 was either loved or, eh, not loved (I’m trying to be diplomatic). I wanted so much to love the game, and I tried many times to get better, and even after reaching level 85, I always felt underpowered.

Then Nioh 3 came out, and boy does it address everything that I didn’t like about its little brother. Not only that, Team Ninja added a jump mechanic, adding fantastic verticality to the experience. Fighting yokai has never been more fun, and while they also added a burst mechanic here, whatever they did, and perhaps the new button layout helped, I can now nail it almost every time.

The map has been revamped, and instead of visiting certain locations after completing an area, thanks to the open world design you can travel anywhere on the huge map. After clearing the initial area you are given a speed mechanic that allows you to rocket about the place at great speed. Elden Ring has Torrent, but this manner of traversal is perfectly suited to this style of fast paced game. The gun makes a return, a weapon I relied on a bit too much, as do all the usual suspects.

The biggest change is the way you can instantaneously jump from being a samurai to a ninja, offering two ways to battle your foes, a mechanic that I instantly loved. Want a slower but heavier attack? Samurai has you covered, but when you need speed, then with a flick you become a stealthy ninja with lightning quick attacks. You can now crouch as well as jump, giving you endless ways to achieve your goals.

Nioh 3 is my dream game, and so far the only game to rival Elden Ring, with similarities in many departments, yet very much its own thing. This looks to me to be a future game of the year.