Take a bow, Team Ninja! Nioh 3 is like Dark Souls’ Elden Ring, but set in feudal Japan. Our Games critic Peter Hoskin investigates…

by

Nioh 3 (PlayStation, PC, £64.99)

Verdict: Third time’s the charm

The Nioh games have always been, for me, so nioh and yet so far.

Team Ninja created this game by taking the famously challenging combat of Dark Souls and setting it in feudal Japan, complete with terrifying creatures from Japanese folklore – a promising idea. However, previous attempts felt rough and awkward. This time, though, things are different.

Nioh 3 continues the trend of games similar to Dark Souls, but like the creators of Dark Souls with Elden Ring, it’s broadened its scope. Instead of a linear progression through levels, you now have more freedom to explore a larger, more open world as your samurai-ninja character.

Everything just feels improved. A big part of this is the open world design – it’s really enjoyable to explore the harsh environment, because there’s always something new to find. Whether it’s a new quest, a helpful upgrade, or a challenging area filled with demons, there’s always something interesting just around the corner.

The game is also better because of general improvements in Nioh 3. Battles feel smoother and are more fun, especially since you can easily switch between samurai and ninja abilities whenever you want.

Its bosses are some of the most imaginative — and trickiest — the Soulslike genre has ever seen.

And it all runs so smoothly, even on the prettier graphics settings.

The story centers around the heir of a shogun traveling through time, but honestly, it’s not very good.

Let’s not get bogged down in details – a warrior wouldn’t. After nine years, the Nioh series is finally on the verge of achieving something truly special.

Read More

2026-02-09 20:03