PlayStation 5 Critic Reviews

With its new open field format, Nioh 3 is undoubtedly the best entry in the series yet, giving players more freedom to explore and making the experience feel more seamless. Add on top of that additional new features, such as the ability to switch between samurai and ninja styles on the fly and being able to freely respec, and you have a stellar example of just how good the Soulslike genre can be. This is an early game of the year contender, without a doubt.

Nioh 3 still struggles with cheap boss fights and clumsy controls, but the thrilling action and spectacular world design more than make up for its faults. This is the best entry in the franchise and it isn't even close.

This is an excellent Souls-like title with a unique battle system to mix up the usual formulas. The setting looks immense and gameplay is addictive despite many a death at the hands of gruesome monsters...It's as good a Souls-like game as Elden Ring.

I hope this is the moment where Team Ninja is finally acknowledged as not only a driving force in the Soulslike genre, but for its name to be ranked amongst the best. Nioh 3 is an unbelievable game from start to finish and excels in all aspects of game development.

Nioh 3 represents the series at its most refined and confident. Combat is precise, expressive, and endlessly rewarding, while open-field design gives the world room to breathe without sacrificing focus. Crucibles deliver punishing, carefully balanced challenges that reward preparation and mastery in equal measure.

Each design decision, whether in narrative pacing or mechanical complexity, converges to strengthen the hardcore experience that has always defined the franchise. It is a work that understands its identity, honors its legacy, and looks ahead. Nioh 3 is not just another chapter in the trilogy; it is the technical and artistic pinnacle of the saga, establishing itself as an instant classic of the action genre.

Three decades in the making, Nioh 3 stands as the culmination of everything Team Ninja has learned over the past 30 years. Its vast, beautifully crafted world invites exploration and rewards curiosity at every turn, offering a wealth of discoveries and formidable foes that constantly test your skill. Nioh 3 is not only the strongest entry in the series to date, but also one of the finest action RPGs of its generation.

The third entry in the series retains Nioh’s recognizable hardcore identity while significantly changing the approach to many aspects of the game. Moving away from linear missions in favor of an open world, integrating a variety of combat styles, and making an effort to make the game more accessible to newcomers — all of this makes Nioh 3 Team Ninja’s most ambitious project to date.

Nioh 3 is the most ambitious and densely featured entry in the series, with a vast world to explore and extremely satisfying systems and combat to master. It does for the Nioh franchise what Elden Ring did for the Dark Souls world. Nioh 3 offers a huge amount of content and flexibility. It can be immensely challenging, but there are plenty of ways and an array of tools and approaches to mitigate the difficulty. Nioh has always perched between being niche and mainstream. Nioh 3 should help this excellent series broaden its audience while appealing to long-time fans as well. Lovers of Soulslikes, Team NINJA's games, and well-made action titles in general won't be disappointed.

If there's a company that knows its way around action RPGs, it's Team NINJA. But with Nioh 3, it feels as if they have finally perfected their vision. This is the culmination of their endless quest to create the ultimate action RPG experience centered around a satisfying flow state, and they've achieved it in the bloodiest and most glorious way possible.