Potential drawbacks include outdated healing mechanics that rely on elixirs from shrines and an overabundance of loot that frequently downgrades current gear.

Open-field maps replace linear missions, delivering four large explorable areas with a non-linear structure that preserves challenge.

The game preserves brutal difficulty and adds two distinct combat styles—Samurai and Ninja—each with unique mechanics and stamina systems, while allowing quick style switching.

Overall verdict: Nioh 3 sharpens the series’ combat, expands world design, and delivers substantial content, earning a 9/10 and setting a high bar for Soulslike games outside From Software.

Nioh 3 expands on the core formula with a larger scope, offering more hours of gameplay, additional side quests, optional dungeons, and boss encounters, while delivering strong sound design and voice acting.

Combat refines stamina management with Ki, Ki pulses, and a burst counter, and introduces a Ninja mist mechanic that replaces Ki pulses for faster dodging.

Co-op options and a range of accessibility settings help mitigate difficult sections without reducing the overall challenge.

Visuals stay solid across varied biomes, with return and new Yokai designs, and performance on PS5 remains strong with minimal frame issues.

The story serves as a backdrop to combat, guiding Takechiro through time‑traveling demons and generals with a serviceable but non-central narrative.

Stealth becomes more viable in open-field environments thanks to greater map verticality and traversal improvements like a double jump.

Boss fights remain spectacular and punishing, with Crucible zones increasing difficulty, though some spikes can feel jarring and no accessibility option changes enemy toughness.