Nioh 3: Team NINJA's Best Soulslike Yet Introduces Open-World Feudal Japan
After years of anticipation, Team NINJA elevates the Nioh series to new heights with its first open-field design, a dual Samurai/Ninja combat system, and the signature Mist Cloning ability.
Game Overview
Nioh 3 is an action RPG Soulslike developed by tếam NINJA and published by Koei Tecmo. Following the massive success of Nioh 2 in 2020, the third entry delivers a revolution in both world design and combat systems.
Revolutionary Combat: Samurai Meets Ninja
Nioh 3 revolutionizes the series' beloved combat system with brand-new mechanics. The combination of powerful Samurai and agile Ninja styles creates tactical depth never before seen in the Soulslike genre.
Dual Combat Styles
Nioh 3 introduces a fluid switching system between traditional Samurai and agile Ninja playstyles. Players can combine both styles in real time, creating unpredictable attack combos and tactical depth never seen in previous entries.
Mist Cloning Ability
The Mist Cloning ability is Takechiyo's signature power, allowing him to create illusory duplicates from mystical fog to deceive enemies. This skill serves both defensive and offensive purposes, opening up surprise attack opportunities from multiple angles simultaneously.
Three Ninja Tools
Replacing the three weapon stances of previous entries, Nioh 3 equips players with three specialized ninja tools. Each tool has distinct tactical applications, from ranged attacks to area control, providing entirely new flexibility and opening up fresh build strategies.
The Journey of Tokugawa Takechiyo
Players embody Tokugawa Takechiyo, the grandchild of Tokugawa Ieyasu — the legendary leader who unified Japan. Set against a backdrop of chaotic feudal Japan, Takechiyo must overcome countless trials, battling powerful yokai wreaking havoc across the land.
Takechiyo's ultimate goal is to become Shogun and restore order to the nation. This journey takes players through breathtaking feudal Japan landscapes, from war-torn villages to darkened forests where yokai lurk in the shadows.
Tokugawa Takechiyo — Grandchild of Tokugawa Ieyasu, bearing the strength of a Samurai and the secrets of a Ninja, embarking on the path to become Shogun.
Photo: Team NINJA — Feudal Japan landscape in Nioh 3
Open-Field: Nioh 3's Design Revolution
Unlike the linear stage design of Nioh and Nioh 2, Nioh 3 for the first time places players in large interconnected open fields where they can freely explore and discover secrets at their own pace.
Photo: Team NINJA — Open field exploration in Nioh 3
Team NINJA's Finest Achievement
Nioh 3 has received outstanding reviews from the international gaming press. GameSpot named it one of the best games of 2026 so far, while many other critics agree it represents the best entry in the entire Nioh series to date.
One of the best games of 2026 so far
GameSpot notes Nioh 3 delivers a major leap forward in world design and combat depth for the series.
View sourceBest in the entire Nioh series
Players particularly praise the balance between signature Soulslike difficulty and the fresh open-field design that is more accessible than previous entries.
Team NINJA's biggest leap
The combination of dual combat styles, Mist Cloning mechanics, and open-field design is widely considered the most cohesive and ambitious work Team NINJA has produced.
View sourceSources & References
Frequently Asked Questions
▸ Nioh 3 moves from linear stages to open-field design -- a major evolution for the series
▸ Related: WoW: Midnight | Slay the Spire 2
References
- Push Square -- Nioh 3
- Wikipedia -- Nioh 3
- Koei Tecmo Official
Images: Team NINJA — Nioh 3 (2026). Copyright Koei Tecmo Holdings Co., Ltd.