Overview
Nioh 3 marks the first new entry in Team NINJA’s hardcore action‑RPG series in over six years. While it retains the franchise’s core combat and loot foundations, the game introduces open‑field maps, two distinct fighting styles, and a deeper character progression system.
Story & Setting
Players control Takeichiyo Tokugawa, a fully customizable protagonist, on a time‑bending quest to stop his treacherous brother Kunimatsu. Kunimatsu has unleashed Yokai across the land and seeks the Spirit Stones to become shogun. Real‑history figures such as Ieyasu Tokugawa appear throughout the Warring States period, which can be sampled in the free demo on PC and PS5.
Combat System
The most significant change is the addition of two combat styles:
- Samurai Style – Classic three‑stance weapon system with Martial Arts enhanced by the Arts Proficiency system.
- Ninja Style – Faster, agility‑focused combat using Ninjutsu for elemental damage and disruption.
Both styles are powered by Guardian Spirits, granting two elemental skills each, and are linked through Arts Proficiency and Ninjutsu flows. Players can also jump and engage in limited aerial combat.
Character Progression
Progression follows a souls‑like loop: defeat enemies → earn Amrita → level up at Shrines to boost one of seven stats that affect weapon scaling. Additional systems include:
- Skill Trees for Samurai, Ninja and each weapon type.
- New Skill Points earned from specific tasks to unlock style‑specific abilities.
- Soul Cores dropped by Yokai, placed in the Onmyo Box (Yin/Yang) to unlock Onmyo magic or summon Yokai attacks.
Open‑Field Maps & Exploration
Unlike previous linear maps, Nioh 3 features expansive open‑field regions filled with side content:
- Myth side‑quests
- Formidable enemies and Crucible Wraiths
- Treasure and hidden Spirit Veins
New traversal skills from Guardian Spirits allow access to previously unreachable areas.
Loot & Gear
The Diablo‑style loot system returns, offering four rarity levels for weapons, armor, accessories and more. After a story milestone, the Blacksmith becomes available to forge and customize weapons using collected Smithing Texts.
Multiplayer
Nioh 3 retains asymmetrical multiplayer (red/blue graves) and adds co‑op play. A new Bloodedge Demon Yokai gathers spirits of defeated Revenants across the open fields, expanding the asymmetrical experience.
Essential Tips & Guides
New players may feel overwhelmed. Start with these core recommendations:
- Focus on mastering the three Samurai stances and a few key Ninja Ninjutsu early.
- Prioritize Arts Proficiency and Skill Points that complement your preferred style.
- Collect Soul Cores and experiment with Yin/Yang placements to discover useful Onmyo spells.
- Explore open‑field maps thoroughly for hidden gear, Spirit Veins and side quests.
- Use Guardian Spirits to unlock traversal abilities and elemental skills.
For deeper dives, check out our dedicated guides on Mastering Combat Flow, Onmyo Magic, Revenant Mechanics, and the Bloodedge Demon.