Critically-Acclaimed New PS5 Console Exclusive Is Out Now

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Nioh 3 is now available on PlayStation 5 and PC, and critics are loving it! Initial reviews suggest it could be one of the best soulslike games of 2026, especially on PS5.

The Nioh series from Koei Tecmo has become popular with fans of challenging action games, starting with the first game in 2017. Nioh 2, released in 2020, built upon the original by adding new weapons and abilities, like Yokai skills that let players briefly transform into demons. The third game in the series was announced in June 2025 and launched on February 6, 2026, for both PlayStation 5 and PC.

Nioh 3 Launches to Rave Reviews

Initial reviews for Nioh 3 are incredibly positive. OpenCritic gives the game a “Mighty” rating, with an average score of 85 and a 93% recommendation rate. It currently ranks among the top 7% of all games reviewed on the site since 2016. Reviewers consistently highlight the game’s deep and flexible combat system as a major improvement for the Nioh series. While familiar weapon stances return as unlockable skills, the combat now centers around quickly switching between customizable Samurai and Ninja styles.

Reviewers have praised Nioh 3‘s bosses, noting their variety and the satisfaction of learning how to defeat them. The game’s more open world design, similar to Team Ninja’s Rise of the Ronin, has also been well-received. This design features a large world broken up into smaller areas players can explore freely. Many reviewers feel this change from the previous mission-based structure enhances the core gameplay loop of finding gear, battling tough enemies, and improving your equipment.

What Reviewers Didn’t Like About Nioh 3

Who’s That Character? Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.

Easy (7.5s)Medium (5.0s)Hard (2.5s)Permadeath (2.5s)
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Okay, so I’ve been reading a lot of reviews for Nioh 3, and it’s a bit of a mixed bag. Some people are saying the open world stuff feels like way too much, kinda like what happened with Rise of the Ronin. Others are pointing out that the usual Nioh problems are still there – lots of loot to sort through and menus that can be a pain. The PC version seems to be getting some flak for not being as smooth as the PS5 one. But, despite all that, OpenCritic says it’s one of the top five highest-rated PS5 games of 2026 so far, and the best soulslike we’ve seen on PlayStation this year. So, it sounds like it’s still worth checking out, even with a few rough edges.

Top 10 Highest-Rated PS5 Games of 2026 So Far, According to OpenCritic

# Game Avg. Score % Recommend Release Date
1 Lovish 87 88% Feb 5
2 Cult of the Lamb: Woolhaven 87 100% Jan 22
3 Cairn 86 92% Jan 29
4 Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined 85 94% Feb 5
5 Nioh 3 85 93% Feb 6
6 The Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond the Horizon 83 91% Jan 15
7 MIO: Memories in Orbit 83 83% Jan 20
8 Escape from Ever After 81 56% Jan 23
9 2XKO 80 100% Jan 20
10 Arknights: Endfield 79 88% Jan 22

Despite positive initial feedback, Team Ninja plans to continue supporting Nioh 3 with new content. They’ve announced a post-launch plan that includes two downloadable content (DLC) packs. The first is expected in September 2026, and the second in February 2027. Both DLC packs will add new story chapters and weapons. Currently, these add-ons aren’t available individually and can only be purchased as part of a $39.99 Season Pass.

Koei Tecmo recently revealed that Nioh 3 will only be exclusive to PlayStation 5 for six months. This means the popular action RPG could be available on Xbox Series X/S by the end of the year.

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2026-02-07 00:41