Why Nioh 3 Might Be The Greatest Soulslike

I got into those tough action RPGs – the ‘Soulslike‘ genre – when Demon’s Souls first came out way back in 2009. It was pretty underground at first, but FromSoftware kept refining things, and soon a bunch of other games started popping up trying to do the same thing. Nioh is one of those, and honestly, the first two games are really solid – a lot of us in the community enjoyed them. But ever since Elden Ring dropped in 2022, nothing’s quite measured up to that level of hype, you know?

With the release of Team Ninja’s newest game, Nioh 3, is the landscape shifting? While not flawless, Nioh 3 gets a lot right – things that other challenging action games, even those made by FromSoftware, could learn from. No developer is perfect, after all.

Multiplayer Isn’t As Obscure

Easier To Jump In With Friends/Strangers

Playing a difficult “Souls-like” game alone is incredibly challenging, but the games often offer help through online multiplayer. However, setting up these connections can be surprisingly complicated. For example, in Elden Ring, you need specific items, leave messages for other players, and carefully match settings to successfully connect with others.

Playing with others is much simpler in Nioh 3. The game offers several ways to connect, letting you join another player’s world or invite friends and others to yours using a room key. Whether you’re stuck on a tough boss or just prefer exploring with backup, Nioh 3 makes it easy to get the help you need.

Interesting World Without Relying On Obscurity

No Need To Dive Into A Lore Hole

I love how Souls-like games build these incredibly rich worlds and really pull you in with their atmosphere. But honestly, if you’re hoping for a straightforward story, it can be frustrating! You often have to dig around on Reddit or watch lore videos online just to understand what’s going on. It’s cool, but it definitely takes extra effort.

Though players can delve into the historical and cultural details of Nioh 3, the main story is fairly simple. The protagonist, Takechiyo, is poised to become Shogun, but his brother, Kunimatsu, falls under the influence of a dark spirit and unleashes demons in an attempt to seize power. Takechiyo then assembles allies to rescue his brother and break the demon’s control. It’s not a complex narrative, but it’s easy to understand.

Weapon Variety And Loot

Players Aren’t Locked Into One Specific Item

Like many games in the Souls-like genre, exploring the world in Nioh 3 lets you discover powerful and unusual weapons and equipment. Enemies sometimes drop items as well, though these are often very hard to come by. Continuing a series tradition, Nioh 3 features a loot system similar to the one found in Diablo, meaning you’ll be constantly searching for better gear.

Monsters frequently drop weapons and armor, though some of the best items are rare. There’s still plenty of variety, so dedicated players can gear up with enough effort. Plus, the wide range of weapons allows players to experiment with different character builds more quickly than they would if relying on random world drops. And for RPG fans, Nioh 3 offers transmog options to customize their appearance.

The Class System

Giving Players Two Character Builds Is Brilliant

Soulslike games handle character classes in different ways. Some, like Elden Ring, let you pick a starting class and change it as you progress. Others, such as Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin, offer a wide variety of classes you can switch between whenever you want. Nioh 3 strikes a balance – it has just two classes, but allows you to switch between them instantly during gameplay.

Unlike the first two Nioh games where players were always a samurai, Nioh 3 lets you play as a ninja too. The game also features a simpler counter system – you can switch between classes to counter enemy attacks. Plus, the new Ninja Style is really enjoyable, with quick movement and special Ninjutsu abilities that fans of Team Ninja’s Ninja Gaiden series will appreciate.

Leveled Zones

An Easy Way To Guide Players

In many Souls-like games, character levels aren’t the most important thing – it’s how you improve your stats that really matters. However, in Nioh 3, levels play a bigger role, helping players navigate different areas of the game. You can still increase stats like health and intelligence, and your equipment will also have levels, but you’re free to use any weapon or wear any armor you like, regardless of your level.

Each area on the map is designed for players of a certain level. Being at, slightly below, or slightly above that level will create a balanced experience. However, if a player is much higher level than the area suggests – like level 30 in a zone meant for level 6 players – they’ll quickly feel a big difference in how strong their attacks are and how well they can defend. This design makes character levels truly meaningful, which is very satisfying.

The World Is Not Seamless, But It Is Open And Expansive

More Curated Zones

As a huge fan of open-world games, I was blown away by Elden Ring, and I think its map is still in a league of its own. Nioh 3 is getting closer to that feeling, though! The way the levels connect and open up as you progress is really cool, and it feels like it’s building towards one massive, interconnected world. It’s a really interesting mix – it’s definitely got that Dark Souls vibe, but it’s much more open than most games like that, even the previous Nioh titles. It feels like a great step forward for the series.

The game world feels carefully designed, filled with things to discover and do. There aren’t many empty spaces, so players are always stumbling upon enemies to battle or items to collect. Helpful markers on the map, like chests and locations of Chijiko, guide players and offer assistance as they explore.

No Need To Upgrade Flasks

Stock Up On All Types Of Items

A common challenge in games like Demon’s Souls and Dark Souls is how healing works. Early games allowed players to collect almost unlimited healing items, but Dark Souls switched to a limited, rechargeable flask system. Most similar games since then have followed that approach. While both unlimited and limited healing have their advantages and disadvantages, Nioh 3 strikes a nice balance between the two.

Players begin each game with eight Elixirs, which are healing items that refill at special shrines as long as you have more stored. You can also refill your Elixirs during a mission or while exploring the world, which is faster than going to a shrine. There are ways to increase how much Elixir you get when refilling and how often you find them, such as by collecting Kodama Blessings. This system helps players feel more confident when playing solo.

Currency And EXP (Amrita) Are Separate

No Longer A Waste Of Either Resource

One of the smartest design choices in Nioh 3 is how it handles progression. The game keeps your character’s leveling currency (Amrita) separate from the money you use to buy items (Gold). You spend Amrita at shrines to improve your stats, and Gold at shops for gear and consumables.

In games like Elden Ring, you earn a currency called Runes that serves two purposes: upgrading your character and purchasing items. This can be frustrating for players who prefer not to spend Runes on items, as they feel it takes away from opportunities to become stronger. Thankfully, Nioh 3 simplifies things by separating these functions, removing that difficult choice.

2026-02-12 04:09