Nioh 3 Review Summary

Last updated: 2026-02-07
  • High-quality visuals and graphics
  • Enjoyable and fun gameplay
  • Freedom and variety in gameplay
  • Engaging combat mechanics
  • Fatal errors and crashes
  • Gameplay balance issues
Nioh 3 header

Emotions

What players like:

Common complaints:

Gameplay feedback:

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Review evidence

Why players say this

What players like

High-quality visuals and graphics: The game is praised for its high-quality visuals and graphics, which enhance the overall gaming experience. Players appreciate the detailed textures and improved lighting conditions.

Enjoyable and fun gameplay: Players consistently describe the gameplay as fun, enjoyable, and engaging. The combat system is praised for its depth, responsiveness, and variety, offering a satisfying experience with different playstyles and weapons.

Freedom and variety in gameplay: Players appreciate the freedom and variety in gameplay, including the ability to switch between different combat styles and explore diverse areas. The game offers a lot of content and customization options.

Engaging combat mechanics: The combat mechanics are described as engaging and rewarding. Players enjoy the variety of combat options, including different stances, weapons, and the new duel system.

Open world exploration: The open world design is well-received, offering a good balance between exploration and linear maps. Players appreciate the freedom and variety in exploring different areas and finding loot.

Common complaints

Fatal errors and crashes: Players experience frequent fatal errors that cause the game to crash. These errors occur in various situations, such as opening doors or during gameplay, leading to a poor user experience.

Gameplay balance issues: The game has balance issues where certain styles, like the ninja style, are overpowered, making other styles less useful. The switching between styles is also seen as annoying and not well-implemented.

Mixed feelings about open world: The open-world design is not well-received by all players. Some find it unnecessary and poorly implemented, leading to a less enjoyable gaming experience.

Boss difficulty and design: Bosses in the game have varying difficulty levels, with some being too easy and others being too difficult. There are also issues with boss hitboxes and health points, making some encounters frustrating.

Limited character customization: The game lacks depth in character customization options, with fewer details and limitations compared to previous titles. This includes both visual and skill customization.

Gameplay and performance

Open-world design: The game features an expansive open-world design that combines open fields with linear missions. This structure encourages exploration and rewards curiosity with hidden treasures and missions.

Improved combat mechanics: Combat mechanics have been refined and improved, including parrying, dodging, and counters. The combat system is fluid and engaging, requiring active player participation.

Dynamic enemy behavior: Enemies in the game exhibit varied behaviors and can be challenging, dealing significant damage. They are less aggressive and mobile compared to previous versions, but still pose a substantial threat.

Variety in weaponry: The game offers a wide array of viable weapons, each with well-crafted motions and unique playstyles. This variety ensures engaging and varied gameplay experiences.

Cooperative multiplayer: The game supports seamless cooperative multiplayer for up to three players. This feature enhances accessibility and allows players to enjoy the game together without enemy scaling.

Mixed performance reviews: Players report a wide range of performance experiences, from smooth gameplay with high FPS to significant issues like stuttering and crashes. Some players experience no issues, while others report severe performance problems.

Loading and performance issues: There are reports of long loading times and performance issues related to model and texture loading, which can affect the overall gameplay experience.

Specific hardware and software issues: Certain hardware configurations and software settings, such as overclocked settings and specific operating systems, can lead to performance issues or crashes.

High hardware requirements: The game demands high-end hardware for optimal performance. Many players note that the game runs well on high-end systems but struggles on mid-range or lower-end hardware.

Graphical and visual problems: Players report various graphical issues, such as lighting effects causing eye strain, poor visual quality, and texture problems. Some also mention that the game's visuals do not justify the performance cost.

Recommendations

Recommended for Nioh fans: This game is highly recommended for fans of the Nioh series and action RPG enthusiasts. It offers a continuation of the series with depth, loot, and challenging gameplay similar to previous titles.

Highly recommended game: The game is highly recommended for both series fans and newcomers. It is worth playing and offers a great experience for those who enjoy the genre.

Try the demo first: Players are advised to try the demo first to check hardware compatibility and performance. This helps ensure that the game runs smoothly on their systems before purchasing.

Wait for patches: Some players suggest waiting for patches and optimization improvements before buying the game. This is especially recommended for those experiencing performance issues.

Good for beginners: The game is suitable for beginners to start familiarizing themselves with the series. It offers a great start for new players to get into the action RPG genre.

Platform notes

Steam Deck: The analysis of user feedback reveals significant issues with performance, optimization, crashes, and Steam Deck compatibility. While there are some positive reports, the majority of feedback highlights severe problems that impact the overall user experience negatively.