Team Ninja is known for its own brand of action role-playing games, with Nioh 3 being the latest in the studio’s portfolio.
The third game in the series is off to a strong start with critics, with both Opencritic and Metacritic currently listing an 86 metascore for the PS5 version, based on an overwhelmingly positive review mix.
A lot of this praise is centered on Team Ninja delivering a logical expansion on the Nioh without ditching what made the first two games work.
Nioh 3 moved away from the old mission-based system into more familiar open-field flow, with exploration feeding progression through shrines, bases, Crucible objectives, collectibles, and other activities. Lots of critics highlight how the game’s time-spanning setup helps keep environments feeling varied across different eras.
The open-field design itself, however, drew some criticism. Several critics say exploration can turn repetitive over time, with the same-ish activities repeating across periods and side quests that feel like filler rather than memorable stories. Even reviewers who like the shift still point out recurring enemies and reused assets.
Where every reviewer agrees that Nioh 3 shines in is the combat. Critics describe it as the series’ most complete, most flexible iteration yet. It’s still as brutally demanding as ever, but has more ways to approach encounters. A big reason is the game’s dual-style system, letting players swap between a heavier Samurai style and a faster Ninja style with different strengths and weaknesses. New mechanics also fit in nicely with this stance-based approach.
The story is viewed largely as being an afterthought. Nioh never really reached narrative heights that some of its genre rivals did, and Nioh 3 isn’t an exception either. It essentially just exists to frame the main character being there and doing the things they’re doing, with not much depth or payoff. Still, with Nioh 3 being such a gameplay and systems-heavy game, many agree that this is a minor issue.
Another issue that many have noted is the game’s performance, both on PC and PS5. Lategame frame drops are present on both platforms, with some weird texture pop-ins and visual bugs, along with a tired-looking visual style overall that shows the engine’s age.
Nioh 3 launches on PS5 and PC on Feb. 6, with PC unlock timing varying by region.
