The review embargo for Nioh 3 has lifted, and critics are largely impressed with what Team Ninja has delivered. Early scores cluster around the eight out of 10 mark, with reviewers highlighting the game’s combat system as its strongest asset.
The biggest addition comes in the form of dual combat styles. Players can now switch between Samurai and Ninja approaches on the fly, each with separate gear sets and movesets. This expands the series’ already deep combat system with new tactical options during fights.
Team Ninja has also moved away from purely mission-based levels. Nioh 3 introduces “open field” areas that give players more freedom to explore between encounters. These zones aren’t full open world in the modern sense, but they change how players move through the game compared to previous entries.
The signature rapid combat remains intact. Nioh has always sat in a unique space between Soulslike stamina management and combo-focused action games, and the third entry continues that tradition. Reviewers note the difficulty curve starts gentler than expected but ramps up significantly as players progress.
Quality of life improvements are getting attention too. Auto-equip features now respect weight and agility preferences. Loot filters help manage the constant stream of gear drops. Players can set auto-sell and auto-disassemble rules at shrines, addressing one of the series’ longtime friction points.
The transmog system has been upgraded from Nioh 2. Players can now apply permanent cosmetic overrides earlier and more conveniently, though some gear remains locked to specific stances.
Performance varies wildly across systems
The technical side is where things get messy. PC performance reports range from smooth 60 FPS experiences to inconsistent frame pacing and drops even on high-end hardware. Some players report stable performance on mid-range cards like the RTX 3070, while others with RTX 4080 setups are seeing issues.
Cutscenes appear to run worse than gameplay for some users. Alt-tabbing can cause frame rate problems until players switch window modes. Co-op multiplayer has been flagged for causing slowdowns.
Reviewers haven’t emphasized these technical issues much, possibly because many received high-end review PCs. Team Ninja has a recent track record of rough launches with Rise of the Ronin, making the performance conversation especially relevant for prospective buyers.
