Pixel Sundays: Nioh – How the franchise evolves with Nioh 3
Today’s weekly Pixel Sundays article is about the Nioh franchise. Nioh is a Soulslike with a strong action focus. As a result, the games are faster and place a greater focus on complex combos during combat. Additionally, the games offer a robust loot and build system. Nioh is set in historical Japan during the Sengoku period, combined with Yokai, demons, and supernatural elements.
Summary
- The Roots of Nioh – Team Ninja between Ninja Gaiden and Soulslike
- Nioh – The first step into a brutal new world
- Nioh 2 – More freedom, more demons, more depth
- Combat System and Design Philosophy – Why Nioh plays differently
- Nioh 3 – Evolution instead of revolution
- The World of Nioh – History, Yokai and Japanese mythology
- The Future of the Franchise – Where is Nioh headed after part 3?
- Conclusion – Nioh as a unique action-RPG identity
The franchise offers a dark fantasy atmosphere, supported by real history with myths and legends. The franchise was developed by Team Ninja, which had extensive experience in the action genre. They never wanted to make Nioh as a Souls copy, but rather build their own identity and have a place alongside the Souls games.
The Roots of Nioh – Team Ninja between Ninja Gaiden and Soulslike
The Nioh games were developed by Team Ninja, one of Japan’s most influential action studios. The studio had made its reputation through uncompromisingly fast and technically demanding action games. Specifically, the Ninja Gaiden games, which are a prime example of reflex-based combat with high attack speed and merciless enemies. This design philosophy served as the foundation on which Nioh would later build. The first conceptual idea for Nioh originated in the mid-2000s, and it was originally planned as a historical samurai game.
The game had a very long development time for its era, with several restarts and direction changes. The developers struggled to find a clear identity between an action game and an RPG. Then Dark Souls was released and became an international success, leading to another internal realignment. They recognized the potential of a stamina-based combat game instead of pure button-mashing action. They decided to adopt some of the popular Soulslike elements, but it wasn’t a 1-to-1 copy. They combined the Souls approach with their strengths from Ninja Gaiden: speed, combos, precision, and offensive gameplay.
They developed their own enemy AI, which can quickly become exhausting. As a clear unique selling point, they introduced weapon stances. Additionally, there was a focus on loot, builds, and RPG systems inspired by action RPGs and Diablo. The goal was to create a game that appeals to both hardcore action fans and Souls players. Nioh was the result of years of iteration, experimentation, and stylistic self-discovery, eventually releasing in February 2017.
Nioh – The first step into a brutal new world
Nioh was considered a fresh start for Team Ninja in the action-RPG genre. The game was released on February 7, 2017, for PlayStation 4, with ports for PC and PlayStation 5 following later. With William Adams, the game offered an unusual protagonist for a samurai game. A Western main character was consciously chosen as a contrast to the Japanese setting, yet with real roots. William Adams was actually an English navigator who was the first Englishman to travel to Japan by ship and receive the title of samurai there. Players experience Japan in the Sengoku period from the perspective of an outsider. Additionally, William serves as a good identification figure for the Western audience. In the game, you fight against demons, humans, and Yokai.
The game features Ki as a central mechanical innovation. Ki is used as a resource in combat and is needed for attacks, blocks, evasive maneuvers, and special actions. This Ki system creates a significantly more aggressive gameplay flow compared to classic Soulslikes. The combat system in the game rewards precision, a sense of rhythm, and clean resource management. The game consciously avoids an open world in favor of a mission-based structure with clearly defined areas. This mission design allows for focused challenges and targeted balancing.
Side missions are used to recycle old areas. Additionally, there is a strong loot-oriented RPG system with clear influences from Diablo. There are weapons and armor with rarity levels, bonuses, and build synergies. Furthermore, the game offers high replay value through farming, optimization, and specialization. The game was praised for its deep combat system and challenge, though there was criticism regarding storytelling, mission repetition, and technical presentation.
Another unique mechanic in Nioh is the weapon stance, which goes beyond classic light and heavy attacks. Each weapon can be used in three stances that can be switched at any time during combat. Each stance changes range, damage, speed, and Ki consumption. The high stance is for slow and heavy attacks with high damage but also high Ki consumption. The mid stance is for a balanced relationship between attack and defense with good blocking efficiency, particularly effective against humanoid enemies. Finally, there is a low stance with fast, short attacks and low Ki consumption. This stance is best for dodging and is optimal for aggressive gameplay and hit-and-run tactics.
Nioh 2 – More freedom, more demons, more depth
Nioh 2 is the result of the further development of the first part. A custom, freely creatable character was chosen instead of a fixed main character, after the storytelling in the first part was not well received. This creates a stronger identification for players with their own samurai or Yokai warrior. There was a narrative approach as a prequel to the first part, embedded in the Sengoku period. This is joined by a stronger connection of historical figures with Japanese mythology. Yokai powers were introduced as a central gameplay mechanic.
A new mechanic is the Burst Counter, a new counter system against particularly dangerous attacks. These Burst Counters require timing, reactivity, and enemy knowledge. There are also three different types of Burst Counters, each with its own gameplay philosophy. The variety of enemies was also greatly expanded with more Yokai enemies, each having unique attack patterns and movement profiles. The mix of humanoid foes, monsters, and bosses was also adjusted. Additionally, the level design was improved with more complex areas and vertical elements.
In some aspects, the game has been made easier through better-placed checkpoints and fair difficulty balancing. The missions also feel more varied and less repetitive than in the predecessor. The story, environment, and enemy design are also more closely intertwined. Yokai Realms are newly rooted in the game as a mechanical and narrative element. The atmosphere is also denser and more consistent than in the predecessor. The community praises the greater playful freedom and depth in the game.
Combat System and Design Philosophy – Why Nioh Plays Differently
The basic design philosophy of Nioh and Nioh 2 is quite simple: it’s about creating an action-heavy Soulslike alternative with a combat system that focuses on active and offensive gameplay. The Nioh games offer a significantly higher attack speed with combos than, for example, Dark Souls. The selection of weapon classes, each with its own moveset, is also larger. Each weapon feels mechanically like its own subsystem. The three weapon stances provide a tactical basis for the combat system that sets it apart from other games.
In combat, everything depends on the combination of light and heavy attacks, skills, and the Ki Pulse. You must constantly manage your Ki, allowing for permanent decision-making during the fight. Gameplay progress is strongly tied to understanding the game rather than just level numbers, as you must first learn and understand the combos and enemies. There is little room for passive waiting or defensive “turtle” gameplay. Team Ninja wants you to be aggressive and control the opponent, not the other way around.
If you wish, you can infinitely customize and refine your build through the vast variety of skill trees and passive bonuses. Set bonuses are also vital for combat and your playstyle. Experienced players can do a lot of min-maxing, but for casual players, this is entirely optional. The loot system encourages experimentation and optimization. In every New Game Plus cycle, new enemy placements and mechanics await with increasing difficulty levels. Nioh thus positions itself as a hardcore game for system lovers.
Nioh 3 – Evolution instead of Revolution
Nioh 3 is the latest game in the series, released on February 6, 2026, for PC and PS5. The game is considered a seamless continuation of the series with a wealth of developments and improvements. Thanks to the new engine and current hardware, there are smooth animations, stronger performance, and detailed open areas. Unlike its predecessors, Nioh 3 offers larger, open areas to explore, moving away from strictly mission-based levels. In the game, you now switch between a Samurai and a Ninja fighting style. The Ninja style is for fast and agile combat, while as a Samurai, you perform heavy attacks and deal massive damage.
The skill system in Nioh 3 has also been redesigned. You can now expand your skill capacity, making builds even more individual. The game is praised by many as the best part of the series, especially due to tighter mechanics and the development of open levels. The levels now offer more vertical paths, shortcuts, and optional challenges. Additionally, progression is more finely tuned, and there are fewer harsh difficulty spikes than in earlier games. Side missions have been more strongly integrated into the gameplay narratively and mechanically. Players and critics already like the game, with 82% positive reviews on Steam after just a few days.
The World of Nioh – History, Yokai, and Japanese Mythology
The central trademark of the Nioh series is the close link between real Japanese history and dark fantasy. All parts are set in real historical epochs of Japan, primarily around the Sengoku period. You see historical power figures, warlords, and clans directly integrated into the plot. History is consciously distorted, not told as a documentary, so Yokai and other dark fantasy elements are added and change the story. The enemy design is based on classic Japanese folklore, legends, and Shinto beliefs. The Yokai embody forces of nature, human fears, and moral decay.
Fantasy elements overlay the history without completely displacing it, making it appealing to history fans in a fun way. The mythology is not explained but conveyed through gameplay. You learn about Yokai types through battles, boss mechanics, and areas without them being directly explained. Especially for Western players, Nioh acts as a cultural gateway. Across all parts, a consistent, independent dark fantasy world is created.
The Future of the Franchise – Where is Nioh going after Part 3?
With Nioh 3, the series reached a gameplay and technical peak in 2026. Team Ninja consciously speaks in interviews about a conclusion to the current development phase, not necessarily the end of the brand. For now, further post-launch patches are planned. Several DLCs are expected, similar to the predecessors. The DLCs will likely bring new regions, weapons, Yokai, and additional story chapters. The focus is traditionally on endgame content and new difficulty levels. Whether there will be a Nioh 4 in the future has not yet been confirmed, but given the high player numbers of the latest installment, it cannot be ruled out.
Conclusion – Nioh as an Independent Action RPG Identity
With Nioh, Team Ninja has successfully moved away from pure Souls comparisons and built a clearly recognizable identity of its own. The franchise combines uncompromising action, deep combat systems, and complex builds with Japanese history and mythology. Across Nioh, Nioh 2, and Nioh 3, there is a consistent evolution rather than radical breaks. Today, Nioh stands as a fixture in the action RPG genre and is primarily aimed at players who prioritize mechanical depth, learning curves, and system understanding over mere accessibility.
Hey, I’m Kilian, but online you’ll probably know me as “Tux1243.” I've been part of the team for almost two years now, always trying to keep you in the loop with the latest and coolest gaming news. I also have a huge passion for doing deep dives and detailed analyses of entire game series and franchises. I love getting to the bottom of things and exploring the little details and backstories that make game worlds so fascinating.
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absolutely gonna love Nioh, felt exactly how would feel first time playing Sheriko shadow die twice, enigmatic and oriental af.
game always called me, but I ain't the target for this. too little time to play hard games nowadays... disc: VocableEnd5
Great breakdown of what makes Nioh stand apart from other Soulslikes. You can really feel Team Ninja refining their identity over time, and Nioh 3 sounds like the perfect evolution rather than a reset.
NIOH 4 with a female character a main heroin would suits me. Can wish!
i didnt hear before for this game but it is actually very nice game, i wish i knew about it before