Nioh 3: Massive Changes SHOCK Fans! What Will Happen Next?!

Team Ninja's *Nioh* series carved out a significant space for itself in the Soulslike landscape, and it did so early on. Arguably, it became the best non-From Software take on the genre. The blend of fast-paced action and loot, a hallmark of the franchise, attracted a dedicated fanbase. We've seen Team Ninja apply that same formula to *Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty* and *Rise of the Rōnin*, with mixed results and a hint of formula fatigue. Thankfully, *Nioh 3* looks to be shaking things up, and it might be just what the series needs.

Nioh 3: Massive Changes SHOCK Fans! What Will Happ...

I recently had the opportunity to visit Koei Tecmo's San Francisco office and spend around four hours playing through mid-game sections of *Nioh 3*. I also got to chat with the principal leads working on the game. From what I experienced, plus what I learned from the team, it's clear they're aiming for a genuine evolution.

The story is set during Japan's Sengoku period, with players taking on the role of Tokugawa Takechiyo, a warrior destined to become the next Shogun. A classic setup, right? Well, Takechiyo's younger brother decides to spice things up by unleashing a horde of yokai against the country in an attempt to seize power. This transforms Japan into a demonic hellscape, and it's up to Takechiyo to set things right. Oh, and did I mention that time travel gets thrown into the mix? The story spans hundreds of years of feudal Japanese history. Wild.

Fumohiko Yasuda, game director and head of Team Ninja, told me that he felt the jump between *Nioh 1* and *2* "lacked" a certain something. He wanted *Nioh 3* to be a much bigger step forward. "When we wanted to do *Nioh 3*, I think I really wanted to make sure that we had something that had a new kind of gameplay as well as a new kind of gameplay experience, in addition to just evolving the action as well," Yasuda explained. It sounds like they really wanted to inject some fresh ideas into the core *Nioh* experience.

The biggest change in *Nioh 3* is the introduction of two distinct gameplay styles: Samurai and Ninja. For the demo, I used a pre-built character (customizable via the familiar character creator). The Samurai style is essentially classic *Nioh*. You've got your stances, your guardian spirits, and the fast-paced combat that relies on well-timed Ki Pulses to manage stamina. The Ninja style, on the other hand, emphasizes speed and evasion. The really cool part is that you can switch between the two on the fly. Timing a style switch just before an enemy attack triggers a "Burst Break," a powerful counterattack that also transitions you into the new style. It's a surprisingly fun and strategic mechanic. Yasuda mentioned that the Ninja style was inspired by another recognizable aspect of Japanese culture, further solidifying the game's identity.