Love for RPG games is ubiquitous. With a goated queue of upcoming games, fans are highly anticipating the new genesis of the Nioh franchise, which is all set to roll out on February 6, 2026, on PlayStation and PC. Meanwhile, returning players speculate on Nioh 3 vs Nioh 2, praying for some drastic changes.
Though RPG games are quite difficult, those late-night grinding sessions and 10/10 ragebait by mid bosses are all we need to start again.
Allowing players to adjust gameplay to their creative playstyle and bizarre arsenal of weapons is the sole reason RPGs have a special place in our hearts.
Speaking of the Nioh franchise, the game did great in a genre dominated by giants like Elden Ring, Dark Souls, and Bloodborne. They didn’t just fight, but reserved a spot at the pinnacle of Soul-like games. If you are fond of the Sengoku era Japan and want to learn about legendary figures like Toyotomi Hideyoshi or Tokugawa Takechiyo, through a soul-like game, then Nioh 3 is your go-to.
Still, a prominent question arises in our minds: What are the drastic changes going to happen in Nioh 3? Will it be any different from Nioh 2 apart from the storyline?
What really is the Nioh Franchise?
If games like Ghost of Tsushima, Rise of Ronin, and Where Wind Meets have conquered your heart and mind, then you must complete Nioh and Nioh 2 before the release of Nioh 3, if not completed yet!
Developed by Team Ninja (also the developers of Ninja Gaiden), the lore takes place in the early 1500’s in the Sengoku era, Japan.
You’ll get a chance to play as William Adams, a foreign samurai who’s somehow stuck in the middle of the Japanese Civil War (ain’t this giving the feeling as Keanu Reeves’s movie: The Last Samurai). The simple catch is that Amrita, a golden spirit stone corrupt human desires and attracts yokai (demons from Japanese folklore).
Further in Nioh 2, a prequel which was released way back in 2020, players are allowed to continue the narrative as a half-human, half-yokai character named Hide, who can use powers like Yokai Shift. Moreover, the game appeal fans by depicting the time of Unifying Japan by Oda Nobunaga, a key historical figure in Japanese history.
Coming on Nioh 3, Team Ninja has decided to remain silent and has planned to drop a bombshell on February 6th, 2026. Reportedly, Tokugawa Takechiyo serves as the main character in Nioh 3. The narrative will take place in 1622, during the Edo period, when he faced (betrayal of the year) by his younger brother.
As per early hands-on reports and other reliable sources, you’ll get to see Tokugawa Takechiyo’s journey to reclaim the throne while confronting his brother Kunimatsu and other yokai-related chaos.
Nioh 3 vs Nioh 2 : Gameplay Changes and Warfare Evolution
Demo gameplay for Nioh 3 launched on January 29, 2026, and it was dope! All I could see was stunning visuals, a smoother yet more adaptive combat rhythm, fewer static pauses due to continuous style switching, and the Arts Proficiency Gauge.
Why Nioh 3 might become the new area boss? Due to its extensive storyline, and a new in-game feature which allows players to choose and play as both samurai and ninja. Compared to its predecessor, Nioh 3 is way better and has a lot of potential to beat other Soul-like games.
However, many fans around the globe are concerned that the upcoming giant might be a repaint of the original title, with fewer add-on features (Can’t deny the fact that mostly second and third iterations in Soul-like sequels are majorly repaints of their original work). Compared to Nioh 2, the third part seems to be more ambitious in both in-game mechanics and world-building. In addition, most of the elements have been highlighted to make the game more accessible for newcomers and casual players.
Will Nioh 3 Become the New Epitome in the RPG Community?
Based on demo impression, one of the most impactful changes, which I noticed as a returning player, is the dual-style combat system, which allows players to switch between samurai and ninja, thereby increasing the fluidity and adding more pace in combat mechanics.
Lastly, a major shift and a joyous moment for fans is that now we’ll be able to move freely and explore a large open world map. Players can now use Omnyo magic with ease as they are now bound with soul cores instead of their own tree (Speculative feature).
Fun Fact: Soul-like games are like those late-night cravings, as no matter how much these games obliterate us, we’ll go again and again, just to get overwhelmed.
Wrapping Up
Nioh 3 might be the game that can redesign the whole course of the Souls-like genre. It’s merely a blend of creativity, fast-paced combat, and an eye-pleasing world-building. However, I really want to see this game go head-to-head against Phantom Blade : Zero (A pure cinema, isn’t it?t)!