Multiplat Official Nioh 3 Discussion (06 Feb 2026)

[Valhoven]

Downloaded and played the demo.

Holy ****. Masterpiece incoming. Style-shifting + burst guard are so sick and so was the spirit guardian summon ATK animations; looking over the skill trees, combat synergies looking deep AF.

The new map and compass feature are great and precisely the tools needed to bridge the old and new game design. Looking forward to exploration.

Team Ninja alpha build is literally tighter, more polished than most games at launch these days. These guys just get it.



Love the unique PS carousel music when hovering title, too.

 

[method115]

Hell ya bro. Splitstaff - Might Monk build for life.

I tried the split staff a bit but the Glaive feels so damn good I had to go with that. I tried the odachi and it looks cool but being slow has never been my style in souls games. I got the first boss down and it was easier then I thought it was going to be. Turning into a Yokai and the parry mechanic make the game a lot easier than the first one.

I'm loving all the changes they made in Nioh. Even the tone is way different and I like it.

 

[KidBaize]

Downloaded and played the demo.

Holy ****. Masterpiece incoming. Style-shifting + burst guard are so sick and so was the spirit guardian summon ATK animations; looking over the skill trees, combat synergies looking deep AF.

The new map and compass feature are great and precisely the tools needed to bridge the old and new game design. Looking forward to exploration.

Team Ninja alpha build is literally tighter, more polished than most games at launch these days. These guys just get it.

View attachment 1097874

Love the unique PS carousel music when hovering title, too.

Did you finish it already?

After the tutorial I went exploring and wandered into a crucible boss arena and when I died it shrank my health bar, like being soul sucked and losing a few levels in Demon Souls. Hopefully it's not permanent.

It's going to take me a while to get used to style shifting and only having the ki pulse in samurai style. Feels weird after the first two games.

 

[Blayt7hh]

I have to say I was a little bit blindsided by this since the explicitly said they were done after Nioh 2. It’s great news though- I loved the first two games. The second one is the most fun souls game to date imo.

Seems like the character creator is gone. That parts a little sad

 

[Zazen]

I have to say I was a little bit blindsided by this since the explicitly said they were done after Nioh 2. It’s great news though- I loved the first two games. The second one is the most fun souls game to date imo.

Seems like the character creator is gone. That parts a little sad

There is a character creator

 

[KidBaize]

Ok this game is wicked. I still switch styles accidentally all the time but the combat and skills are fun. Not sure how much is left but I think I've done everything up to the big crucible before the castle so I must be getting close to the end. Pretty big demo.

 

[Valhoven]

Ok this game is wicked. I still switch styles accidentally all the time but the combat and skills are fun. Not sure how much is left but I think I've done everything up to the big crucible before the castle so I must be getting close to the end. Pretty big demo.

B, I’m getting Elden Ring vibes. 2026 GOTY possible. Not done with demo (seems big) and you’re farther than me.

The shadow decoy instead of pulse for ninja style definitely shakes combat rhythm up but once settled in, the feeling of mastery we get over these subsystems and how Team Ninja melds them all so well is what makes journeys like this deep, memorable.

Been thinking about rebinding keys for launch because R1 hold/tap for loot/collect is a strange one. I’m old-school and always invert L-R bumpers like back in the day so R1 is fire, for example.

 

[KidBaize]

B, I’m getting Elden Ring vibes. 2026 GOTY possible. Not done with demo (seems big) and you’re farther than me.

The shadow decoy instead of pulse for ninja style definitely shakes combat rhythm up but once settled in, the feeling of mastery we get over these subsystems and how Team Ninja melds them all so well is what makes journeys like this deep, memorable.

Been thinking about rebinding keys for launch because R1 hold/tap for loot/collect is a strange one. I’m old-school and always invert L-R bumpers like back in the day so R1 is fire, for example.

I would love to have quick and strong attack on R1 and R2 so I can play unlocked against mobs but it screws up switching stances and ki pulsing. Nioh has so many inputs. You almost need an Edge controller.

 

[SwamiLeoni]

I tried the split staff a bit but the Glaive feels so damn good I had to go with that. I tried the odachi and it looks cool but being slow has never been my style in souls games. I got the first boss down and it was easier then I thought it was going to be. Turning into a Yokai and the parry mechanic make the game a lot easier than the first one.

I'm loving all the changes they made in Nioh. Even the tone is way different and I like it.

I was a fan of all the weapons, but I loved the Might Monk build. It was just oozing style. Ki Pulse makes weapon variety so much fun no matter what you're using. Probably one of the best combat mechanics of all time.

 

[method115]

I was a fan of all the weapons, but I loved the Might Monk build. It was just oozing style. Ki Pulse makes weapon variety so much fun no matter what you're using. Probably one of the best combat mechanics of all time.

I really need to get the ki pulse down it's very hard for me. I get so wrapped up in watching the enemy and looking for dodging\attack moments that I forget to ki pulse. Was also an issue for me in Nioh 1 but it seems much more important in 2.

 

[SwamiLeoni]

I really need to get the ki pulse down it's very hard for me. I get so wrapped up in watching the enemy and looking for dodging\attack moments that I forget to ki pulse. Was also an issue for me in Nioh 1 but it seems much more important in 2.

I would focus the majority of my time mastering Ki Pulse. It's what unlocks so much of the advanced combat. It extends attack combos, saves you from gassing out and you can switch stances mid-attack. Not to mention the defense aspects of it. See if you can find some tips online. I'm sure there are some good ones out there.

 

[Zazen]

B, I’m getting Elden Ring vibes. 2026 GOTY possible. Not done with demo (seems big) and you’re farther than me.

The shadow decoy instead of pulse for ninja style definitely shakes combat rhythm up but once settled in, the feeling of mastery we get over these subsystems and how Team Ninja melds them all so well is what makes journeys like this deep, memorable.

Been thinking about rebinding keys for launch because R1 hold/tap for loot/collect is a strange one. I’m old-school and always invert L-R bumpers like back in the day so R1 is fire, for example.

The game is actually not true open world like Elden Ring and this is coming directly from the devs. I imagine what they mean is that each stage or region will take place in a different year and we’ll probably get 3 to 5 different areas to explore with a boss area. The demo is one region but once the boss is defeated I think we’ll go to a completely different region with another set of areas. They called it an “open-field” game.

 

[KidBaize]

I would focus the majority of my time mastering Ki Pulse. It's what unlocks so much of the advanced combat. It extends attack combos, saves you from gassing out and you can switch stances mid-attack. Not to mention the defense aspects of it. See if you can find some tips online. I'm sure there are some good ones out there.

Players who have mastered flux and flux 2 can chain combos together indefinitely. They bully everything including bosses, even with unupgraded weapons. Ki pulsing allows for the most aggressive gameplay I've ever seen.

 

[KidBaize]

Thought I was almost done yesterday but it was more like halfway. This demo is huge.

 

[KidBaize]

Finished the alpha finally. Did all missions, all exploration and all bosses. Loved it and can't wait for the full release next year. It's very similar to Sekiro in that you can deflect almost everything except for red attacks which you're supposed to burst break.

There's a demo completion bonus that becomes available in the main game. Probably a unique armor set.

Going to replay Nioh 2 now.

 

[GarbageGuy]

Nioh 2 is the soulslike game i put the most hours in ever

i would get lost for hours in the multiplayer

main gripe with both games are the levels redundancy but aside from that, its close to a perfect game for my liking

 

[KidBaize]

Nioh 2 is the soulslike game i put the most hours in ever

i would get lost for hours in the multiplayer

main gripe with both games are the levels redundancy but aside from that, its close to a perfect game for my liking

Nioh 3 is more open worldish so hopefully no more reusing levels only backwards like in the first two games. And you can fast travel between shrines which is a definite improvement.

I decided to do another playthrough of the demo and the more I play the better it gets. The increased mobility options, deflect mechanic, open field concept and technical improvements might make this the best in the series. The new enemies are pretty fun too.

 

[SwamiLeoni]

By the time I got a chance to play the demo the timeframe for it was over. I had no idea that even existed. Bummed.

 

[Zazen]

By the time I got a chance to play the demo the timeframe for it was over. I had no idea that even existed. Bummed.

I’m glad it’s gone. I wasn’t making much progress in other games. Played roughly eight hours. Just wish it was out now

 

[Jonny Ninja]

I thought the demo was great. The open world seems to work, I’m fine with the various changes and so glad there’s a jump button now. I love that you can deflect most things now, rather than just humanoid enemies. Combat felt just as good as Nioh 2 but playing this alongside khazan, I think I actually prefer Khazans combat system