How hard is Nioh 3? How long does it take to beat? Koei Tecmo’s brutal action-RPG is finally here, and while we’ve really enjoyed our time with it, we’d be lying if we said it’s a game for all kinds of players.
Though Nioh 3 is a souls-like in its structure and when it comes to many of its core systems, it also has plenty of more traditional “character action game” DNA. Combos are much more important, the focus on different stances and complex toolkits is evident from the get-go, and there are many (perhaps too many) progression and dense build customisation systems to figure out and make the most of.
How Long Is Nioh 3?
- Nioh 3 can be beaten in roughly 40 hours, but those looking to 100% the game should expect a substantially longer journey.
In my experience, Nioh 3 is one of the bigger souls-likes, but it’s not as massive as Elden Ring. Whereas FromSoftware’s masterpiece went truly epic with its scope and massive open world, Nioh 3 is far more restrained and traditional in spite of its switch to an “open field” structure.
Open-ended exploration plays a huge role in the threequel, and we highly encourage that you try to at least visit every area in each of the game’s maps/eras, as loot is abundant and boosting the meta progression beyond levels really helps. Depending on how thorough you are, Nioh 3 will feel longer or just the right length for its epic tale. Regardless, it’s hard to get lost, as the game’s approach to its main path is utterly straightforward when compared to other games in the souls-like subgenre.
How Hard Is Nioh 3?
Make no mistake, Nioh 3 is a difficult game. You will die a lot, especially early on, since figuring out the threequel’s more unique quirks and more demanding and fast-paced combats can take a while.
After the early hours, however, I’d say Nioh 3 doesn’t feel as brutal as its predecessors and other giants of the souls-like subgenre. You’ll often be pushed to your limits, and like in many character action games (or FromSoftware’s Sekiro), you’ll be forced to learn the major bosses’ attack patterns to come out on top. Having more tools at your disposal means the game will also demand more actual skill from the players over high stats and good equipment.
The biggest help is that co-op with both bots and real players is generous (you can even progress through the entire game alongside another player) and doesn’t require too much of a farming grind even though it consumes items. The open-field structure also means you can just wander off in a different direction and clear enemy camps and smaller bosses while grabbing extra loot and boosting stats and skills.
There’s always a new tool to unlock or more XP to find without looking too hard, so Nioh 3 is ultimately as hard as you want it to be and punishes players that rush through its eras. Don’t expect bosses to gift you wins only because you made the numbers go up though.
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