Screenshots & trailers
How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (Metacritic) | – | 88 | 20 |
| Creator reviews (4 tracked) | – | 89 | 4 |
| All-time Steam reviews | – | – | 0 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 85 | 750 |
| Backloggd ratings | – | 69 | 750 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | – | – | 0 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 0 reviews sampled · 0 total reviews in window · weighted 0 up / 0 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (99)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 100
“Nioh got attention for its similarities to other titles, but it deserves to be remembered as its own special game, one that sees and raises the efforts presented by its inspirations. With fast and uncompromising combat, an engrossing economy of loot, and a mesmerizing artistic style, action-RPGs have rarely been this refined or this captivating.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“The game wears its influences on its sleeve, but also puts forth a Herculean effort toward surpassing them. ”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Nioh is a really challenging game. Sometimes, maybe even too much so. You have to be at the top of your game just to keep your head on your shoulders. So it's also the perfect example of whether a game's difficulty is just enough to announce the title as a "successful" one or not. Also, that's the reason that we can only recommend Nioh to the biggest hardcore gamers out there.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Nioh shines! The fighting system is satisfying, Diablo-like loot and character development motivate you to keep playing, and gameplay mechanisms reminiscent of Dark Souls complete the image of a really good game. It combines well-known elements but in the end becomes something else entirely.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“ For its rookie outing, Nioh shows a lot of promise and delivers on quite a bit of it. Its combat is unmatched and will carry it further than some of the more nitpicky complaints can bring it down. It's a fun game to learn, offering great incentives to explore and pore over its many intricacies. It may end up being a bit too long for its own good, but others may find this offers the replayability necessary to get that next piece of an armor set. If this is to be the foundation for a new series, which it absolutely should be, then the hard work is over and an interesting world just needs to be built around it. If it is to stand alone, then it at least does so with one of the finest combat systems ever created.”
read full review ↗ - 92
“Team Ninja has overcome the inevitable comparisons with Souls' series, with a game that shines on its own right. Diverse and enjoyable combat mechanics, great setting and that characteristic difficulty of the studio's games, Nioh is a strong candidate for one of the best games of 2017.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Nioh is about as approachable as a game of this ilk can be, and while that may offend the hardcore sensibilities of some Souls fans, it's a title that will likely appeal to many players who want a gameplay challenge but are turned off by the obtuse nature of Dark Souls' storytelling and the murky explanations of its mechanics. ”
read full review ↗ - 95
“At first glance Nioh could be perceived as a Dark Souls Clone because they share basic concepts like repetition, muscle memory, perseverance and a high tolerance to frustration. But after some time playing, the differences between the two are obvious and it becomes clear that Nioh has enough strength to stand alone with pride and could even be the responsible for sparking a new wave of games with similar mechanics. Nioh is an intelligent, inspired, polished and exciting game that will keep you elated for hours on end. It takes a proven formula and improves on it in every aspect. It is that good. We might be looking at a game of the year here and it will surely be a beloved game for a niche of people who like difficult, demanding games.”
read full review ↗ - 95
“Nioh is a culmination of some of my favorite mechanics in video games. The incredibly fast paced, twitch based reflex combat of Ninja Gaiden. The meticulous strategy and sense of discovery of Souls and the loot/equipment upgrade system of Diablo. It’s as though this was a game made specifically for me. If that wasn’t enough, Nioh manages to become more than the sum of its parts as something truly exceptional with an identity of its own, one that I simply can’t put down and it has secured a spot as the top contender in my game of the year list thus far.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Nioh is a surprise delight. In a world of clones, it's great to find a Dark Souls homage that manages to be its own game and stands on its own merits. It's fast-paced, fun, brutal and full of enough mechanics and gameplay features that you could play it for months. You don't need to be a Souls fan to enjoy Nioh'sexcellent gameplay. The story is a little thin, and the environments aren't always great, but if you're looking for fast-paced samurai action or seeking a challenge, Nioh is the game for you.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Nioh offers long hours of satisfying gameplay - in very specific form, interesting mostly for fans of the Souls series. Great combat system and constant challenge keeps us engaged, and the adventure is well worth the time, despite lackluster story and lore.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Regardless how you choose to progress, the immense variety in environments is reflected in the thoughtful pacing of what will be an 80 hour playthrough for many. Nioh doesn't escalate in intensity with every subsequent mainline mission, although the endgame is rightfully brutal. Instead, there's a rhythmic ebb and flow as you advance through the story.”
read full review ↗
The Jimquisition
Slant Magazine
PLAY Zine
GRYOnline.pl
RPGamer
Push Square
LevelUp
ZTGD
Worth Playing
Eurogamer
GameSpot…and 87 more tracked reviews.