Screenshots & trailers
Review sentiment over time
Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.
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 (OpenCritic) | – | 85 | 200 |
| Creator reviews (2 tracked) | – | 98 | 4 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 78% | 73 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 82 | 250 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 46% | 49 | 300 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Aug 18, 2026) · 300 reviews sampled · 221 total reviews in window · weighted 107.4 up / 124.8 down · computed 1h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (195)
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.
- 85
“Nioh 3 is probably the best part of the entire Nioh trilogy. It is a very dynamic action RPG that diversifies the whole adventure by mixing two different fighting styles. Combined with diverse visuals and great sound, it simply gives us a very good game.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“As someone who has lived through the details of this series since its beginning, I can say that Nioh 3 is the pinnacle of its own combat style. The genius addition of the 'Samurai and Ninja' modes was not just a numerical increase; rather, it redefined the game and provided massive content that makes you sink into its details for hours. The transition to 'Open Arenas' was a successful decision that maintained the design identity while giving us greater freedom of movement without the constraints of tedious menus. However, the criticism remains in its persistence with the same mistakes; the storytelling is still dull, and the excessive gear system turns over time from a reward into a burden that interrupts the harmony of play. In short: if you loved the previous installments, this part offers you everything you adored but in a newer, larger, and more vibrant mold.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Unlike many developers who attempted to replicate FromSoftware's formula, Team NINJA successfully blended those ideas with its own design solutions from previous titles, allowing Nioh to stand out from the very beginning. Nioh 3 also feels closer than ever to Ninja Gaiden, thanks to the effective integration of both "samurai" and "ninja" playstyles. This is a worthy continuation of the series, one that can be confidently recommended to both longtime fans and anyone who appreciates hardcore action games.”
read full review ↗ - 100
“Team Ninja’s Soulslike title surprises with a shift toward an open-world setting that not only suits it well but feels like a natural evolution for the series. Nioh 3 is a great game that knows how to adapt to the realities of the industry without losing sight of its core essence. It’s yet another example of Team Ninja’s ability to adapt and deliver wonderfully agile and precise combat systems.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“With so many Souls-like action RPGs being released at a steady clip, there seems to be an imperative, fair or not, for each one to justify its own existence. It’s not like we’re at a shortage of From Software-produced options as it is, and these remain the standard by which their would-be peers are measured. So with every new release the same question arises: “What makes this one worth my time?” But with its exceptionally detailed craftsmanship and an irresistible conceptual twist, Nioh 3 doesn’t let the question linger for very long.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“Nioh 3 is a confident continuation of the series that preserves its identity while expanding upon it. It’s not a game for everyone; it requires patience, a willingness to learn, and a desire to experiment. However, if you embrace its rules, you’ll find a complex action RPG with deep systems, intense combat, and an atmosphere that blends history with dark mythology.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Nioh 3 is a must-have for all fans of Team Ninja and previous Nioh games. However, if you're not yet a fan nothing here will change that.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Nioh 3 is a mechanically rich action RPG that refines the series’ trademark combat while experimenting with a semi-open structure. Its strongest moments deliver exceptional flow and mastery, though repetitive objectives and technical issues hold it back. Not the series’ peak, but still one of the most satisfying skill-driven RPGs available.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“The leap that the NiOh series has made from game to game bodes well for the future. NiOh 3 can already compete with the best representatives of the soulslike genre. The exploration itself may not yet have that sense of wonder that was present in Elden Ring, and the recycling of enemies is a bit of a nuisance, but I consider NiOh 3 to be the best installment in the series, and its heart, the combat system, really shines here.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“It does maintain ferocious, ruthless, fast-paced action combat, punctuated by blood-pumping compositions, and it has a generally competent story and world built around it. Just don’t expect it to excel in every dimension.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Nioh 3 is another Team Ninja home run when it comes to action combat in video games, this time with a new system that lets players choose between the strength of a samurai and the agility of a ninja, unfortunately it's held back by a middling narrative and my experience was dragged down by tons of crashes and bugs.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Overall Nioh 3 is a fantastic, action-packed, “Soulslike” that has changed up the formula enough to keep things extremely enjoyable. Yes you will die a lot and yes there’s a big learning curve here once again but I did find that the game onboards you a lot smoother this time around and players will be able to actually progress a lot easier than before thanks to the ability to play the game co-operatively with 2 others and being able to summon help from other players.”
read full review ↗
ZdobywcyGier.eu
Eternal Games
GameMAG
La Orden del Pixel
Slant Magazine
Gaming Professors
Jump Dash Roll
PLAY Zine
GRYOnline.pl
RPGamer
Fun Factor
Invision Community…and 183 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Nioh 3 Ver. 2.00.02 UpdateAug 21, 2026
- Nioh 3 Ver. 2.00.01 UpdateAug 18, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Nioh 3 Ver. 1.07 UpdateJun 11, 2026
- Nioh 3 Ver. 1.06 UpdateMay 25, 2026
- Nioh 3 Ver. 1.05 Update 2/2Apr 27, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Nioh 3 Ver. 1.05 Update 1/2Apr 27, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Nioh 3 Ver. 1.04.03 UpdateApr 2, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Update: Steam TroubleshootingMar 19, 2026
- Nioh 3 Ver. 1.04.02 UpdateMar 19, 2026
- Nioh 3 Ver. 1.04.01 UpdateMar 11, 2026
- Nioh 3 Ver. 1.04 UpdateMar 10, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Nioh 3 Ver. 1.03.04 UpdateFeb 27, 2026
- Nioh 3 Ver. 1.03.03 UpdateFeb 25, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Nioh 3 Ver. 1.03.02 UpdateFeb 17, 2026
- Nioh 3 Ver. 1.03.01 UpdateFeb 13, 2026
- Nioh 3 Ver. 1.03 UpdateFeb 6, 2026
- Nioh 3 demo Ver. 1.02.02 UpdateFeb 5, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Nioh 3 demo Ver. 1.02.01 UpdateJan 30, 2026