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Nioh
Critics Consensus (Play It)
Nioh’s distinctly Japanese setting, demanding difficulty, and inspired combat come together to create one of the best action RPGs in recent memory.
Game Info
In Nioh, players will traverse war-torn Japan as William, a blonde-haired swordsman whose background as a fierce warrior and seasoned knowledge of the blade allows him to survive in the demon-plagued land of the samurai. Known as Yokai, these demons inhabit a number of dangerous locations and lie in wait in the shadows to ambush unsuspecting victims. Players will also face off with other samurai in supernatural sword battles and intense, multi-target engagements offering a level of difficulty that will truly test even the most hardened samurai’s skills, patience, and strategy.
0%
Recommended
0%
Average Score
Total Reviews: 93
Nom: GOTY, Best RPG (2017), Editors' Choice
Gold TIER
47% of scored reviews fell within the range of 86 to 92 / 100
RELEASE DATES:
GENRES:
- Action, RPG
DEVELOPER(S):
- Team Ninja
PUBLISHER(S):
- Koei Tecmo Games
SERIES/FRANCHISE:
- Nioh
GAME MODES:
- Multiplayer, Single player
Where to Play
WHERE TO PLAY
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RATING & REVIEWS
Ratings & Reviews
93
Critic Reviews
89
Average Critic Score
Where to Play
CRITIC REVIEWS
All reviews are from professional critics. Learn more about the critics VSG aggregates.
High Score
100%
Median Score
90%
Low Score
60%
Jeffrey Matulef (Eurogamer)
[Date Unavailable]
Recommended
“This delicious blend of Ninja Gaiden and Dark Souls isn’t quite a masterpiece, but it’s a stirring return to form for Team Ninja.”
Lucas Sullivan (GamesRadar+)
[Date Unavailable]
4/5 stars
“Though it doesn’t outshine Dark Souls, Nioh’s distinctly Japanese setting, thoughtful level design, and demanding difficulty lead to some supremely satisfying payoffs.”
John Learned (USgamer)
[Date Unavailable]
4/5 stars
“Nioh is Koei Tecmo and Team Ninja taking a more measured approach to what they do best, and is a surprisingly feature-heavy and battle-focused heir to the Soulsborne method. But it ultimately stands on its own, and is a worthy addition to any Action RPG library.”
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Score Ranges
Read the Reviews (93 total)
| Outlet | Author | Score | Date | Quote | Read |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3DNews | Денис Щенников | 8 / 10 | 02-10-2017 | Nioh is a great samurai action-RPG. It takes the best parts from Dark Souls, Ninja Gaiden and Onimusha. Nioh truly shines in battles, which are fascinating even after dozens of hours. | Read review |
| ACG | Jeremy Penter | Recommended | 02-08-2017 | Video Review | Read review |
| Areajugones | Javi Mañas | 8.7 / 10 | 02-02-2017 | Nioh aims to be the best action RPG of this year. Featuring a great combat system and beautifully designed maps and bosses, this game will be a challenge for all the experienced players of this genre. | Read review |
| Ars Technica | Steven Strom | Recommended | 02-06-2017 | Nioh makes no bones about standing in the shadows of giants, but it extends and polishes the Dark Souls formula so much that it manages to shine just as brightly. Buy it. | Read review |
| Atomix | Emilio Reyes | 91 / 100 | 02-06-2017 | Nioh is impressive in a lot of ways offering us beautiful challenging levels and a deep customizable experience. Even with the comparisions with Souls franchise, Nioh is a tremendous fun title full of personality, Team Ninja developed a memorable game with a brilliant combat system and solid gameplay mechanics | Read review |
| Attack of the Fanboy | Mike Guarino | 4.5 / 5 stars | 02-02-2017 | Team Ninja took their time to ensure that Nioh was as good as it could possibly be, and that time wasn’t wasted. The finished product is a fantastic action RPG that may borrow a lot from the Souls series, but nevertheless adds plenty of great twists to the formula to allow it to stand proudly on its own. | Read review |
| BaziCenter | Hamed Mohhamd Pour | 9 / 10 | 02-24-2017 | Being inspired by games like Dark Souls, Ninja Gaiden, and Onimusha, Nioh brings neat ideas to the table and can be considered as one of the most well-defined titles and without a doubt, one of the best action role-playing games of the gen. | Read review |
| Cerealkillerz | Gabriel Bogdan | 9.5 / 10 | 02-01-2017 | NioH surpasses all expectations and offers the optimal mix out of the previous Team Ninja titles and the Dark Souls series. | Read review |
| CGMagazine | Brendan Quinn | 9 / 10 | 02-02-2017 | Team Ninja knocks it out of the park with their take on Samurai Dark Souls. | Read review |
| Chalgyr’s Game Room | Robert Risdon | 9 / 10 | 12-11-2017 | For all of the success of KOEI TECMO and Team NINJA’s Nioh it seems too often that it is brushed aside as “Dark Souls with Samurai” which is a criminal understatement given how good Nioh is. | Read review |
| Cheat Code Central | Patrick Tretina | 3 / 5 stars | 02-08-2017 | Do yourself a favor and pass on this compilation of recycled concepts and frustrating gameplay. | Read review |
| COGconnected | Rory Wood | 95 / 100 | 02-09-2017 | But know this; Nioh is an incredible action RPG game that should not be missed. | Read review |
| Critical Hit | Umar Bastra | 9 / 10 | 02-21-2017 | Nioh is an absolutely engaging game, that’s soul-crushing, yet addictive and satisfying. Nioh continued to impress to the very end, delivering an enthralling experience that’s challenging, but fair in its execution. | Read review |
| Cubed3 | Gabriel Jones | 9 / 10 | 02-13-2017 | It’s almost shocking that Nioh turned out as well as it did. While Team Ninja is an exceptional talent, they took a pretty huge risk in crafting this game. It takes a lot effort to develop a polished 3D action game, let alone one that relies heavily on RPG elements such as levelling and equipment. Thankfully, they managed to put out a winner. Every single one of the game’s multitude of sub-systems co-exists with one another in perfect harmony. There is a consistent feeling of joy thanks to the phenomenal combat and acquisition of sweet gear. Popping open a demon to see colour-coded weapons and armour pour out of its lifeless body like candy from a piñata is actually fun again. | Read review |
| Daily Mirror | JC Suttun | 4 / 5 stars | 02-10-2017 | Make no mistake, this is a harsh, unrelenting title that will test your skill, and the level of challenge makes it difficult to recommend to everyone. Nioh is never unfair though, with its well-designed systems giving you the tools to survive in its beautifully brutal world. Stick with it, plant your feet and you’ll find your persistence rewarded with a thrilling and satisfying adventure. | Read review |
| Destructoid | Chris Carter | 9 / 10 | 02-02-2017 | With its emphasis on challenging combat and light storytelling elements that are at times bordering on parody (in a good way), Nioh feels like a true successor to the Ninja Gaiden series and fills a nice void that Souls left behind. Did Team Ninja ever leave? Whatever the case might be, it’s back. | Read review |
| Digiato | Pouya Pournasir | 87 / 100 | 03-13-2017 | Ni-Oh is the most unpredictable gift for PS4 gamers that fascinates Every Souls-Borne fan and everyone who loves to die a lot! combining Ninja Gaiden’s Hack N Slash gameplay and Dark Souls mechansim is something every hardcore gamer should experience in his or her life. | Read review |
| Digital Chumps | Steven McGehee | 9 / 10 | 01-23-2017 | Nioh surprised me in several ways, all of them good. It feels like a bit of a sleeper title at launch that I think is going to catch a lot of people off guard, but if you have any interest in this niche genre or are a fan of Team Ninja’s, Nioh is definitely worth checking out. | Read review |
| Digital Trends | Michael Rougeau | 4 / 5 stars | 02-08-2017 | Nioh is a shockingly well-made game considering its troubled development history. It builds on the foundation laid by Dark Souls in interesting ways, while adding its own narrative and mechanical flavors. And though it can be punishingly difficult, it also gives you ample tools with which to overcome its challenges, leaving you feeling empowered in the end. | Read review |
| Digitally Downloaded | Matt Sainsbury | 5 / 5 stars | 02-08-2017 | Nioh plays well. It eschews the control setup that the Souls games popularised for something a little more like what we’re used to from Koei Tecmo | Read review |
| DualShockers | Giuseppe Nelva | 9 / 10 | 02-02-2017 | If you approach NiOh with the right mindset, all the frustration due to the ruthless level of challenge will turn into satisfaction when you overcome each obstacle. If you want to feel like a true samurai mastering the complex ways of or Japanese warfare, and you’re willing to pay the blood price for it, this is your game. | Read review |
| Easy Allies | Ben Moore | 4.5 / 5 stars | 02-11-2017 | Video Review | Read review |
| EGM | Mollie L Patterson | 9 / 10 | 02-08-2017 | You’ll go into Team Ninja’s latest project thinking it’s Dark Souls with samurais and ninjas, but come out knowing it to be its own unique experience. Nioh is an enthralling adventure, filled with great combat, characters, monsters, and locations, and only really stumbles when it tries to be a little too much like other games out there. | Read review |
| Eurogamer | Jeffrey Matulef | Recommended | 02-02-2017 | This delicious blend of Ninja Gaiden and Dark Souls isn’t quite a masterpiece, but it’s a stirring return to form for Team Ninja. | Read review |
| Fextralife | Fexelea | 9.5 / 10 | 02-03-2017 | Nioh is brilliant. It takes some of the best elements of old school gaming such as level design, customization and layout and mixes it perfectly with modern action combat and online components. In the middle is a timeless loot and upgrade system that adds hours of tinkering. Team Ninja has packed a ton of content into this game, almost to a fault. The amount of things you can do and engage in is almost overwhelming, and that is not including the subtle stats, stances, and the upcoming DLC and PvP. 2017 is just getting underway, but Nioh has already made its case for Game of the Year. | Read review |
| Forbes | Erik Kain | 9.5 / 10 | 02-08-2017 | Nioh is a fantastic Samurai action-RPG with excellent Dark Souls inspired combat, multiplayer options and tons of content. Not for the faint of heart. Boss fights can be as tedious as they are challenging. | Read review |
| Game Informer | Daniel Tack | 9 / 10 | 02-02-2017 | A dazzling mix of challenging boss encounters, terrifying enemies, and freedom to engage in side-missions and multiplayer create a dynamite fusion of intense fun | Read review |
| Game Rant | Dalton Cooper | 5 / 5 stars | 02-06-2017 | Nioh combines the stiff challenge of Dark Souls, the atmosphere of Onimusha, and the loot farming of Diablo to create an intense experience that’s hard to put down. | Read review |
| Game Revolution | Jonathan Leack | 4.5 / 5 stars | 02-06-2017 | Although inspired by greatness, Nioh is a superb game in its own right. Its test of precision and timing strays from the accessibility of most modern games, reminding us all what the thrill of overcoming obstacle feels like. While not everyone will agree with its hard mode approach to design, its combat system is well-crafted enough to win everyone over. This samurai tale might not be so simple, but it’s a legendary one that won’t soon be forgotten. | Read review |
| GameCrate | Nate Hohl | 8.5 / 10 | 02-06-2017 | Much like From Software’s Souls games and Team Ninja’s previous Ninja Gaiden efforts, Nioh was clearly designed with a very specific sort of gamer in mind, namely a very patient one who doesn’t mind having to constantly learn from their mistakes. If you find enjoyment in the punishing difficulty of such games and you want to delve into a title which could easily suck up hours upon hours of your gaming time, Nioh will certainly not disappoint. | Read review |
| GameMAG | KOZIK | 9 / 10 | 02-24-2017 | Now we have a wonderful Action/RPG, able to draw Soulsborne and Ninja Gaiden fans’ attention for hundreds of hours and leave tons of positive memories in their souls. | Read review |
| Gameplanet | Chris Brown | 10 / 10 | 02-08-2017 | Nioh is a triumph. It stands head and shoulders above every other title in the genre, even eclipsing its obvious inspiration. Team Ninja is not only back, but it has thrown down the gauntlet, and only time will tell who’s up for the challenge. | Read review |
| GamePro | Tim-Philipp Hödl | 86 / 100 | 02-10-2017 | Nioh encourages and challenges the player through its complex combat system and also rewards the player handsomely for the efforts. | Read review |
| Gamers Heroes | Johnny Hurricane | 9 / 10 | 02-16-2017 | Nioh is one of those games people will be talking about all year. Bringing gripping combat, ghastly bosses, and an amazing gear system, Team Ninja hits a home run with Nioh. | Read review |
| GameSkinny | Rango the Mercenary | 9 / 10 | 12-21-2017 | For all it’s worth, Nioh is a must-have for any PS4 collection. | Read review |
| GameSpew | Richard Seagrave | 10 / 10 | 02-17-2017 | In no uncertain terms, Nioh is something special. It’s one of those rare games that surpasses expectations, taking the best elements from a variety of genre-defining titles whilst sprinkling in a handful of its own ideas. | Read review |
| GameSpot | Miguel Concepcion | 9 / 10 | 02-08-2017 | By adapting the Dark Souls formula to the ways of the bushido, we find Team Ninja at the top of their game. | Read review |
| GamesRadar+ | Lucas Sullivan | 4 / 5 stars | 02-06-2017 | Though it doesn’t outshine Dark Souls, Nioh’s distinctly Japanese setting, thoughtful level design, and demanding difficulty lead to some supremely satisfying payoffs. | Read review |
| GameZone | Mike Splechta | Recommended | 02-02-2017 | There are clear inspirations taken from various games, and yet Nioh manages to do things a bit differently, and because of that, is able to stand on its own as a fun action game. | Read review |
| Gaming Nexus | Sean Cahill | 9 / 10 | 03-10-2017 | A stunning take on feudal Japan awaits players with a fresh style of leveling, a unique battle system, and a challenge that will make even the most hardened players question what they’re doing taking on this game. | Read review |
| GamingBolt | Pramath | 9 / 10 | 02-10-2017 | Thoroughly addictive, extremely exhilarating, and most of all, a whole lot of fun, Nioh is probably the finest example of its genre, and perhaps one of the best games of this generation. | Read review |
| GamingTrend | Christian DeCoster | 90 / 100 | 02-08-2017 | Nioh is easily the best action RPG I’ve played in some time. It may take some time to get into the swing of it’s melee combat, and the first level doesn’t make a good impression, but anyone looking for some engrossing hack-and-slash combat should pick this up with Nioh hesitation. | Read review |
| GBAtemp | Thomas Hugh | 9 / 10 | 02-15-2017 | Team Ninja now have a huge success on their hands with Nioh, and I can’t wait to see what comes next. Small refinements made here could see this as the new king of Amrita. | Read review |
| Geeks Under Grace | Joe Morgan | 7.8 / 10 | 03-23-2017 | Nioh is a fantastic Dark Souls-styled game that gives players a more accessible way to approach the genre while handily establishing itself as a potent newcomer to watch in the future. Japanese myth, culture, and history are also fun, interesting, wonderfully executed boons to the budding franchise. | Read review |
| God is a Geek | Chris White | Recommended | 02-02-2017 | Managing your Ki and your health, juggling all of your attacks, magic, and weaponry, and trying not to get killed for the millionth time is a thrill, full of genuinely incredible moments. | Read review |
| Guardian | Hirun Cryer | 4 / 5 stars | 02-17-2017 | Team Ninja’s unforgiving role-playing action adventure set in feudal Japan owes a debt to the Dark Souls series, but with a tone and narrative of its own | Read review |
| Hardcore Gamer | Charles Blades | 4 / 5 stars | 02-27-2017 | Despite these minor critiques, Nioh solidifies the status of roguelikes and their relevance in today’s gaming landscape. | Read review |
| IGN | Chloi Rad | 9.6 / 10 | 02-06-2017 | Nioh could well take over 100 hours if you set out to master its many side missions on top of its tough campaign, but it’s a challenge well worth taking. The way it builds on its most obvious inspirations with a highly refined combat system and an unexpectedly charming, yet gritty style all its own allows it to boldly carve out its own identity, standing as a shining example of what action RPGs can be. | Read review |
| IGN Italy | Gianluca Loggia | 8.8 / 10 | 02-02-2017 | Not the most polished game, but still the first great soulslike developed by a team which is not From Software. | Read review |
| IGN Spain | José L. Ortega | 8.2 / 10 | 02-02-2017 | Nioh is such a difficult game, especially by his bosses. If you are a patient and skilled player, you will enjoy a lot with this challenge. | Read review |
| Impulsegamer | Sean Warhurst | 4.3 / 5 stars | 02-20-2017 | I adored Nioh. Like, straight up marry an inanimate object adore. Is it my favourite Souls type game? Well, no, both Bloodborne and Demons Souls pip it at the post for me. Does it now reside comfortable among my top ten of all time? You betcha. | Read review |
| KnowTechie | Jonathan White | 10 / 10 | 02-14-2017 | I adored Bloodborne, and I really enjoyed all of the Souls games, but Nioh manages to scratch the itch that I didn’t even realize I had and truly raises the bar on this sub-genre. | Read review |
| Kotaku | Heather Alexandra | Recommended | 02-15-2017 | Nioh is one of the most memorable and competent action games in a long time. There’s a genuine speed to combat, and the mixture of stances, magic, and other options turns any battle into a violent crescendo of action. It rockets players from challenge to challenge, remaining consistently exciting throughout. | Read review |
| LevelUp | Rodrigo Muñozaltea | 9.5 / 10 | 02-10-2017 | At a first glance Nioh could be perceived as a Dask 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 of 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 hard, demanding games. | Read review |
| M3 | Anders Wollner | 9 / 10 | 02-02-2017 | It’s hard not to see Nioh as a Dark Souls with Japanese mythology. But as soon as you get used to the mechanics, Nioh has several features that make it unique. Aside from some less inspired stages, and a bit outdated graphics, this is a perfect action game – and one of the best there is in the genre. | Read review |
| Marooners’ Rock | Josh Pedroza | 9.5 / 10 | 02-16-2017 | For anyone who is a fan of the Souls games, this is an absolute must buy! | Read review |
| Metro GameCentral | GameCentral | 9 / 10 | 02-08-2017 | A perfect accompaniment to the SoulsBorne series, with plenty of unique ideas of its own and some of the best combat of the generation. | Read review |
| New Game Network | Tim Reid | 84 / 100 | 02-17-2017 | Nioh is a very impressive offering from Team Ninja, mostly thanks to the excellent combat and well-crafted main missions. From Software finally have some serious competition in the sub-genre they invented. | Read review |
| Next Gen Base | Andrew Beeken | 9 / 10 | 02-02-2017 | A more accessible yet still challenging take on the tried and tested Souls-like Action RPG, Nioh adds enough nuance and depth to the formula to make it feel fresh and provide a new challenge for players coming out of the back of last year’s Dark Souls 3. With a compelling story, bright visuals and new and interesting locales to visit, Nioh is a must have for Action RPG fans. | Read review |
| Niche Gamer | Michael Jordan | 8.5 / 10 | 03-14-2017 | Nioh is definitely worth the early frustration and the money to play through. | Read review |
| NZGamer | Keith Milburn | 9 / 10 | 02-07-2017 | Fast but measured combat, with enemies that demand respect. | Read review |
| Player2.net.au | James Swinbanks | Recommended | 03-07-2017 | The combat is tactile and purposeful and the story is one you’ll want to see through, but the grind to do so is long and frustrating one. It fails to take advantage of the way it successfully alters the formula by failing at others and, in doing so, doesn’t end up hitting the heights of the game it derives from so heavily. | Read review |
| PlayStation LifeStyle | Tyler Treese | 7.5 / 10 | 02-06-2017 | Nioh is a game of highs and lows. It’s a tremendous blast when the combat gets to shine, but it often gets the spotlight after hours of tedium. Instead of crafting a tight 20-hour experience like Ninja Gaiden, Team Ninja has opted to create a title that had me constantly grinding. It’s a flawed experience that really has no respect for the player’s time, but one that I’m ultimately glad to have experienced. | Read review |
| PlayStation Universe | Garri Bagdasarov | 9.5 / 10 | 02-02-2017 | As close to perfect as it gets. Nioh is a stunning title and is easily an early contender for game of the year. | Read review |
| Polygon | Philip Kollar, Arthur Gies | 8 / 10 | 02-08-2017 | Team Ninja has taken some big chances here. They don’t all pay off, but the ones that do pull together for a game that justifies some of the pain required. | Read review |
| Post Arcade (National Post) | Chad Sapieha | 9 / 10 | 02-06-2017 | Team Ninja has put its own spin on the Dark Souls formula, creating a devilishly challenging and deeply entertaining samurai role-playing game | Read review |
| Press Start | James Berich | 9 / 10 | 02-05-2017 | While it’s easy to sit back and write Nioh off as another Dark Souls clone, it’s something very different. Yes, it’s slightly less challenging to get into, but it’s a result of some incredibly synergistic systems that work so well together to improve and smooth the player experience. Nioh is still a difficult game, mind you, but it’s an experience that consistently rewards players for performing well. | Read review |
| pressakey.com | Tim Bissinger | Recommended | 02-22-2017 | Nioh nimmt die Souls-Formel, transportiert sie nach Japan, reichert sie mit Ninja Gaiden und Diablo an und baut einen technischen Rahmen drumherum, auf den andere Entwickler neidisch sein können. Wegen der fehlenden Vielfalt im Gegnerdesign reicht es zwar noch nicht zur Extraklasse | Read review |
| Push Square | John Cal McCormick | 8 / 10 | 02-02-2017 | 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. The experience is marred by some unfortunate difficulty spikes and lacklustre bosses, but the rich loot, levelling systems, and fast, often thrilling combat do more than enough to justify Nioh as a worthy contemporary to From Software’s efforts – and an impressive return to form for Team Ninja. | Read review |
| Saudi Gamer | مشهور الدبيان | 8 / 10 | 02-07-2017 | Although it has its share of annoying issues; the combat mechanics, the challenging gameplay and the amount of content will help you overcome anything that affects the experience negatively. An excellent game overall. I recommend it to anyone who wants to spend hours in a world full of challenges, and a fast-paced gameplay that depends more on your skills than your character’s attributes. | Read review |
| Shacknews | David Craddock | Recommended | 02-06-2017 | To call Nioh a copycat would be doing it a disservice. Combat is tight and layered with options, levels are gorgeously rendered and ooze atmosphere, and the story is entertaining enough to keep me interested yet can still be set aside when I’m more interested in perfecting my ki pulses. | Read review |
| Sirus Gaming | Leif Rey Bornales | 10 / 10 | 03-03-2017 | This is an excellent game and a game like this deserves to have a spot in your collection. Whether you’re a newbie to challenging games like this or you’re a veteran who knows the mechanics too well. This is a game that’s worth your money and time. I would happily go back into it to kill another yokai. | Read review |
| Slant Magazine | Justin Clark | 4 / 5 stars | 02-16-2017 | The game wears its influences on its sleeve, but also puts forth a Herculean effort toward surpassing them. | Read review |
| SomHráč.sk | Martin Kubeš | 95 / 100 | 02-06-2017 | We simply can’t say that Nioh is just a copy of the popular Dark Souls series. Nioh has carved its own spot in this hardcore genre nearly flawlessly, which makes this game one of the greatest titles of the year. | Read review |
| Stevivor | Steve Wright | 8 / 10 | 02-02-2017 | While veteran Souls players may find this somewhat Mickey Mouse, the differences between the franchises will still find enough to keep all players engaged. Nioh borrows – and quite liberally, at that — from a number of different franchises, but that combination makes it quite unique. The Dark Souls for those of us who hate Dark Souls, it’s certainly one to give a try. You won’t be an expert instantly, but you’ll certainly want to come back for more. | Read review |
| TechnoBuffalo | Ron Duwell | 4 / 5 stars | 03-06-2017 | The thrill of overcoming challenges provided in a game like Nioh simply isn’t worth the frustration to me anymore, and I have Team Ninja to thank for finally helping me admit this. It’s the ebb and flow of one’s life and one’s interests, and while I think Nioh is a really solid game that everyone should at least try, it’s not the kind of game I want to be playing these days. | Read review |
| Telegraph | Olivia White | 5 / 5 stars | 02-15-2017 | Team Ninja’s Nioh is the kind of action game that comes along every once in a rare while. | Read review |
| The Digital Fix | Luciano Howard | 8 / 10 | 03-10-2017 | Nioh is a very good game of its own right. It doesn’t do anything new but it does deliver one of the deepest combat mechanics inside an engaging action-adventure RPG. | Read review |
| The Game Fanatics | Tyler Chancey | 9 / 10 | 02-16-2017 | In conclusion, Nioh is a confident and engaging action RPG that wears cultural pride on its sleeve like a badge of honor. An absolutely absorbing time sink that continues to reward and challenge the further and further you go. A masterful return to form for the action chops of Team Ninja, one that I will gladly return to with love even as it pounds me into powder. | Read review |
| The Jimquisition | Jim Sterling | 10 / 10 | 02-02-2017 | 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 review |
| The Outerhaven Productions | Keith Mitchell | 5 / 5 stars | 02-20-2017 | At first glance, Nioh resembles a Dark Souls clone and that’s an unfair comparison. While Nioh draws heavily from Dark Souls, Koei Tecmo has provided more than enough features to put Nioh on the same level as Dark Souls. Plenty of action, an engaging combat system that encourages you to develop your own style of play and it’s own charming yet deadly world. | Read review |
| TheSixthAxis | Dave Irwin | 9 / 10 | 02-07-2017 | Do not dismiss Nioh as just another knockoff; it’s so much more than that. By taking some inspiration from others, Team Ninja do prove with a rich combat system and solid foundation that they have the ability to surprise and innovate. The vast majority of the game is a pleasure to play, despite the fact that death is around every corner. There’s a lot I’ve not even touched upon in this review, simply because it’s better experienced than told. For Koei Tecmo at least, all the effort was well worth it. | Read review |
| TrueGaming | محمد البسيمي | 9 / 10 | 02-06-2017 | There is no better feeling than emerging victorious in NiOh. No matter how many times it takes you, it always leaves you wanting more. Without a doubt, those are the fundamentals which made the Souls series great and NiOh isn’t any different. | Read review |
| Twinfinite | Zhiqing Wan | 4.5 / 5 stars | 02-10-2017 | Still, Nioh’s few flaws aren’t nearly enough to offset everything else that the game got right. This game feels so polished with its satisfying combat and its insanely deep loot and crafting system, along with the hundreds of hours of content it has on offer. | Read review |
| USgamer | John Learned | 4 / 5 stars | 02-02-2017 | Nioh is Koei Tecmo and Team Ninja taking a more measured approach to what they do best, and is a surprisingly feature-heavy and battle-focused heir to the Soulsborne method. But it ultimately stands on its own, and is a worthy addition to any Action RPG library. | Read review |
| VGN | Jacopo Mungai | 8 / 10 | 02-03-2017 | While not being entirely original and fresh, the concept behind NiOh is certainly great. The new project from Team Ninja pays tribute to the soulslike genre by delivering an outstanding gameplay experience based on interesting mechanics and, of course, lots of pain. The plot may not be as rich and compelling as we were expecting after more than ten years of development, but at least most of the characters are well-defined and interesting. Despite all the flaws, NiOh laid the foundations for a new, fascinating franchise that could become one of the fiercest rivals for the future iterations of the Dark Souls saga. | Read review |
| Video Chums | A.J. Maciejewski | 7.9 / 10 | 02-10-2017 | Team Ninja’s Nioh is a solid attempt at breathing new life into a formula that gamers just can’t seem to get enough of. | Read review |
| Washington Post | Christopher Byrd | Not Recommended | 02-08-2017 | ‘Nioh’ is game of complex fighting systems. Only the hardcore need apply. | Read review |
| Wccftech | Kai Powell | 9.5 / 10 | 02-17-2017 | Nioh is among the finest exclusives to grace the PS4, melding samurai action with the framework of the well-renowned Dark Souls series, although its devilish difficulty may send William to an early grave. | Read review |
| We Got This Covered | Edward Love | 4.5 / 5 stars | 02-05-2017 | Nioh champions the joy of combat and the fun of overcoming a challenge. It owes a debt to Dark Souls, yes, but manages to step out of its considerable shadow, too. | Read review |
Awards & Recognition
RECOGNITION
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