Nioh 3 Unveiled at Sony's June 2025 State of Play

Team Ninja has officially unveiled Nioh 3 during Sony’s State of Play presentation, delivering exciting news for fans of the challenging action RPG series.

The reveal trailer confirmed an early 2026 release date for the highly anticipated sequel. This time around, players can look forward to exploring expansive open fields while utilizing two distinct combat styles—Samurai and Ninja. Additionally, a playable demo is now live.

In Nioh 3, the protagonist is a young warrior destined to become the next Shogun. While we’ll dive deeper into his motivations at a later date, today’s reveal highlights a major evolution in gameplay: the introduction of two unique combat styles—Samurai and Ninja.

The Samurai style delivers a gameplay experience familiar to fans of previous Nioh titles, enhanced with new mechanics. Features like Arts Proficiency—which boosts martial arts power—and Deflect—allowing last-second enemy attack blocks—add layers of intensity to every face-to-face confrontation.

Meanwhile, the Ninja style focuses on speed and agility, enabling quick dodges, aerial maneuvers, and tactical strikes from beyond enemy reach using adaptive Ninjitsu techniques. Players can deploy Mist, which creates a clone after an attack, or Evade, narrowly avoiding enemy hits. These tools allow for swift, strategic hit-and-run tactics.

With instant switching between both styles at any moment, players are free to adapt their approach based on personal preference and battlefield conditions. Some may blend both seamlessly, while others will stick to one style depending on the challenge ahead. Choose your way through a world defined by strength, speed, and cunning as you face off against some of the most fearsome yokai yet.

Beyond the dual combat systems, Nioh 3 introduces expansive open fields that elevate the series’ signature exploration and tension. Encounter deadly yokai in unexpected places, uncover dark secrets hidden in suspicious villages, and test your skills in The Crucible—a brand-new challenge mode. Traverse hostile, cursed landscapes filled with danger at every turn as you fight for survival in this twisted kingdom!

Here at IGN, we’ve long been fans of the Nioh franchise. We awarded the original Nioh a 9.6/10, praising it as “an epic, unforgettable adventure carried by a fierce combat system that cleverly balances style and strategy.” Likewise, Nioh 2 earned a 9/10, with praise for its “stellar combat and satisfying difficulty” despite its deep and complex systems.

Since the 2020 release of Nioh 2, Team Ninja has remained active with titles such as Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, Rise of the Rōnin, and the upcoming Ninja Gaiden 4. However, Nioh 3 marks a triumphant return to one of gaming’s most demanding and rewarding experiences.

Missed the showcase? Catch up on everything announced during Sony’s June 2025 State of Play event.

Stay tuned for more updates as development continues.