User Score
8.3

Generally favorable reviews- based on 2628 Ratings

User score distribution:
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  1. Feb 18, 2017
    10
    I can't believe myself when I'm saying this but I was skeptical before the game launched and said to myself that this game could not be like Dark Souls but I was wrong.

    This game is the best Souls game up to date it's like mixing bloodborne and dynasty warrior to gather and this game was the result
    it's fast and beautiful and has better story tiling then Dark Souls.
  2. Feb 19, 2017
    10
    Short but sweet, i always was super interested in dark souls, but upon trying all 3 of them and blood bourne i couldnt bare the,. God awful mechanics and plane broken engine and gameplay. Super dated combat and movement made me rather want to chew glass. Then i heard about this im not a weeb but youve got to love the setting here which is what interested me initially. I played the beta andShort but sweet, i always was super interested in dark souls, but upon trying all 3 of them and blood bourne i couldnt bare the,. God awful mechanics and plane broken engine and gameplay. Super dated combat and movement made me rather want to chew glass. Then i heard about this im not a weeb but youve got to love the setting here which is what interested me initially. I played the beta and loved it then pre ordered. Its near perfection within its genre, its everything i wanted dark souls to be gameplay wise, no broken movement or combat its a super deep combat system. Amazing story amazing setting, 60 fps, awesome lore, totally unexpected customisation taken from the mmo genre such as soul matching items and transmogification!
    Boss's are fun and challenging just like the rest of the game i literally cannot stop playing it or thinking baout it totally a fan boy! OH AND! NO MICROTRANSACTIONS!!! THANK GOD!!! gaming still has hope!
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  3. Feb 10, 2019
    0
    Fake hard game with no SOUL. Playing this game is suffering and not in a good way. You don't get happiness from progressing. Its just trash hardness to make you suffer because you paid money for it. If you like paying money for suffering for 50 hours then go ahead and play this game. Team ninja has no vision nothing just a bunch of idiot suits all pitching in their dumb ideas and then madeFake hard game with no SOUL. Playing this game is suffering and not in a good way. You don't get happiness from progressing. Its just trash hardness to make you suffer because you paid money for it. If you like paying money for suffering for 50 hours then go ahead and play this game. Team ninja has no vision nothing just a bunch of idiot suits all pitching in their dumb ideas and then made this trash game. You will never be even 1/10th of a souls game bye. Expand
  4. Aug 5, 2018
    8
    Nioh is a hard but fun game with the exception of the boss fights. I have currently been stuck on a boss for a few days and I am really struggling to find the motivation for another tedious, long winded button bash that I might eventually win if I’m lucky and make no mistakes. It’s just not fun for me. Unfortunately this means I can’t progress in the game and after about 10 hours play INioh is a hard but fun game with the exception of the boss fights. I have currently been stuck on a boss for a few days and I am really struggling to find the motivation for another tedious, long winded button bash that I might eventually win if I’m lucky and make no mistakes. It’s just not fun for me. Unfortunately this means I can’t progress in the game and after about 10 hours play I think I’m done. 9/10 without the boss fights, 6/10 as it stands.

    Update:
    You can call in another random player from the Internet to help you with the boss battles. For me this removes much of the frustration from the game. I've definitely got my money's worth from this title.
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  5. Feb 13, 2017
    10
    Amazing game with japanese folkore at it very best. Never remind me of Dark Souls or Bloodborne which are games that I like so much, this games feels different from the start with a nice view of telling the story. Superb combat, many items and differentiation from other games.
    A truly masterpiece in every sense.
    I would like to say that when some people rates a game with 0 they do it to
    Amazing game with japanese folkore at it very best. Never remind me of Dark Souls or Bloodborne which are games that I like so much, this games feels different from the start with a nice view of telling the story. Superb combat, many items and differentiation from other games.
    A truly masterpiece in every sense.
    I would like to say that when some people rates a game with 0 they do it to not contibute in any way. I would love to see if what those people would say when at their jobs their boss says to them that their job is 0, sure they will say that why the boss gave me that? Im making a good job. So please think first when you make a review and try to contribute and not to destroy.
    Thanks.
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  6. Feb 13, 2017
    7
    I am about half way through Nioh, including all side missions so far. This is a good game but not great and not deserving of the stellar reviews imo it is getting. I plan to keep playing but it is becoming repetitive. I am a huge fan of Dark Souls / Bloodborne (which this game is very similiar so much so that I lean more toward it being a ripoff than taking inspiration from) and thisI am about half way through Nioh, including all side missions so far. This is a good game but not great and not deserving of the stellar reviews imo it is getting. I plan to keep playing but it is becoming repetitive. I am a huge fan of Dark Souls / Bloodborne (which this game is very similiar so much so that I lean more toward it being a ripoff than taking inspiration from) and this just isn't on the level of those excellent games. The world isn't nearly as interesting and the story isn't interesting enough. One of the things I love about the From Software games is that the story wasn't directly told to you. The story was told through the characters and the setting. The focus was on great game play and exploration. Part of exploration was encountering new enemies which modern games lack. Nioh falls victim to this and it is my biggest gripe. You will encounter the same enemies over and over. It is boring and I only look forward to the boss fights. Leveling up is easy. I haven't grinded yet and I am not having much trouble at my level. Upgraded to new equipment is as simple as picking the one with the best stats. Not much to think about. So far I have not utilized Ki rejuvenation (pressing R1) aftering attacking. If it actually makes a difference I imagine that it would make it much easier which Idon't want. Way too much loot to get also, Bloodborne excelled with this area

    Again still playing and I do like the game, mainly combat and bosses, but this is not a masterpiece.
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  7. Feb 22, 2017
    10
    The most fun I've had in a long time playing a game. It's clearly better than the souls series & it's funny that all the negative reviews are those saying it's to hard.
  8. Mar 6, 2017
    5
    Don't get me wrong: Nioh is a pretty decent game with its own twist. The combat system is fluid and versatile. However there are some aspects, which pull it down to mediocrity compared to such pieces of art like Bloodborne and Dark Souls games (in particular first and third installments).

    1. No character customization - you play Geralt eh William for the whole time. For instance Dark
    Don't get me wrong: Nioh is a pretty decent game with its own twist. The combat system is fluid and versatile. However there are some aspects, which pull it down to mediocrity compared to such pieces of art like Bloodborne and Dark Souls games (in particular first and third installments).

    1. No character customization - you play Geralt eh William for the whole time. For instance Dark Souls and Bloodborne offer more flexibility at this point.

    2. Level design. Well, I admit with the feudal Japan setting it's kinda impossible to create such an epic environment like it From Software does, but seriously: must 80% of levels look almost the same?

    3. Enemies. In each mission you fight literally the same enemy types over and over again. Only few things distinguish them from each other: HP amount and color/armor. And this after 10 years of development. Are you serious, Team Ninja?

    4. Bosses. They are strong and they are many, but they are nothing special compared to the creatures created by Miyazaki and Co. There is no emotions (like BB fight against German or DS3 fight against the Twin Princes) in this hack and slash frenzy, which are Nioh bossfights basically are. Above all they are also bugged as hell.

    5. The story. Nioh's story is flat like a wiener schnitzel without any lore.

    6. The weapons. The weapon variety is pretty poor: all you get are katanas, double katanas, axes, hammers, kusarigamas und three fire weapons, which have neither a unique design nor a unique moveset. Another point for Bloodborne and DS. Okay okay, you can unlock many additional weapon skills and Switch between the stances - but honestly how often do you switch between the stances and how do you manage to use every skill you unlock?

    7. Atmosphere. Not nearly as dense as in the Souls games.

    8. Grinding. As weapon scaling is almost absent you have to grind to level up and collect stronger weapons/armor to progress. Actually not a flaw but gets pretty boring as time goes by.

    9. Loot. To much of it and paired with sucky inventory system almost annoying.

    10. Multiplayer. It just plain sucks. I mean if you try to summon a cooperator you have to wait forever and ever and ever. Even in Bloodborne it worked much better. Also the way you can play with friends is nothing but embarassing and makes no sense. And I also miss the invaders.

    Disclaimer: My review is actually an answer to the fanboys putting Nioh above everything FromSoftware has ever created.
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  9. Apr 30, 2017
    1
    Horrible forgery. Not only that, there is an open world. So also forced several times to pass the same card. 4-5 times to kill the same bosses. Repetitive bosses. Ubivaut obsalyutno same. Little enemies. Roughly 2 type. People (thieves, samurai, ninja, mages) and youkai (skeletons, wheel of fire, a demon, one-eyed Ogre, umbrella, and a dead man with a pick). And with all of them you willHorrible forgery. Not only that, there is an open world. So also forced several times to pass the same card. 4-5 times to kill the same bosses. Repetitive bosses. Ubivaut obsalyutno same. Little enemies. Roughly 2 type. People (thieves, samurai, ninja, mages) and youkai (skeletons, wheel of fire, a demon, one-eyed Ogre, umbrella, and a dead man with a pick). And with all of them you will meet during the first 4 hours of the game. Online is not like this. Well, you can call for help or to come. It's like it's not even funny. Expand
  10. Mar 14, 2017
    7
    If We compare NIOH with Dark soul 3 and Bloodborne then Score of NIOH is 0 and we want to play Ninja Gaiden types games then Score of NIOH is 7.Dark soul3 and bloodborne both are outstanding games
  11. Jun 23, 2017
    1
    Gave the game a 10, finished it and gave it a 1. This intentionally putting a bunch of random crap in your way to make it as hard as possible is not real difficulty, Fire, water, people shooting you that you cant reach untill later when ceratin patchs are open, random bombs and traps etc. its a cheap trick to make it seem like there is depth here. Not going to waste more of my time on thisGave the game a 10, finished it and gave it a 1. This intentionally putting a bunch of random crap in your way to make it as hard as possible is not real difficulty, Fire, water, people shooting you that you cant reach untill later when ceratin patchs are open, random bombs and traps etc. its a cheap trick to make it seem like there is depth here. Not going to waste more of my time on this piece of crap. Expand
  12. Mar 13, 2017
    10
    Just finished Nioh's main campaign, started New Game+ and after a little over 60 hours of pure enjoyment, I must say, this game's combat mechanics bring a depth unlike anything you would expect from a soulsborne-esque game. The reason for that being that this is NOT a soulsborne game. Replay value is tremendous. Graphics, although dated, are nice to look at. The game can be frustrating atJust finished Nioh's main campaign, started New Game+ and after a little over 60 hours of pure enjoyment, I must say, this game's combat mechanics bring a depth unlike anything you would expect from a soulsborne-esque game. The reason for that being that this is NOT a soulsborne game. Replay value is tremendous. Graphics, although dated, are nice to look at. The game can be frustrating at first but never disheartening; never did I actually feel like giving up. Customization is nearly endless and content is plentiful. The game's soundtrack meshes very well with each scene, adding to the ominous yet epic events that unfold. This is a very memorable game indeed. If you have a PS4, I suggest picking this game up. You won't regret it! Expand
  13. Apr 15, 2017
    10
    A very good game! With so much content in a type of gameplay similar to Dark Souls, but it's better with more options and battle style. Play against the warriors from feudal Japan in a journey with William. The First ocident to master the sword. This game is really 10/10.
  14. Mar 8, 2017
    10
    Absolutely love this game. Very souls-esque, with a bit of ninja gaiden and a diablo-esque loot system. My favourite game of the year so far without a doubt. 10/10 ratings get thrown about in the user reviews far too often but this is one of those games that truly deserve it. Of course that 10/10 would be dependent on whether you enjoy games like these. It's an unforgiving game, much likeAbsolutely love this game. Very souls-esque, with a bit of ninja gaiden and a diablo-esque loot system. My favourite game of the year so far without a doubt. 10/10 ratings get thrown about in the user reviews far too often but this is one of those games that truly deserve it. Of course that 10/10 would be dependent on whether you enjoy games like these. It's an unforgiving game, much like the Souls series but if that is your type of game then you will absolutely love this. Pick it up, Thank you Team Ninja! Expand
  15. May 16, 2017
    10
    This is dark souls cloning done right. They didn't just copy dark souls, they built upon it to create something wholly unique. The game is brutally difficult however, even more so than dark souls but that doesn't take away from the enjoyment. It all works after you master the combat system.
  16. Mar 5, 2017
    10
    Love the fact its faster paced than dark souls. Game play reminds me of my all time favorite game bloodborne, just with a samurai twist. it has a unique storytelling method and fantastic game play elements. amazing game! definitely exceeded all expectations i had for it.
  17. Mar 1, 2017
    10
    Nioh will hunt you with it's world...which is very different from other souls game that you played..I still love bloodborne the most but Nioh make it's own way as well...the gameplay is so aswesome that you can't compare it to any game that you played..and the strange strory and cats in this is very intresting to follow
  18. Mar 15, 2017
    7
    that nearly every review you see is comparing it to Dark Souls/Bloodborne, tells you something. While not quite on the same level, Nioh is an incredibly well done game with countless hours of gameplay, excellent graphics, smooth mechanics, difficulty that isn't unfair, and coop/pvp
  19. Feb 28, 2017
    10
    Gameplay is among the sleekest I've ever seen, which is truly important in a game with this style. Surpassing even the Souls games in tight controls. The game features enemies that are fun to fight,
  20. Mar 2, 2017
    8
    Nioh - action rpg с явными элементами слешера, которая очень схожа в боевой системе с Dark Souls но намного более комплекса и менее ,,честная,, если так можно сказать. В отличии от Dark Souls или Bloodborne противники в Nioh очень живучие, я и не говорю про боссов, что может вызвать некоторые трудности в освоении, но если вы приняли это, вас ожидает великолепная и крайне интересная боёвка.Nioh - action rpg с явными элементами слешера, которая очень схожа в боевой системе с Dark Souls но намного более комплекса и менее ,,честная,, если так можно сказать. В отличии от Dark Souls или Bloodborne противники в Nioh очень живучие, я и не говорю про боссов, что может вызвать некоторые трудности в освоении, но если вы приняли это, вас ожидает великолепная и крайне интересная боёвка.
    Минусы в игре как по мне следующие: однотипные сайд-квесты, визуальный дизайн и некоторые геймдизайнерские решения, но если вы готовы принять эти минусы - без сомнения приобретайте это игру, особенно если вы фанат Dark Souls и Bloodborne( лично от себя скажу что игры FromsoftWare мне более симпатично но Nioh тоже отличная action-rpg с уклоном на боёвку)
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  21. Mar 1, 2017
    10
    Game with well-made combat aspects, enemies with well-developed difficulties and change of posture of combat for each enemy to have greater effectiveness. For those who like a great RPG and fighting game i highly recommend this game.
  22. Mar 4, 2017
    10
    Nioh and soul series is somewhat similar, but in the game and design is very different, he has their own unique charm, the background of the Japanese Warring States and straightforward fighting, the first half of the year the best game
  23. Mar 5, 2017
    10
    Increible, el sistema de combate un espectaculo, ojala salga segunda parte pero con armas de otro lugar Europa o Africa, con la calidad que trabaja esta gente seguro les sale otra joya

    Aunque para los dlc pendientes me gustaria ver los nunchakus, los say y los tonfa, seria genial
  24. Mar 9, 2017
    10
    Challenging, yet rewarding, Nioh will satisfy fans of the Souls series and newcomers alike. It's early in the year, yet I can safely assume that this will be the PS4's killer app of 2017.
  25. Mar 20, 2017
    9
    Nioh is a fresh new mix of older titles, that brings many new things to the table, with an amazingly well done and polished combat system, a diablo-esque loot system, and enough things to keep you interested. Although the story isn't to die for, Nioh makes up for it with the fantastic game-play.
  26. Mar 21, 2017
    10
    absolutely fantastic game. This is a really fast pace dark souls type of games with really good music, graphics are gorgeous and the game play is really solid. i recommend this game.
  27. Mar 22, 2017
    10
    This is my first foray into the genre of extreme difficulty action rpgs and boy did this game kick my ass at first. I had grown accustomed to the casual format of these types of games and my initial experience with Nioh was overwhelming. At one point I erased the game thinking that it was not humanly possible for me to beat an early boss. But I couldn't get the game out of my head so IThis is my first foray into the genre of extreme difficulty action rpgs and boy did this game kick my ass at first. I had grown accustomed to the casual format of these types of games and my initial experience with Nioh was overwhelming. At one point I erased the game thinking that it was not humanly possible for me to beat an early boss. But I couldn't get the game out of my head so I went back in...and boy am I glad that I did so!

    This game is 100% about combat and it does it better than any game I've ever played. To like Nioh is to immerse yourself into the complexity of its combat mechanics which are brilliant. Its not about reactions (quick dodges) or coordination (slinging complex combos)!!! It is about studying your opponents, understanding their attacks and weaknesses and being able to devise a winning strategy. This aspect of the game encourages you to learn and master different weapons and different stances. This even applies to the armor your wear. Sometimes its good to have the extra protection of heavy armor...sometimes its better to have the agility and stamina of light/ninja armor. The numbers of layers of complexity to the fighting mechanics are really the star of the game and what keeps you coming back for more.

    Level design is decent enough although fairly linear. Story is not really a strong part of the game.

    In terms of the RPG aspects, leveling skills and getting new gear are satisfying although not game changing. There will be small improvements and cool new weapons at times, but ultimately they have limited effect on the outcome of your battles.

    I am very surprised to have taken such a liking to this game because I typically like action RPGs that are also very strong on story and RPG elements.
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  28. Mar 29, 2017
    10
    Nioh may be the pinnacle of action-rpgs in the vein of From Software's Souls-series. Mechanically refined to perfection - you can truly see the pedigree of developer Team Ninja -, it's really the deep systems that set this game apart from the masses of action-rpgs.

    + deep rpg-systems + heavily customizable gameplay + tight controls + very well balanced (if you like a good challenge:
    Nioh may be the pinnacle of action-rpgs in the vein of From Software's Souls-series. Mechanically refined to perfection - you can truly see the pedigree of developer Team Ninja -, it's really the deep systems that set this game apart from the masses of action-rpgs.

    + deep rpg-systems
    + heavily customizable gameplay
    + tight controls
    + very well balanced (if you like a good challenge: demands your attention!)
    + smart level design that encourages exploration
    + impressive boss-fights
    + stunning animation-work
    + technically sound
    + interesting setting
    + expansive campaign with incredible replay-value

    - some frustrating scenes
    - enemy variety falls a little short
    - some environments a little dark
    - overwhelming (if well structured) menus

    The story is convoluted and tonally all over the place, yet uses its setting and humor well and never gets in the way of gameplay.
    Technically Nioh impresses with brilliant animations and moody design as well as the option for the player to choose between a high framerate or a higher resolution. For me personally, the environments tend to be a bit too dark, especially in the main missions.

    The game has many similarities to Bloodborne but the controls are even tighter, the action even faster. Instead of the Souls-typical Metroidvania structure, Nioh is structured more conventionally, with many seperate (but still big and intelligently designed) levels that offer main- or side-missions. There is a heavy emphasise on loot, which will hook those, who love grinding for gear but won't stand in the way if you are not that type of gamer, as I am.

    The enemies are creatively designed. However, given the huge size of the game (plan to play around 40 hours to see the end credits, with many side-missions and activities for replay value), the enemy variety is a bit lacking. The many boss-encounters range from fairly standard to absolutely brilliant. Most of them are beautifully created, but a few are less about searching for a fitting strategy but rather brute force.

    Finally a word on the difficulty: Yes, Nioh demands your full attention. Even the tiniest enemy can be a lethal threat. However, since the game allows for so many solutions for any given task, each gamer who wants to beat the game, should be able to. You just have to figure out, which systems benefit your play-style the most: Do you want to hack and slash through the game? Grind for experience and gear! Do you like to use items, trick enemies and play stealthily? Learn Ninja-powers! Want to fight many enemies at once? Learn axe-combos! Are you a explorer? Find the kodamas and benefit from their help. Are you a social gamer? Invite friends to help you!, etc.etc... The systems in Nioh are so very deep and varied that about every gamer should find a way to enjoy the game. This, of course, is further emphasized by the very responsive controls.
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  29. Apr 17, 2017
    10
    Nioh is a solid game.If you liked demons.dark.bloodborne series then Nioh is a must for you.Nioh will grab you from the first minute til the end.I know the game have some small issues but overall the rest of it is a masterpiece.i give 10/10 because its a perfect game among the **** games are out and coming this year.
  30. May 26, 2018
    6
    Not being a huge fan of the Darksouls/Bloodborne games I went into Nioh hoping for a more story-driven game with side quests, one which I had heard was a lot easier to follow.

    Having finished the game and being on my journey to platinum, Nioh was definitely an experience. I really enjoyed the Japanese art style and of course the characters and traveling around various Japanese maps.
    Not being a huge fan of the Darksouls/Bloodborne games I went into Nioh hoping for a more story-driven game with side quests, one which I had heard was a lot easier to follow.

    Having finished the game and being on my journey to platinum, Nioh was definitely an experience.

    I really enjoyed the Japanese art style and of course the characters and traveling around various Japanese maps. I loved the guardian spirits and the design. The Yokai were very creepy and definitely expertly designed. I enjoyed going through the story and meeting the various bosses, new Yokai and new areas. The game gave a great variety of missions, side missions and maps. The voice acting was on point and the soundtrack was very good (would have liked to have seen some more tracks though, as it seemed there weren't many and they cycled through the same ones often).

    I loved the Kodama. They were super cute and gave the game a nice little mascot figure. The hot springs were also a nice addition and added to the Japanese feel and setting of the game.

    There was a nice variety of extra things you could do - co-op play, side missions, collectibles, twilight missions, glory etc

    I didn't however enjoy how bland the colours were and how similar some of the environments were. Most of the game was extremely dark (and actually quite hard to navigate due to not being able to see).

    Of course this goes without saying, and I was expecting this, but I did feel Nioh was unrealistically hard in places. The difficulty spikes sometimes spiked far too much and there was a huge jump between expectations for one mission, and expectations for the next one.

    I mentioned before, I got into Nioh due to knowing it had a story... the story however was disappointing and confusing. Both myself and my partner lost what was going on a few hours in and had no clue what the story/characters were on about. I felt the story could have been much better if it was easier to follow and was made to be more interesting. From what I saw, it was pretty boring and tedious.

    All in all, a pretty solid game with quite a bit of room for improvements. If they do a sequel to Nioh, it would be nice to see a more interesting and more enjoyable story with a range of colorful environments and range of atmospheres.

    Pros:

    Looked great and played well
    Fantastic design of Yokai and enemies
    Lovely Japanese art style and cutscenes
    A very real Japanese feel and setting
    A range of traditional Japanese weapons to use and choose from
    Voice acting was exceptional
    Platinum trophy is not too difficult, requires quite a bit of skill and perseverance for grinding

    Cons:
    Confusing/uninteresting story
    Irritating difficulty spikes
    Can get overwhelming during end game/post game having to use huge amounts of variety in weapons including the Onmyo magic
    The blacksmith menu can be quite confusing
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Metascore
88

Generally favorable reviews - based on 100 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 97 out of 100
  2. Negative: 0 out of 100
  1. games(TM)
    May 26, 2017
    80
    Challenging, beautiful and unique. [Issue#105, p.82]
  2. Playstation Official Magazine UK
    Apr 11, 2017
    90
    The small, scattered levels live in the shadows of the Souls/Bloodborne worlds. Otherwise, Nioh matches - and occasionally surpasses - FromSoftware's genre giants. [Apr 2017, p.77]
  3. CD-Action
    Apr 5, 2017
    85
    After a series of letdowns Team Ninja returns to form it displayed with Ninja Gaiden Black. Nioh is a variation on the Souls series, and although it is not as intriguing story wise, its gameplay is much more enjoyable. [04/2017, p.46]