When it comes down to it, Soulslike games are also action RPGs. Players can typically customize their character’s looks, sometimes choose a class, level up their stats, get gear, acquire weapons, and so on. That said, they aren’t like typical action RPGs that every fan of the genre can get into, namely because of their extreme difficulty levels.
7 Best Tips & Tricks in Nioh 3
Here are a few simple things you can do to change the way you play Nioh 3 while making the overall experience a little easier.
Anyone who has ever tried a Team Ninja-made Nioh game knows that they fall in with the all-time great Soulslikes, including Bloodborne and Dark Souls. But what about the latest game, Nioh 3? Does it finally lean more toward the action RPG side of things to get new players into the genre? Let’s hop in and see.
So Many Ways To Level Up
From Amrita To Titles
Most Soulslikes will only have one way to level up via their EXP currency. In Nioh 3, it’s called Amrita, which can increase stats, which will in turn raise the character’s level. However, nearly everything players do in the world factors into a system that can level up their character in several ways. For example, rescuing Kodama or praying at Jizo shrines will unlock Blessings, which can have significant bonuses like increasing Elixir drop rates.
Performing acts can make progress toward several Titles, which boost things like attack power. Then there are skill trees for both Samurai and Ninja styles, and the list goes on. It can be a lot to take in at first, but fiddling with menus is more customary in traditional RPGs — be it action or turn-based — than Soulslike games, so Nioh 3 players had better get used to it.
Character Customization Beyond The Character
Resetting Stats And Other Bindings
Nioh 3 has some of the best customization options around, from looks to stats. In the beginning, players can adjust how their male or female version of their character, Takechiyo, looks, which can be changed later in the HUB area called the Eternal Rift. Also in this area, players can use transmog in Nioh 3, which makes their weapons and armor look a certain way, even if they have something else equipped.
Even better, players can reset their stat progression or the other leveling systems, like Blessings, at no additional cost. This allows them to constantly tweak their builds if they wish to try something different. Soulslike games are not necessarily more rigid than action RPGs, and action RPGs aren’t always so open, but Nioh 3 is just a good example of a game that puts player customization options at the forefront. This also props up the various menu-tweaking options that RPG fans know all too well.
No Difficulty Levels, But Levels Actually Matter
Feel The Burn!
There are very few Soulslike games with difficulty levels or adjustable features of any kind. The one that comes closest is Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin, which did have difficulty levels and, like Nioh 3, felt more akin to an action RPG. Nioh 3 sadly doesn’t have difficulty levels, but some factors can make it more accessible. Each zone on the map has a level marked on it, and if players are significantly above it, they will feel incredibly powerful.
What to Do First in Nioh 3?
Here are some of the things you should do to get the best start in Nioh 3.
Gaining levels actually means something in Nioh 3, as it does in traditional RPGs and as opposed to most Soulslikes. Beyond that, players can summon AI assistants via Benevolent Graves, who can at least help distract enemies. Plus, multiplayer is much easier to jump into with Nioh 3. Both of these options mirror the multiplayer setup of Monster Hunter Wilds, a great action RPG that is both challenging and accessible.
Amrita Is Different From Currency
Gotta Make Money
As great as Elden Ring is, it shares one significant feature with many other Soulslikes: shared currency. Runes will level up a character and serve as the in-game currency to use with NPC vendors. Nioh 3 separates the two, like a more traditional RPG would.
Imagine if players had to use Gil, the money system in Final Fantasy 15, to level up the party and to buy items. It would increase the grind significantly, which would lessen that game’s impact on the fanbase. With the currencies separated in Nioh 3, players will be able to relax more if they choose to visit shops, even if they aren’t necessary.
Who’s That Character?
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
A Genuine Quest System
And Looking For Collectibles
At times, Nioh 3 feels like it shares more with a collectible platformer like Donkey Kong Bananza than a Soulslike or even an action RPG. That’s because the map has a lot of icons popping up as players explore. Nioh 3 players can find Scampuss, Chijiko, and Kodama locations, which will lead to various bonuses.
There are treasure chest groves, battle arenas, mini-bosses, and most significantly, real quests. Soulslike games tend to give players vague notions to follow for quests, which are not always tracked very well, but they are in Nioh 3. They’re not going to lead to meaningful stories like in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, but they will help players get stronger and find new gear. The entire checklist mentality of Nioh 3’s design is unlike a Soulslike in every way.
An Easy Story To Follow
No Deep Lore To Get Lost In
One of the most alluring aspects of an RPG can be the story, and there aren’t too many Soulslikes with gripping narratives. They can establish vibes and create a haunting atmosphere, like the lore of Elden Ring, but games that rely on lore are harder for most players to follow. Nioh 3 doesn’t have the most amazing story that could stand up to the action RPG greats like Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth or NieR: Automata, but it is easy to follow.
How To Get Samurai And Ninja Locks In Nioh 3
Players need to keep an eye out while exploring to get some locks that'll help unlock new skills in Nioh 3.
The player character's brother, Kunimatsu, has gone mad with power, inviting demons to Japan, and now players have to stop them. Since they will ally with various living humans, it should make them feel more engaged with both the story and the world, instead of just being the insignificant pawn of the gods or an undead warrior.
The Loot System
From Gear To Weapons
One of the most significant things that has set the Nioh series apart from other Soulslikes is its loot system. It's more akin to Diablo, which already makes it more RPG-like. The loot is even more prevalent in Nioh 3, as it drops for both playstyles: Samurai and Ninja. Certain weapons can only be equipped by Samurai builds, like hammers, while the same is true for Ninja builds, like kusarigamas.
With constant loot drops from enemies, players will always have another way to increase their character’s overall power beyond the leveling-up systems. Much like some of the best action RPG gear systems out there, weapons level up with use in Nioh 3, and some even carry extra abilities to learn. Beyond that, it’s just great to have numerous weapon options for players to test out.
More Of An Overall Skill Set
Prepping For Cooldowns
Some Soulslikes have weapon abilities or magic systems, and Nioh has both and then some. The UI is arranged to make it look similar to an action RPG. As a Samurai, players have a meter that lets them unleash a weapon skill when filled. For Ninjas, they have Ninjutsu, which are spells and tools that have a cooldown-like system where charges replenish the more players attack enemies.
Finally, there are Living Artifact transformations. Players will unlock Spirits as they progress, and when equipped, they can grant various boosts. Also, once the Living Artifact gauge is filled, Samurai and Ninja builds can unleash a Super Saiyan-like transformation akin to Dragon Ball Z. In this form, HP and stamina are non-factors, and players gain a significant power boost, almost like Limit Breaks in Final Fantasy games.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 85 /100 Critics Rec: 93%
- Released
- February 6, 2026
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Suggestive Themes, Violence, In-Game Purchases, Users Interact
- Developer(s)
- Koei Tecmo
- Publisher(s)
- Koei Tecmo
