Nioh 3 Announced; Limited Demo Out Until June 18th

Nioh 3 is launching on PlayStation 5 and PC via Steam in early 2026. A demo for the Souls-like action RPG is available now on PS5, but only until June 18th.

Koei Tecmo and developer Team Ninja revealed Nioh 3 at Sony’s latest State of Play presentation. The story looks appropriately dramatic (and vaguely historical?). Check out the first look and some details below, including on the Samurai and Ninja fighting styles.

Nioh 3 tells the tale of a young warrior poised to become the next Shogun inside Japan’s historically turbulent Sengoku period. The game is set in an open field, in which players can freely explore, while enjoying the unique tension that accompanies all Nioh titles. Face formidable encounters with monstrous yokai, explore villages where suspicious beings lurk, take on the daunting challenges of The Crucible, and enjoy the thrilling, hostile new environments while fighting to survive the cursed kingdom!

New to the Nioh series is the ability to enjoy two distinct fighting styles in combat: Samurai and Ninja. The Samurai style provides a gameplay experience similar to previous Nioh titles. New actions such as “Arts Proficiency,” which enhances the power of martial arts, and “Deflect,” which allows players to block enemy attacks at the last moment, have been added, helping create a series of intense and deadly face-to-face confrontations.

Meanwhile, Ninja style excels in quick movements like dodging and aerial actions, giving ninjas the advantage of being able to attack from outside of the enemy’s range by utilizing a variety of “Ninjitsu” techniques according to the situation on the battlefield. Players have the ability to use techniques like “Mist,” which leaves a clone after an attack, and “Evade,” which allows for narrowly avoiding enemy strikes. Both techniques help players outmaneuver foes while delivering devastating speed attacks from behind.

Based on the tendencies of the enemies and stages, players can switch seamlessly between Samurai and Ninja techniques instantly at any time or choose to fight using only one style continuously depending on the challenges and confrontations ahead.

Nioh 3 Screenshots

The “Alpha Demo” on PS5 includes access to Nioh 3‘s “in-progress” character creation system. Players can provide feedback upon completion, including for the new combat styles and open field exploration, with the official website to also host a survey. There’s a reward for clearing the demo: a special helmet in the full release.

Nioh 3 launches in early 2026 for PS5 and PC. For more State of Play updates, keep reading RPGFan!