Nioh 3 takes us to the twilight of the samurai
Time travel through Japan's different eras!
Publisher Koei Tecmo and developer Team NINJA announced on 21 November 2025 that Nioh 3 will take players from Heian to the period that laid the foundations of modern Japan: the tumultuous Bakumatsu!
From the trailer and previous announcements, it's clear that Nioh 3 differentiates itself with a new mechanic for the series: time travel between several eras of Japanese history. Team NINJA didn't want to repeat the same historical cycle (Sengoku) from the perspective of another samurai, as they did in the first two games, so they prepared an extensive story in which Tokugawa Takeichiyo, the future shogun of Japan, travels to both the distant past of the Heian period and the near future of Edo or the turbulent Bakumatsu. This last era is the most modern in the entire series, bringing firearms such as the famous Gatling gun into play. However, modernisation doesn't mean less danger, as Takeichiyo will face not only Yokai in this famous period, but also the dreaded Shinsengumi troops, known as the secret police of Shogun Tokugawa Yoshinobu! Given the period and the developer's custom, we can expect to encounter historical figures such as Takasugi Shinsaku and Okita Sōji.
As Team NINJA has accustomed us, fantastic action is intertwined with elements of real history, which is why in the 'distant' future of Nioh 3 we will explore famous Kyoto locations from the 1800s, such as Kiyomizu and Honnō-ji. However, don't expect to enjoy their splendour too much, as they have been corrupted by the malevolent influence of the Crucible.
And for those who want to delve deeper into the history of the samurai and the Nioh universe, the British Museum is preparing a special exhibition dedicated to the famous Japanese warriors. The event will be open to the public between 3 February and 4 May 2026.
The game is already available for pre-order, in three editions: Standard, Digital Deluxe and SteelBook®, the latter offering exclusive content. Any pre-order includes bonus items designed to help players survive their first confrontation with the horrors of the game more easily.
Nioh 3 will be released on 6 February 2026 on PlayStation 5 and PC (Windows), via Steam.
