Welcome to Nioh, Team Ninja’s 2017 gut-punch of an action RPG that’ll have you sweating, swearing, and cheering all at once. Launched on February 7, 2017, for PS4 (with a Complete Edition dropping on PC November 7, 2017, and a PS5 remaster in 2021), this game drags you into a war-torn Sengoku Japan dripping with yokai, samurai, and unrelenting challenge. Think Dark Souls with a katana and a mean streak a mile wide—Nioh isn’t here to hold your hand.
You play as William Adams, a blonde-haired Irishman turned samurai (inspired by a real-life historical figure), chasing a shadowy alchemist across a land where demons and warlords reign supreme. Armed with katanas, spears, axes, and more, you’ll hack through enemies with a combat system that’s as deep as it is deadly. The Stance system—high, mid, and low—lets you switch up your style on the fly, while Ki Pulse demands perfect timing to keep your stamina flowing. It’s fast, it’s fluid, and it’ll punish you if you slip. Add in a loot grind that rivals Diablo, and you’ve got a game that’s equal parts skill test and gear chase.
The story kicks off in 1600, blending historical figures like Oda Nobunaga and Tokugawa Ieyasu with a supernatural twist—yokai are everywhere, and they’re not here to chat. From the burning streets of Kyoto to eerie coastal cliffs, every level is a gauntlet of traps, ambushes, and bosses that’ll make you question your life choices. The Twilight Missions crank the difficulty up even more, remixing stages with tougher foes for masochists who can’t get enough. And with three DLCs—Dragon of the North, Defiant Honor, and Bloodshed’s End—you’ll venture into snowy warzones and face the fallout of William’s bloody journey.
Visually, Nioh is a gritty love letter to feudal Japan—think shadowy temples, blood-soaked battlefields, and yokai designs that’ll stick with you long after you’ve rage-quit. The difficulty is merciless, but co-op summoning via Ochoko Cups lets you call in a buddy to share the pain. Available on PS4, PS5, and PC, Nioh is a brutal, beautiful beast of a game that dares you to conquer it. Strap in, sharpen your blade, and prepare to die—a lot.