Prepare to lose yourself in the brutal, beautiful chaos of Nioh 2, Team Ninja’s 2020 masterpiece that takes everything you loved about the original and cranks it to eleven. Released on March 13, 2020, for PS4 (with a Complete Edition hitting PS5 and PC on February 5, 2021), this action RPG throws you into the demon-infested Sengoku Era of Japan, where every swing of your blade could be your last.

You’re not just some samurai—you’re Hide, a custom-crafted half-yokai warrior with the power to shift into monstrous forms and wield the souls of fallen foes. From the odachi’s devastating arcs to the kusarigama’s whip-fast combos, the combat is a dance of precision and punishment. New mechanics like Yokai Shift and Burst Counters let you turn the tide against hulking bosses and swarms of nightmarish yokai, while the Ki Pulse system keeps you on your toes, demanding mastery over every move. It’s Dark Souls meets Ninja Gaiden, with a loot system so deep you’ll be swimming in gear and tweaking builds for hours.

Set in 1555, Nioh 2 weaves a prequel tale to the first game, following your mute Shiftling as they team up with Tokichiro, a scrappy merchant chasing glory, and Mumyo, a fierce demon hunter. Together, you’ll carve a path through history, crossing blades with legends like Oda Nobunaga and facing off against yokai straight out of Japanese folklore. The story culminates in a clash that ties into the original Nioh, with three DLC expansions—The Tengu’s Disciple, Darkness in the Capital, and The First Samurai—sending you back to the Heian period for even more chaos.

Visually, it’s a stunner—think misty forests, crumbling castles, and yokai designs that’ll haunt your dreams. The difficulty? Brutal but fair, with a steep learning curve that rewards grit and skill. Whether you’re summoning AI allies at Benevolent Graves or teaming up with friends in three-player co-op, Nioh 2 is a relentless thrill ride that’ll test your limits and leave you hungry for more. Grab it on PS4, PS5, or PC, and step into a world where every victory feels hard-earned.