The Nioh franchise has long been among the most punishing yet rewarding entries in the Soulslike genre, and Nioh 3 doesn’t mess too much with that formula. However, this new outing from developer Team Ninja does have some fresh tricks up its sleeves, such as an open field design and a less linear mission structure that provides players with substantially more freedom in how and when they tackle missions.
If you’re interested in seeing what this third entry has to offer, you’ll find a lengthy and difficult campaign ahead of you, as well as plenty of optional content to seek out that is all but certain to improve your chances of survival. Here’s how long it takes to beat Nioh 3.
How long to beat Nioh 3
How long it takes to beat Nioh 3 will depend largely on how well you adapt to its frenetic combat and immensely demanding boss encounters. That being said, prioritizing the game’s main content with the intent of simply reaching the credits should take an average of 30-40 hours for most players. Completionists, meanwhile, will be able to get even more from Nioh 3, as aiming to see everything the game has to offer can easily push the total playtime to 60-70 hours.
Beyond the game’s main story missions, Nioh 3 provides a wealth of optional content for you to discover. Its open field design allows you to explore much of its world at your own pace, tackling fun side-activities ranging from finding simple treasure chests to exploring large, challenging dungeons featuring tough bosses and worthwhile rewards. There are even fun extras like petting all of the little Scampuss cats scattered around the world, or finding every Kodama spirit to earn points toward blessings that net you meaningful passive bonuses.
While exploring the open fields of Nioh 3, you’ll also find battle scrolls that allow you to travel to unique sub-missions more akin to those you’d see in previous games. These, too, provide rewards you won’t want to miss if you’d like to be well-prepared, so taking them on every chance you get is a smart move. Since they’re separate from the campaign, you can see them through at your leisure rather than feeling obligated to fight through them before you’re ready.
And, in typical Nioh fashion, this third entry in the franchise also features harder difficulties that unlock after beating the final boss. Pushing through these will allow you to find and customize even higher-tier gear to craft the ultimate build of your dreams. Just be aware that harder enemy encounters offset the gains you make in gear, so you’ll never truly be able to let your guard down out there.
Nioh 3 is available now on PS5 and PC.
