Nioh is an action-RPG franchise developed by Team NINJA and published by Koei Tecmo, which came into being in 2017 as a bold reinterpretation of the souls-like genre in a Japanese historical setting. The first installment made a strong impression for successfully blending the demanding gameplay of a dark souls inspiration with a rich narrative around feudal Japan, told through a Western character, in a world populated by yokai and legendary warriors.
The franchise traditionally revolves around three pillars: an adjustable but accessible difficulty, an elaborate loot system inherited from role-playing games, and deep quests set against the backdrop of Japanese history. Nioh 2, released in 2020, only reinforced the formula with its acclaimed endgame and enriched progression mechanics. Nioh 3, released in 2026, extended this rise with a larger open world and an accessibility meant to let new players approach the series even without prior experience.
With nearly 10 million copies of the series sold, the saga has carved out a prime spot in the demanding action-RPG landscape, alongside the major franchises, all while staying true to its distinctive identity.
Games in the Nioh franchise