PlayStation 5 console exclusive Nioh 3 is already a record-breaking success according to the game’s developers. The game, which released on February 6, 2026 for the PC and PS5, is the latest in Koei Tecmo’s line of samurai-style Soulslikes, which began with the original Nioh in 2017.
The Nioh series has remained some of gaming’s most well-received Soulslikes since it was originally introduced. The Team Ninja-developed games were some of the first games in the genre outside FromSoftware’s own lineup to be embraced by players. The Nioh series’ positive reception helped prove to players and publishers alike that the formula could exist successfully in the hands of other development teams. The games blend a traditional Japanese aesthetic with more mystical aspects of lore, giving them a uniquely ethereal feel that helps to balance out their challenging gameplay.
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Nioh 3 Is Already Breaking Sales Records
Nioh 3 has already reached an incredibly impressive milestone, selling over 1 million copies in just two weeks. The game’s rapid success makes it the fastest selling title in the Nioh franchise, helping to push the series to 10 million copies sold worldwide. The achievement is made more impressive by the fact that Nioh 3 was released as a PS5 console exclusive, inherently limiting the number of console players it can reach to just those within Sony’s popular PlayStation ecosystem.
Critics have praised Nioh 3 for helping to propel the franchise forward with its new innovations to gameplay and exploration. While not entirely open world, the game’s “open zone” format helps it to stand out among its predecessors, granting players unprecedented freedom to explore its darkly beautiful world. Nioh 3 also features a new ninja-style combat option, adding a bit of variety to the samurai-inspired combat that the series has become known for. This emphasis on mobility and fast-paced combat makes the title feel fresh, and fans have been extremely receptive to the change.
One of gaming’s more divisive subgenres, the success of the latest Nioh title continues to show that fans of the Soulslike style of gameplay continue to support quality titles that release within the niche space. The game also wears its inspirations on its sleeve, with developers acknowledging that Nioh 3‘s boss fights were inspired by Lies of P. In a medium as iterative and inspired as game development, where entire new genres spring up based on the innovations of other titles, this level of admiration for competing products is important to ensure that games continue to evolve. Original ideas will often raise the standard of quality and polish expected in the games we play.
Nioh 3 may go on to inspire other titles created in the same style to build on the brilliance of Soulslike combat. While plenty of variety already exists within the subgenre, new and exciting ideas will always spring forward to help more franchises stand out among the crowd. The games that fit this label are often associated with their brutal difficulty, but the true takeaway from playing a Soulslike title is in appreciating the variety of approaches they provide to combat, exploration, and storytelling. As long as fans continue to support these titles, they will continue to be some of gaming’s most impressive achievements.
- Released
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February 6, 2026
- ESRB
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Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Suggestive Themes, Violence, In-Game Purchases, Users Interact
