Nioh 3 and the Design Trade-offs of Team Ninja

Refining Combat, But What About the World?

As someone who deeply admires Team Ninja and has followed their work for years, I recognise the studio’s remarkable consistency in delivering tight, responsive, and mechanically sophisticated combat experiences. From Ninja Gaiden to Nioh and, more recently, Rise of the Ronin, their design philosophy is clearly rooted in high-skill, action-oriented gameplay. With the recent announcement of Nioh 3, scheduled for release in 2026 and already accompanied by a playable demo for PS5 users, expectations are naturally high. This third instalment brings with it a much-requested evolution (larger, more open environments) but it also reopens the conversation about a recurring weakness in Team Ninja’s design: world building.

A Promising Shift in Structure

One of the most promising aspects of Nioh 3 is its shift towards a semi-open world structure. After two titles built around tightly designed, mission-based levels, this new approach has the potential to refresh the formula and offer players more freedom of movement, exploration, and narrative pacing. It’s a welcome change, especially for a third game in a series that, while mechanically solid, was beginning to feel creatively boxed in. That said, simply expanding the size of maps isn’t enough if the worlds themselves aren’t engaging to explore.

Combat Excellence, Environmental Underdevelopment

This is where Team Ninja tends to fall short. Their games, particularly in the Nioh franchise, often prioritise combat to such a degree that other elements feel secondary. While this aligns with the expectations of their core audience (players who value fast, precise, and punishing encounters ) it doesn’t mean that the environments should be treated as background decoration. Exploration should be a meaningful part of the experience, even if it’s not the main draw.

Rise of the Ronin showed that Team Ninja is capable of striking a better balance. While it wasn’t groundbreaking as an open world, it offered a landscape that felt enjoyable to traverse, with enough variation and life to justify slowing down between fights. It proved that a Team Ninja game can still deliver excellent combat while also encouraging a more immersive interaction with the environment.

Rise of the Ronin (2024)

The Missed Potential of Folklore and Exploration

What Nioh has lacked so far is exactly that: a compelling world worth getting lost in. The first two games featured mostly corridor-like levels, caves, and ruined structures, which often left little room for environmental storytelling or discovery. Admittedly, these are trademarks of many souls-like games, but with examples like Elden Ring redefining what exploration can look like in the genre, the bar has been raised. There is a noticeable gap in the market for a game that lets us fight yōkai in a fantastical version of Japan while also giving us a world that invites curiosity. A title in the style of Rise of the Ronin, but fully embracing the mythological angle of Nioh, could be that game.

From what the Nioh 3 demo shows, there are improvements in this area. The world design feels somewhat more open and atmospheric. Still, much of it retains the studio’s usual aesthetic: rocky landscapes, ruins, and dim corridors. There’s a clear opportunity here to bring more architectural depth and visual identity to feudal Japan beyond what we’ve seen in previous titles. Folklore is not only about monsters, it’s about the world they inhabit, and how it interacts with human culture. A more thoughtful world design could elevate the game’s fantasy setting and make it feel more complete.

Nioh 3 (2026)

Technical Foundations: The Katana Engine

Another point worth addressing is the technical foundation behind these games. Team Ninja has transitioned to its proprietary Katana Engine, first also used in Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty and Rise of the Ronin. While this engine enables smoother animation systems and improved environmental structure compared to previous tools, it still presents visual and performance limitations — especially when viewed against other AAA productions expected in 2026. The rendering quality, lighting, and texture detail are serviceable but not particularly cutting-edge. For a third entry in a major franchise, players understandably anticipate a more visible leap in fidelity and presentation. This isn’t necessarily a major flaw, but it highlights the need for continued technical iteration if Team Ninja wants to remain visually competitive.

UI/UX Design: Functional but Visually Dated

Alongside graphics, the UI (GUI ) is another element that could benefit from a design refresh. While UX (user experience)in Team Ninja games is generally strong and functional, the interface design itself feels outdated and, at times, even unattractive. As a UI/UX and graphic designer, I’m particularly aware of how much visual communication matters in player immersion and usability. Given how far interface design has come across the industry, it would be a missed opportunity not to modernise this aspect in Nioh 3.

Strengths That Shouldn’t Be Overlooked

Despite these criticisms, it’s important to acknowledge what Team Ninja consistently does exceptionally well. Their ability to blend Japanese history with dark fantasy has carved out a unique identity in the action game landscape. The combat is still among the best in the genre, with fluid mechanics, varied weapon styles, and an ever-present sense of intensity. When it comes to gameplay, few studios deliver this level of polish and depth.

Nioh (2017)

Conclusion: A Path Forward

In the end, Nioh 3 has the potential to become something greater than just another excellent combat-driven game. By expanding its focus and treating world building with the same care as its combat design, Team Ninja could create not only a great Nioh sequel but one of the most memorable action titles of the decade. With a little more investment in environmental storytelling, architectural beauty, and immersive design, the world of Nioh could become as captivating as the battles fought within it.