Nioh 2 is worth playing if you want a demanding action RPG built around learning intricate combat and taking on punishing bosses. Its stance changes, ki management and yokai abilities give fights a distinctive rhythm, but the dense systems, mission repetition and story told largely between missions make it a tougher recommendation for players seeking a relaxed or story-first adventure.
What do reviews say about Nioh 2?
GameSpot awarded Nioh 2 8/10, praising its precise combat and weapon-specific skills while warning that the bosses are exceptionally difficult. Reviewer Mike Epstein summed up the appeal as “Precise combat with a wide range of weapon-specific skills.” He also described the bosses as “extraordinarily difficult.” Read GameSpot’s review.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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The Nioh Collection (PS5) | $35.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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NIOH 2 Complete Edition Japanese ver. PS5 | $148.16 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
![Overpass 2 [GRA PS5]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51tlaNq6RQL._SL160_.jpg)
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Overpass 2 [GRA PS5] | $29.48 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Electronic Arts Nioh 2 Special Edition (PS4 Only) | $54.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Dead Island 2 - PS5 Game - D a One Edition | $39.99 | Buy on Amazon |
PC Gamer’s review of Nioh 2: The Complete Edition similarly praises the combat and level design, but notes that the long campaign and recurring environments can wear on players. Its verdict: “Raising the genre’s high bar, Nioh 2 runs and plays beautifully. But perhaps you can have too much of a good thing.” Read PC Gamer’s review.
Those reviews point to the game’s central trade-off: mastering its combat can be deeply satisfying, but the challenge and length are part of the commitment, not incidental hurdles.
#1 Best Overall
What makes Nioh 2’s combat different?
Nioh 2 is a Team Ninja action RPG released on March 13, 2020. GameSpot lists PC, PS4 and PS5 among its platforms. Rather than relying on a single attack pattern, combat asks you to manage your weapon stance, stamina-like ki and opportunities to use yokai powers.
Three stances and ki pulses
Each weapon has three stances—low, mid and high—that trade speed and damage against ki cost. After an attack chain, a well-timed ki pulse restores ki. It can also purify yokai realm circles, areas that otherwise hinder ki recovery. This makes timing and positioning active parts of offense and defense, rather than details to ignore between attacks. PC Gamer’s review discusses the stance and ki systems.
Rank #2
- Sharpen your skills - Prepare for the fight of your life with revamped mechanics that build on the fan-favorite elements of Nioh, requiring your full concentration and skill
- Choose your method of combat - Follow the way of the samurai with traditional weapons including swords and hatchets, or fill your Amrita gauge to wield mighty Yokai abilities and destroy monstrous foes via a variety of mighty attacks
- Improve your weapons with the Yokai Shift - Filling your Amrita gauge doesn’t just give you access to a powerful Yokai form, but also allows you to increase the stats of various weapons and add extra buffs, such as staggering foes and grappling downed enemies
- Help - and get help - from other players - Call upon the spectres left behind by other Nioh 2 players to aid you in combat. Their spirits will assist you until the end of the current level… or until they’re defeated
- Master every fighting style – learn the flow of combat and move with precision. Unleash combinations of attacks and dodges specific to a range of authentic samurai weapons, including polearms, katanas and axes
Weapons, skills and yokai options
Weapons have individual skill trees, and the game adds ninja tools, onmyo magic, yokai abilities and equipment choices. The Complete Edition’s expansions add Fists and Splitstaff to the weapon roster, according to PC Gamer. These options give players room to explore different approaches; the available reviews do not establish one required weapon or universally optimal build.
This breadth is also a source of friction. If you prefer a small, immediately readable set of abilities, the number of interconnected combat and gear systems may feel like overhead before it feels like freedom.
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Rank #3
- 30 vehicles official manufacturer, in 3 categories, UTV, ATV, Rock Bouncer
- 5 types of racing, off-road sprint, off-road track, mountain climbing, obstacle course, closed circuit
- Official manufacturers, equipment and sponsors
- A comprehensive career mode with team and calendar management
- Online races for up to 8 players
How hard is Nioh 2?
Expect to study enemies, recognize attack patterns and retry difficult encounters. GameSpot’s reviewer said very few bosses took fewer than a dozen attempts in their own playthrough. That is one reviewer’s experience, not a required attempt count or a prediction of how long any player will take.
Co-op can make progress easier: PC Gamer reports that players can summon up to two friends, as well as receive friendly AI assistance. Playing with help can soften the difficulty, but it does not establish that every encounter becomes effortless. PC Gamer’s review covers co-op.
Rank #4
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How are the story and levels?
The story provides a historical frame, but it is not the main reason to play. GameSpot describes it as connective tissue between missions, delivered through cutscenes and exposition between them. If you want a plot that drives most of the moment-to-moment experience, that approach may leave you wanting more.
PC Gamer praises the level construction and shortcuts, while also noting that environments can feel repetitive during a long campaign. Its reviewer reported spending about 70 hours on their own run; that figure is a personal experience, not a completion-time guarantee. Taken together, the reviews suggest a game with carefully built individual stages whose overall length and recurring visual ideas may test some players’ patience.
Best Value
- PlayStation 5 Video Game Deep Silver
- Colour: multi-coloured
- Dimensions: 13.5 x 17.3 x 1.8 cm
- Reference: S7188301
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Should you buy the base game or Complete Edition?
The Complete Edition is the straightforward choice for newcomers who want the base game and all three expansions: The Tengu’s Disciple, Darkness in the Capital and The First Samurai. Team Ninja describes it as including all Nioh 2 content. The base game may suit players who want to try the main campaign first, but compare current storefront prices and confirm exactly what a listing includes before purchasing. Team Ninja’s official Complete Edition page lists the included content.
On PC, Team Ninja lists customizable mouse and keyboard controls, gamepad compatibility, 4K Ultra-HD, ultrawide, HDR and 60/120 FPS support. The company marks the frame-rate modes as requiring compatible monitors and PC components. These are listed capabilities, not a promise that every computer will run at a particular resolution or frame rate. PC Gamer recommends a controller for the rapid stance changes and timing.
On PlayStation, the Complete Edition is listed for PS4 and PS5. PlayStation says PS4 Complete Edition owners can upgrade to the PS5 Complete Edition at no additional cost; owners of the PS4 base game upgrade to the PS5 base game and receive PS5 versions of DLC they own. A PS4 Blu-ray cannot be used to redeem an upgrade on a PS5 Digital Edition. Check the current regional store page for the terms that apply to your copy. PlayStation’s Nioh 2 page describes the editions and upgrade conditions.
For a PS5 buyer considering both remastered games, PlayStation also lists The Nioh Collection as a separate route that includes both remastered Nioh titles. Compare its contents and current price with the Nioh 2 Complete Edition before deciding.
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Who should play Nioh 2?
- Good fit: players who want a long, skill-intensive action RPG, enjoy experimenting with combat systems and are willing to retry hard bosses.
- Consider carefully: players who dislike frequent failure, extensive gear and skill management, or repeated environments.
- Look elsewhere if: your priority is a relaxed pace or a straightforward story that stays central throughout the campaign.
Nioh 2 is not best reduced to a Souls comparison: its stance shifts, ki pulses, weapon-specific skills and yokai mechanics give combat its own action-focused identity. The key question is whether that complexity sounds like a satisfying challenge or a burden.
Quick Recap
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