Nioh and Nioh 2 are two top-notch action role-playing games by Team Ninja and Koei Tecmo, set in Japan's Sengoku period. The games perfectly combine historical and mystical elements, creating a unique and challenging gaming experience with a distinctive masocore style of gameplay.


In Nioh 1, players take on the role of William Adams – an Irish sailor on a journey to pursue the sorcerer Edward Kelley. The game is set in the year 1600, when yokai appear amidst a chaotic war. William must face both humans and yokai in his quest to find the enemy.

The gameplay of Nioh 1 stands out with a fast-paced combat system, requiring skill in managing Ki (stamina) and proficiency with various types of weapons. Players can switch between three combat stances: high, medium, and low, each offering distinct advantages and disadvantages in different situations.

Nioh 2 is a prequel, allowing players to create the character Hidechiyo – a half-human half-yokai warrior with extensive appearance customization. The game introduces many new features such as Yokai Shift to combine powers with yokai, the Burst Counter system to effectively counterattack, and Soul Core which allows collecting skills from defeated enemies.

The combat system in Nioh 2 has been comprehensively improved with Dark Realm – a new mechanic where enemies can create dark zones that increase the difficulty for players. In addition, the ability to use yokai powers opens up more diverse strategies compared to the first installment.

Both parts have a rich loot system with countless equipment, weapons, and items that can be collected from enemies. Each item has random stats and effects, motivating players to farm and optimize their character builds.

The multiplayer mode in the game allows players to cooperate to overcome challenges. Nioh 2 also adds a unique Benevolent Graves system, allowing the summoning of other players' AI to assist in single matches.

The Complete Edition of Nioh 2 includes the original game and 3 expansion DLCs: The Tengu’s Disciple takes players back to the late Heian period, Darkness in the Capital takes place during this time with a backdrop of rampaging demons, and The First Samurai is the conclusion of the saga at Suzuka Pass with the battle against the arch-enemy Otakemaru.

