Thinking about diving into Team Ninja’s latest samurai epic? Let’s cut straight to the chase: Nioh 3 is a massive game that demands serious time investment. Whether you’re a series veteran or jumping in fresh, here’s everything you need to know about the journey ahead.
How Long to Beat Nioh 3?
Your playthrough time depends heavily on your playstyle and experience with the series. Here’s what you can expect:
- Main Story Focus: 50-60 hours
- Standard Playthrough: 60-80 hours
- Completionist Run: 90-100 hours
The average player will spend around 60 hours to finish Nioh 3, though this can stretch significantly depending on how much optional content you tackle. Unlike previous entries, Nioh 3 embraces open-world exploration, which means there’s tons more to discover beyond the main path.
What Affects Your Completion Time in Nioh 3?
Several factors will influence how quickly you finish the game:
Boss Difficulty – Nioh 3 pulls no punches. Expect to hit walls against certain bosses, especially if you’re new to the series. These challenging encounters can add hours to your runtime.
Optional Content – While technically optional, you’ll likely tackle most side content anyway. Why? You need that precious Amrita to level up, making those “optional” areas practically mandatory.
Exploration – The open-world format encourages wandering off the beaten path. Three main areas (Warring States, Heian, and Bakumatsu) are fully explorable, rewarding curious players with valuable loot and upgrades.
Breaking Down the Story Missions in Nioh 3
Nioh 3 takes you through seven distinct areas across different Japanese historical periods. However, only three areas function as true open worlds you can freely revisit. The others serve as more linear, story-focused chapters.
Complete Area List:
- 1622 CE – Edo
- 1572 CE – Warring States
- 1190 CE – Heian
- 247 CE – Antiquity
- 1622 CE – Return to Edo
- 1864 CE – Bakumatsu
- 1622 CE – Final Battle of Edo
The bulk of your time gets spent in the Warring States, Heian, and Bakumatsu eras. These massive zones pack in most of the game’s content, while the other areas move the story forward with heavier cutscene focus.
Total Story Missions
You’ll complete 16 main story missions to reach the credits. Here’s the breakdown per era:
- Edo (Starting Area): 1 mission
- Warring States Period: 5 missions
- Heian Era: 3 missions
- Antiquity: 2 missions
- Bakumatsu: 3 missions
- Return to Edo: 1 mission
- Final Battle of Edo: 1 mission
Don’t worry about missing items in linear areas – you can replay any mission using Battle Scrolls at Shrines, letting you return to locked zones.
What Happens After You Beat Nioh 3?
Finishing Nioh 3 unlocks Shogun’s Journey, the game’s version of New Game+. Your original playthrough becomes “Heir’s Journey,” while Shogun’s Journey ramps up the challenge with tougher enemies and better loot.
Taking your maxed-out weapons back to early bosses? Absolutely satisfying. This endgame mode adds significant replay value for those chasing the perfect build or simply wanting more demon-slaying action.
Planning Your Playthrough
Most players won’t see massive differences between “standard” and “completionist” runtimes – almost 5-10 hours at most. Since you’ll naturally engage with side content while farming Amrita, you’re essentially doing a near-complete playthrough anyway.
Bottom line: Set aside 60+ hours for your first adventure through feudal Japan’s yokai-infested timelines. Factor in extra time if you’re rusty with the series’ deep combat mechanics or unfamiliar with the punishing difficulty that defines Nioh games.
Frequently Asked Questions
Technically yes, but you’ll struggle. Side content provides crucial Amrita for leveling, making most “optional” areas practically necessary for progression.
Nioh 3 is significantly longer due to its open-world format. Previous entries averaged 40-50 hours, while Nioh 3 pushes 60-80 hours for standard playthroughs.
While both are challenging, Nioh 3 emphasizes precise combat mastery and complex systems, whereas Elden Ring offers more flexibility in tackling challenges. Difficulty is subjective to playstyle.
Nioh 3 features dozens of boss encounters spread across its 60+ hour campaign, including both required story bosses and optional mini-bosses.
Yes! Battle Scrolls at Shrines let you replay any mission, and Shogun’s Journey (NG+) allows full access to all areas with increased difficulty.
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