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Six years since the last game (and after a brief trip over to Ancient China in Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty), Team Ninja’s premier soulslike series returns with Nioh 3. And my word, was it worth the wait.

Review information

Platform reviewed: PC
Available on: PS5, PC
Release date: February 6, 2026

Nioh 3 will feel familiar to fans of the other two titles in, but it’s clearly taken inspiration from other Team Ninja games that were released in the interim. Here we have the addition of a semi-open-world akin to Rise of the Ronin, and even a new style shift mechanic that isn’t wholly unlike the moveset variety of Ninja Gaiden 4 or Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin.

In short, Nioh 3 feels like a culmination of most things Team Ninja has put out over the past decade. It’s a brilliant evolution of what makes the series so special in the first place, maintaining that lightning-fast combat and dizzying build variety.

Meanwhile, the formula has evolved to bring something entirely fresh to the table. As much as I adore Nioh 2 and think it’s one of the best soulslike games out there, I don’t know if I can go back after the brilliance of Nioh 3.

Though as much as I’ve loved my time with Team Ninja’s latest outing, there are undoubtedly blemishes. Performance on PC is a bit all over the place; graphics options are plentiful, but the game does struggle in denser environments and has a habit of forcing DLSS, at least on my rig.

As for the game itself, Ninja Style - which I love, by the way - does feel a little over-tuned. Few enemies are able to keep up with your high evasion in this style, and the trade-off of not being able to replenish your stamina via a Ki Pulse (an ability that refills a portion of stamina with a carefully-timed R1 press) isn’t much of a downside.

Aspects of Nioh 3 like this, as well as the ability to fast-travel between shrines, freely respec at any time, and the sheer versatility offered by the style switching system, make for a game that feels overall a little easier than prior entries.

While not as much of a cakewalk as Wo Long felt at times (with its immensely generous parry system, especially), there’s a much more lenient difficulty curve in Nioh 3 that should feel more welcoming to newcomers, but could frustrate series diehards who may not feel reasonably challenged until much later sections of the game.

Shifting across time

(Image credit: Koei Tecmo)

In the original Nioh, players took on the role of a set character - Irish swordsman William. Nioh 2 gave us agency to create our own characters, albeit relegating us to an unnamed protagonist.

Nioh 3, meanwhile, feels like a combination of both. We play as a character known as Tokugawa Takechiyo, though we still have full control over their appearance and gender via the returning character creator.

Best bit

(Image credit: Koei Tecmo)

Nioh 3’s dual styles are a real breath of fresh air for the series, and a multi-faceted mechanic in its own right. The game rewards strategic use of both Samurai and Ninja styles, but if you prefer one or the other, it’s still perfectly playable from start to finish. You just might find that some areas and bosses give you a bit of a harder time if you stick to just one style.

After a brief tutorial section, Takechiyo is thrust back in time to the Warring States period of Japanese history when their brother, Kunimatsu, enacts a coup brought on by jealousy of Takechiyo being chosen to succeed the seat of the shogun. There, players will side with Tokugawa Ieyasu in an effort to prevent legendary warlord Takeda Shingen - in league with an army of yokai - from claiming the seat for himself.

It all starts off in typical Nioh fashion. You’ll pair up with (or face off against) known figures from the Warring States period, including Hattori Hanzo and Ii Naotora. And roving bandits will be the least of your worries, as once again, Japan has been overrun by yokai - demonic entities that take on several monstrous forms.

The Nioh games usually take place over a number of years, but Nioh 3 has expanded this concept and features events across multiple generations at various periods of time - each one offering a whole new map to explore. I was greatly surprised at the variety of locales on offer, and Team Ninja has done a wonderful job providing a broad range of settings, some of which very much came out of leftfield.

It takes two (styles)

(Image credit: Koei Tecmo)

So how’s combat, then? Well, Team Ninja has taken a boldly different approach this time around. The core gimmick of Nioh 3’s combat is its dual styles. Samurai Style is, broadly, Nioh as you know it.

You can switch between mid, high, and low stances for a variety of different moves depending on your weapon type of choice. New here, though, are Martial Arts, which you can activate upon filling a gauge by landing attacks or successfully guarding. The style feels a good bit stronger and weightier than what I was used to in Nioh 2.

That provides a noticeable divide between Samurai and Ninja styles. The latter, then, is a much more agile form. You move much quicker in combat, and your dodging ability and attack speed are greatly enhanced. As mentioned, Ninja’s trade-off is that you can’t recover Ki via Ki Pulses, as you can in Samurai Style. However, you recover Ki very quickly while in this form, thus offsetting the drawback a fair bit, at least in the first half of the game before the challenge level really ramps up.

Ninja Style was definitely my preferred way to play much of Nioh 3. And given that Samurai and Ninja have their own unique weapon types and armor sets - of which you can form loadouts for both - you certainly can pick one style and stick with it. But as I progressed through the game, I found plenty of scenarios that played to the strengths of both.

Ninja’s ability to use magic, for example, makes it great for crowd control and dispatching enemies with elemental weaknesses. Samurai is fantastic in one-on-one duels against tougher opponents, though, as proper use of Martial Arts can quickly drain an opponent’s Ki for a quick and easy critical hit.

Get out there

(Image credit: Koei Tecmo)

Nioh 3’s shift to open field level design brings many, many worthwhile changes with it. You’ll no longer pick missions from a simple map screen. Instead, more detailed levels are baked into a larger, explorable environment.

Each explorable area is divided into smaller parts, each with an exploration level. You’ll passively increase this as you explore, including finding new shrines, treasure chests, or clearing bases overrun by bandits or yokai. Increasing the exploration level of an area will gradually reveal things you can find within.

Getting as much exploration done as possible is certainly worth it, too. You’ll often find textbooks that allow you to learn new skills and Martial Arts, as well as no shortage of Samurai and Ninja’s Locks. These automatically grant you a skill point for their respective style and the weapon types therein. No longer do you have to grind out weapon usage in order to earn these skill points. If you find a new weapon type you’re desperate to try, you can load some points into it with little hassle.

That’s doubly true in Nioh 3, as you can freely reset and reallocate skill points at zero cost. I love this change, as it means you’re more actively encouraged to settle into a build that’s right for you.

Like in Code Vein 2, if you fancy a quick build change in Nioh 3, it’s blissfully easy to do. This also goes for your more general stats, which you level up at shrines. And handily, a diagram on this screen will let you know which stats work best for each weapon type. Super convenient, and means you’ll be spending less time stressing over builds, and more time trying them out.

Thorough exploration also ties into the revamped Titles system, which is now broken down into categories and offers various permanent buffs and stat increases, such as healing item drop rates, stealth effectiveness (yes, you’ll really be racking up the backstabs in Nioh 3), and general melee attack damage against certain foes. Basically, actions like taking over bases or simply dispatching enemies in either Style will earn you points in their respective categories, which you can periodically redeem in the Titles menu.

There’s just a lot of stuff that contributes to your overall power in Nioh 3. To the point where it can make the first couple of chapters a bit of a cakewalk. Bosses, by and large, still present a steep challenge, and you’ll still run into a fair few gatekeepers to your progress. But overall, I’d say Nioh 3 is a touch easier than its direct predecessor.

Feeling the heat

(Image credit: Koei Tecmo)

That is, of course, until you reach one of several Crucible areas. Crucibles are another addition I really love. Effectively acting as mid and end-of-chapter levels, a Crucible is an enormous yokai realm that comes with various gameplay modifiers - one of which is a reduction to your maximum health upon taking damage.

This makes Crucibles particularly dangerous. However, the rewards for exploring within are very much worth it, as it’s in these areas that you’ll typically find higher-end gear and earn more experience generally upon killing enemies. Crucibles are definitely a step-up in difficulty, and the demonic tone shift within them provides a suitably climactic bookend to each major area.

I didn’t think it was possible for Team Ninja to one-up Nioh 2 in as many ways as it has with Nioh 3, but I’m beyond pleased that it does. It’s a fresh-feeling take on the soulslike formula in general, combining Nioh’s satisfyingly quick action with a richer, more fleshed-out world to explore.

The game could definitely use some work on PC in the performance department, and there are certainly some enemy types I wish the developer had left in the past (the snake-like Nure-Onna is the bane of my existence). But crucially, it’s a game I’ve often been unable to put down, if only to see what kinds of wonderful locations and bosses await around each and every corner.

Should I play Nioh 3?Play it if...

You want an awesome open world to get stuck into
Nioh 3’s shift to an open-field format follows in the footsteps of Elden Ring and Code Vein 2, in providing a richly-detailed, explorable world that’s jam-packed with things to see and do. Exploration objectives aren’t overwhelming, either, with a reasonable amount to find in each designated area.

You like changing gameplay styles on the fly
Samurai and Ninja styles add yet another layer of depth to Nioh’s excellent combat. Shifting between the two depending on the situation is a wonderful little puzzle in and of itself, but the game doesn’t discourage sticking with one or the other if you’d prefer.

You were hoping for a smoother difficulty curve
Nioh 3 does an excellent job of easing new players into its brand of challenge. An easier early game compared to its predecessors is great for those who want to get to grips with exploration and testing out new builds. Still, it’s by no means an easy game, with later chapters and Crucible sections making damn sure of that.

Don't play it if...

You’re not keen on loot-heavy games
Unlike most of its peers, Nioh 3 (like the other games in the series) isn’t shy of showering you with loot on a near-constant basis. Enemies erupt into weapons, armor, and trinkets upon death, meaning inventory management can quickly become an issue.

You need to clear your backlog first
Nioh 3 is a massive game. Even after my 50 or so hours with it, I certainly hadn’t seen and done absolutely everything the game has to offer. If you’re the completionist type, I definitely still recommend Nioh 3, but be sure to make room for it before getting stuck in.

Accessibility

Nioh 3 has some basic accessibility options. Full controller assignment and keybinds are supported. Furthermore, subtitle options include size and the ability to display the speaker, and sound effect captions.

Colorblind settings are limited, but there does exist an option to alter the color perception settings of important text and loot rarity color patterns. There is also an option for the game to play a sound effect when you get near an object that you can interact with, such as doors, characters, and items.

How I reviewed Nioh 3

My playthrough of Nioh 3 lasted around 50 hours, including the main campaign and a huge chunk of exploration and side objectives.

I played the game on PC (via Steam) for this review, with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 GPU and primarily using the 8BitDo Ultimate 2 as my controller of choice. I also made use of the Nacon RIG 900 Max HS gaming headset to experience the game’s atmospheric audio design.

First reviewed February 2026

Nioh 3’s changes to the series’ established formula make for a fresh yet familiar feeling game, and I can’t get enough of it.

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Constant Contact was founded in 1995 by Randy Parker, initially known as Roving Software before switching to its current name in 2004. It's one of the oldest email marketing software tools in existence. Since its inception, it has since expanded from a simple email marketing tool into a full-fledged online marketing platform for different types of campaigns, including social media, web, and SMS. 

Constant Contact has acquired a lot of other companies to expand, such as CardStar, a loyalty rewards app, and Bantam Live, a social CRM startup. In 2015, Constant Contact itself was sold to IT company Endurance International for $1.1 billion. In 2021, private equity firm Clearlake Capital acquired Endurance International and spun off Constant Contact as a standalone business.

(Image credit: Constant Contact)Constant Contact: Plans and pricing

Plan

Starting Rate (paid annually)

Renewal Rate (paid annually)

Lite

$10.20/month

$12/month

Standard

$29.75/month

$35/month

Premium

$68/month

$80/month

Lead Gen & CRM

Contact sales

$449/month

Note: Annual pricing reflects 15% discount for 12-month prepayment. Nonprofit organizations receive 30% discount. SMS add-on available for US customers starting at $10/month for up to 500 messages. Premium plan includes 500 SMS messages monthly.

Constant Contact restructured its pricing in 2025, moving away from Core and Plus plans to three main tiers: Lite, Standard, and Premium. The platform no longer offers a free plan, but provides a generous 60-day free trial that's 2x the industry standard.

The Lite plan starts at $12/month for 500 contacts and includes basic email marketing features, one welcome automation template, drag-and-drop email editor, social posting, AI writing assistance, and 300+ integrations. However, it's limited to one user and allows only 10x your contact count in monthly sends. This plan suits solopreneurs or small businesses with minimal automation needs.

The Standard plan begins at $35/month for 500 contacts and adds subject line A/B testing, three automation templates, email scheduling, resend to non-openers, advanced segmentation, social advertising capabilities, and allows up to three users. Monthly email sends increase to 12x your contact count, making this the most popular choice for growing businesses.

The Premium plan starts at $80/month for 500 contacts and includes everything in Standard plus unlimited automation templates, unlimited custom segments, unlimited users, 500 SMS messages monthly, advanced reporting with heatmaps, SEO recommendations, lookalike ad targeting for social media, and 24x your contact count in monthly sends.

For businesses requiring comprehensive CRM capabilities, Constant Contact offers a separate Lead Gen & CRM plan starting at $449/month, developed in partnership with SharpSpring. This includes advanced marketing automation, lead scoring, sales pipeline management, and centralized analytics.

Pricing scales with contact list size across all tiers. For example, at 2,500 contacts, Lite costs approximately $45/month, Standard costs $80/month, and Premium costs $130/month. Lists exceeding 50,000 contacts require custom pricing quotes. The platform offers a 15% discount for 12-month prepayment and 30% discount for nonprofit organizations. A 30-day money-back guarantee applies to all new subscriptions.

(Image credit: Constant Contact)How does Constant Contact use AI?

Constant Contact introduced its AI Content Generator in 2023 and has continued expanding AI capabilities across the platform. AI features are accessible on all paid plans with no additional credit-based pricing requirements, which is a big relief for budget conscious startups. According to Constant Contact, nearly half of surveyed small businesses now use the AI tools to write emails, subject lines, or social posts.

Their core AI offering is the AI Content Generator, which helps create email copy, subject lines, SMS messages, and social media posts directly within the interface. You simply provide a few keywords, select the desired tone (friendly, professional, informative, urgent, etc.), and the AI generates customized content.

Then, Campaign Builder uses AI to set up multi-channel marketing campaigns with just a few clicks. You select your campaign goals while AI handles the heavy lifting of campaign structure and coordinates messaging across email, social media, and SMS channels.

BrandKit represents another practical AI addition on their part. By simply entering your website URL, you can automatically extract your logo, brand colors, and imagery, creating a library of customizable branded assets that can be reused across emails, social posts, and other marketing materials.

While these AI features provide valuable time-saving benefits, Constant Contact emphasizes that AI-generated content still requires human review and editing. It highlights businesses like like Sky Candle Co. and the Spanish restaurant Lunya, which have successfully integrated these AI tools into their workflows.

Constant Contact: Features

For business owners that are novices at design, Constant Contact has over a hundred customizable templates- already optimized for mobile. Another neat feature will scan your website and auto-generate a template themed for your website’s colors and images.

Editing of these templates is a snap with drag-and-drop layouts or image and text boxes. Users with coding skills will appreciate the feature to create an email template based on a custom code.

To build your contact list, Constant Contact offers the option to enter your contacts one by one, import them from a spreadsheet or file, or import them from Gmail or Microsoft Outlook. 

With your contact list complete, you then create segments, which enables you to target, for example, customers who haven’t opened an email in a while via a special promo or update. 

Constant Contact also integrates with Shopify and WooCommerce, enabling you to create contact list segments based on what customers have purchased. With Constant Contact’s integration with ecommerce, customers can also shop your store directly from their inbox.

We also appreciate the email automation tools. Automation can reduce the workload, with such features as the ability to send an automatic resend of the email to a non-opener.

(Image credit: Constant Contact)Constant Contact: Interface and in use

An ease to set up and get started with, Constant Contact takes just a few minutes to register a new account. With your account created, you’ll be queried with a few questions about your business and any existing contact lists. 

Intuitively simple to set up, the web interface makes it pretty easy to find what you’re looking for, be it campaigns, contacts, or reports.

Constant Contact also has apps available for both iOS and Android. While the app is sleek and the ability to draft emails and organize contacts on the go has its appeal, the usefulness is extremely hindered by the inability to edit draft email campaigns created on desktop. By way of example, users that want to draft a campaign on their work computer, and then edit it from their iPad later will be disappointed.

Constant Contact: Support

Constant Contact offers direct support through email, live chat, and telephone. You can chat with a live support agent from Monday through Friday or contact them via phone from Monday to Saturday (hours and department phone numbers vary depending on your region). There's also an online community where you can interact with other users and exchange solutions to each other's problems. 

This platform also offers many other support resources for users. There's the Knowledge Base, which contains a lot of articles and user guides for all features concerning the platform. You can also find video tutorials to learn about the platform in an interactive way. Likewise, Constant Contact hosts regular webinars for users to interact with marketing experts and ask questions. If you're finding it difficult to run email campaigns, you can hire a marketing professional from Constant Contact's directory.

Constant Contact offers excellent customer support, which is one of its main selling points. 

Constant Contact: The competition

For the budget conscious, Mailchimp is a worthy competitor to Constant Contact. It offers most of the same email marketing basics, such as templates and list segmentation- at a lower price. Even further, Mailchimp offers a free plan if you have under 2,000 contacts, making it ideal for users who are just starting out.

For businesses that have webinars as a core component, it might be worth looking into GetResponse, to allow for easy integration of webinars with your email contact list.

Constant Contact: Final verdict

Constant Contact easily makes the shortlist of names people think of when it comes to email marketing, and there’s plenty of reasons why. Constant Contact is easy to set up and use, offering high levels of support and security.

However, the shortcoming is that there’s nothing really setting Constant Contact apart from its competitors among email marketing services. At least Constant Contact offers a 60-day free trial, so it’s worth checking out. However, temper your enthusiasm as you can’t expect game-changing innovation at these levels.

Constant Contact can stand out with the separately featured and more comprehensive CRM plan, but as with the Constant Contact Website Builder, we'll consider that in its own review.

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