Nioh 2 is a 2020 action role-playing game created by Team Ninja and Kou Shibusawa and published by Koei Tecmo for the PlayStation 4. It was released by Sony Interactive Entertainment outside Japan on PlayStation consoles. The game is a prequel to Nioh (2017). Versions for PlayStation 5 and Windows, titled Nioh 2: Complete Edition, which include all previous downloadable content, were released on February 5, 2021. The game received mostly positive reviews from critics and sold 2.5 million units by February 2022. A sequel, Nioh 3, was released on February 6, 2026.
Gameplay
Nioh 2 is an action role-playing game similar to its first version. Players can create their own character, who is a mix of a yōkai and a human. This gives the main character powers based on yōkai from traditional Japanese stories. Players can use different weapons, such as odachi and kusarigama, and gain new skills and special powers as they progress through the game. When players defeat a yōkai, some may leave behind a "Soul Core." Players can use yōkai abilities after purifying the Soul Cores at a shrine.
At locations called "Benevolent Graves," players can call in other players controlled by artificial intelligence to help in battles. The game also includes a mode where three players can team up together to play cooperatively.
Synopsis
Nioh 2 is a video game set in Japan during the late 1500s. Most of the story’s chapters are a prequel to the first Nioh game, while the final chapters take place after the events of the first game’s ending, which follows the Siege of Osaka. Players control a character named Hidechiyo, a half-yōkai (supernatural creature) called a "Shiftling." Hidechiyo’s appearance and gender are chosen by the player. Hidechiyo’s journey begins during the Sengoku Era when they meet Tōkichirō, a merchant searching for Amrita, and Mumyo, a demon hunter from the Sohaya group. Hidechiyo becomes involved in the rise and fall of the warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi. The main antagonist is Kashin Koji, a mysterious figure connected to a powerful yōkai named Otakemaru. Kashin Koji opposes Hidechiyo and influences events throughout the game. A key item in the game is the Seven-Branched Sword, called Sohayamaru, which was used to defeat Otakemaru in the past and is named after the Sohaya group.
During the story, Hidechiyo meets and works with several historical figures, including Saitō Dōsan, Takenaka Hanbei, Oda Nobunaga, and his family, Akechi Mitsuhide, and others. Hidechiyo also fights against enemies like Imagawa Yoshimoto and Saitō Yoshitatsu. Characters from the first game, such as Tokugawa Ieyasu and Yasuke, return. Other historical figures, like Abe no Seimei and Sen no Rikyū, help Hidechiyo. The protagonist of Nioh, William, appears near the end of the game, still searching for Maria. Hattori Hanzō, whose father is Masanari, also makes a brief appearance.
After the main story, three downloadable content (DLC) chapters are available. These chapters take Hidechiyo back to the Heian period to uncover the origins of Sohayamaru and Otakemaru’s hatred for humans. The first DLC, "The Tengu’s Disciple," sends Hidechiyo to the end of the Genpei War, where they meet Minamoto no Yoshitsune and his ally Benkei. The second DLC, "Darkness in the Capital," has Hidechiyo team up with Abe no Seimei, Minamoto no Yorimitsu, and others to stop Ashiya Dōman. The third DLC, "The First Samurai," introduces Suzuka Gozen, who reveals connections between Hidechiyo, Otakemaru, and Sohayamaru.
The game begins with Hidechiyo waking up from a recurring nightmare. After saving a villager, Hidechiyo finds a mysterious letter that leads them to Jusanzakura. Clearing the village of yōkai and bandits, Hidechiyo fights the giant yōkai Mezuki and gains control of their powers until Tōkichirō, the letter’s sender, helps them. Hidechiyo and Tōkichirō join Saitō Dōsan’s forces but later face Dōsan’s successor, Saitō Yoshiatsu, who rebels. Dōsan sacrifices himself to save Hidechiyo.
Following Dōsan’s advice, Hidechiyo and Tōkichirō meet Oda Nobunaga, who sends them to attack Imagawa Yoshimoto and help build a castle. They meet Takenaka Hanbei, purify his Guardian Spirit with Spirit Stones, and confront Saitō Yoshitatsu, who is revealed to be Hidechiyo’s twin. Kashin Koji appears from Yoshitatsu’s body and disappears. Nobunaga allows Hidechiyo and Tōkichirō to be called "Hideyoshi." Later, Hidechiyo saves Mumyo, who changes her opinion of them. They later fight Kashin Koji during Nobunaga’s war against the Azai and Asakura clans.
During the attack on Ishiyama Honganji, Hanbei dies from illness. Tōkichirō is manipulated by Kashin Koji into betraying Nobunaga, leading to the Honnō-ji Incident, where Nobunaga and his wife die. Tōkichirō later betrays Akechi Mitsuhide, who is defeated by Hidechiyo. Kashin Koji leaves Tōkichirō’s body, warning Hidechiyo about dreams and Spirit Stones.
Hidechiyo rescues Shibata Katsuie and Oichi but must kill Katsuie after he transforms into a yōkai. They meet Mitsuhide’s new form, Tenkai, and Sen no Rikyū. Hidechiyo confronts Tōkichirō, who is later resurrected by Kashin Koji. Kashin Koji uses Tōkichirō to turn yōkai into beasts, forcing Hidechiyo to fight and kill Tōkichirō.
Hidechiyo awakens in The Interim, a place for spirits, where Hanbei’s spirit leads them to their mother, Miyoshino. Miyoshino reveals Kashin Koji is Otakemaru, a yōkai sealed by Sohayamaru. Hidechiyo restores Sohayamaru by combining their dagger, Mumyo’s talisman, and Spirit Stones. They defeat Lady Osakabe, a giant yōkai, and use her Spirit Stones to restore Sohayamaru. Hidechiyo frees Tōkichirō from Kashin Koji’s control before Tōkichirō dies. Kashin Koji is defeated, leaving behind a horn.
Hidechiyo uses Sohayamaru to seal Otakemaru in Byōdō-in forever. Mumyo stays to watch over Hidechiyo as they sleep. Later, William, the protagonist of Nioh, arrives.
Development and release
Nioh 2 was created by Koei Tecmo teams Team Ninja and Kou Shibusawa. Fumihiko Yasuda from Team Ninja returned as the director after leading the development of the first game.
Sony Interactive Entertainment announced Nioh 2 for the PlayStation 4 at E3 2018 during a press conference. An open beta version of the game started on November 1, 2019. The game was released on March 13, 2020. Later, versions for PlayStation 5 and Windows, titled Nioh 2 Remastered – Complete Edition and Nioh 2: Complete Edition, were released on February 5, 2021. These versions include all previously released downloadable content.
Reception
Nioh 2 received "generally favorable" reviews from critics, according to Metacritic, a website that collects and summarizes game reviews.
IGN wrote, "Nioh 2 is an improved version of its predecessor, making the good parts even better while mostly keeping the same problems. Its strong combat system is made better by new features like Soul Cores and Burst Counters, which change how enemies behave and how players fight. The game has a lot of depth, but this can also feel confusing because players must spend time learning and managing many systems. If players are willing to put in the effort, Nioh 2 is one of the most challenging and satisfying games of this generation." GameSpot added, "The game's difficult nature and the feelings it creates are part of Nioh's design. Its boss battles are still exciting, even though they can be frustrating. While the difficulty may feel like a challenge, it shows that Nioh 2 keeps players fully engaged for long periods."
Nioh 2 won the Award for Excellence at the Japan Game Awards. It was nominated for Best Action Game at The Game Awards 2020 and for Action Game of the Year at the 24th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards. It also won the Best Game You Suck At award at The Steam Awards 2021.
Nioh 2 sold 91,892 copies during its first week of release in Japan, making it the top-selling retail game in the country that week. It was also the best-selling game in the United Kingdom during its first week of release.
By April 2021, the game had sold over 2 million copies. By February 2022, it had sold 2.5 million copies. By October 2022, Nioh and Nioh 2 combined had sold over 7 million copies. In April 2025, Koei Tecmo reported that the Nioh series combined had sold over 7.5 million copies. As of May 2025, the Nioh series, including both Nioh and Nioh 2, has sold more than 8 million copies worldwide.
Sequels
A third game in the series, Nioh 3, is being made and will be released in early 2026. A special test version for PlayStation 5 was available only for a short time, from June 4, 2025, to June 18, 2025.