Is Nioh an Open World Game?
The short answer is no, Nioh is not an open world game.
As an avid gamer and Souls-like fanatic who has played over 400 hours of Nioh 1 & 2 combined, I can definitively say Nioh employs a linear mission structure rather than a vast open world. But there‘s a lot more to this incredible action RPG than a simple label can convey. So strap on your samurai swords as we dive deep into Team Ninja‘s brutal masterpiece!
What Type of Game is Nioh Really?
Nioh creatively combines aspects of various gaming genres into one intensely challenging package:
- Non-Linear Mission Structure: While each main and sub mission takes place within confined spaces, you can tackle them in different orders over the course of William‘s epic quest for vengeance and redemption. This provides a nice balance between focused, handcrafted levels and player freedom to explore.
- Looter Gameplay: Defeated enemies spew forth all manners of swords, spears, armor, and rare accessories, offering addictive replayability and build variety. With familiar Diablo-esque color coded rarities and random stat rolls, no two playthroughs need be the same!
- RPG Progression: By gaining Amrita (experience) from fallen foes, you unlock new samurai skills and magic to further customize William‘s fighting style. Mixing new moves, weapons, ninjutsu, spells, and more into your arsenal keeps combat perpetually fresh.
- Dark Fantasy Setting: Yokai demons, shapeshifters, undead warriors, and locales drenched in blood populate feudal Japan, oozing atmosphere inspired by FromSoftware‘s Souls series.
- Difficult, Nuanced Combat: Battles demand equal parts patience, reflexes, stamina management, timely dodging, combo chaining, spacing, and more. Each enemy is a unique puzzle to solve with steel through deft swordplay and mastery of Nioh‘s various systems.
While it borrows elements from other beloved games, Nioh stands distinctly on its own as a grueling, immensely deep action RPG.
How Does Nioh‘s Level Design Compare to Open World Games?
Open world games offer vast continuous spaces that afford players total freedom to explore with few restrictions. Famous examples include Skyrim, Elden Ring, Horizon Forbidden West, and the recent Ghost of Tsushima.
By contrast, Nioh employs a mission structure segmented into confined, intricately designed levels focused on tense enemy encounters and environment navigation over pure exploration. Here is a more detailed level design comparison:
| Feature | Open World Games | Nioh |
|---|---|---|
| World Size | Massive continuous landmasses | Individual compact mission levels |
| Exploration | Total freedom to roam with few limits | Linear progression between specific start and end points |
| Focus | Scenic vistas, sprawling terrain, hidden secrets | Enemy mobs, complex layouts, lethal traps |
There are merits to both approaches. Open worlds thrive on mystery and player-driven adventure across sweeping landscapes. Nioh opts for handcrafted action that funnels gamers through carefully balanced challenges demanding complete mastery before progression.
Some may find Nioh‘s confined spaces claustrophobic after the ridiculous sprawl of games like Elden Ring or Fallout. But to me, Nioh provides a refreshing change of pace from the general open world formula prevalent across gaming today. The focused encounters force you to become the ultimate slayer of demons!
How Many Hours of Gameplay Does Nioh Provide?
Nioh is quite expansive, with scores of side missions padding out two massive story campaigns:
- Main Missions: 15 in Nioh 1, 17 in Nioh 2
- Sub-Missions: 34 in Nioh 1, 51 in Nioh 2
- Total Playtime: 90-120 hours per installment if you fully complete all content, more if playing on increased New Game+ difficulties.
Compare that to Bloodborne which can be finished in 50 hours including all content. So while not as endless as live service games like Destiny 2, there are mountains of bloody enhancements to uncover across feudal Japan for those possessing the skill to survive.
How Does Nioh‘s Difficulty Compare to Other Hard Games?
The Souls series undisputedly reigns as the poster child for hardcore difficulty in gaming. And yes, Nioh proudly upholds the brutal standards established by FromSoftware (while also benefiting from faster, more fluid combat animations).
But through my extensive gaming journeys, here are the select few titles I consider even more punishing than Nioh‘s epic challenges:
- Cuphead – Throw in run and gun platforming on top of bullet hell boss fights and you have gaming‘s ultimate test of reflexes and pattern recognition. The courageous woefully unprepared.
- Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice – Lightning fast sword clashes that demand perfect parrying framed by resurrection mechanics unforgiving to sloppiness. Forget everything you know about Souls combat and prepare for a rewiring of muscle memory.
- Super Meat Boy – Sadistic 2D platforming where one pixel can mean the difference between victory and starting a level completely over. Controller-smashing madness.
So while Nioh sits firmly near the apex of gaming difficulty, a few brave titles still manage to eclipse its masterful combat systems in their demands on player precision.
Should Casual Gamers Bother With Nioh?
I wholeheartedly believe anyone passionate about gaming should experience Nioh‘s greatness! However, make no mistake that its rigorous combat will utterly destroy the unprepared. Here is my tier list estimating the minimum viable skill level required to surpass Nioh‘s ruthless challenges:
| Player Tier | Description | Chance of Finishing Nioh |
|---|---|---|
| Beginner | Still struggling to grasp dual stick controls | Very Low |
| Casual Gamer | Comfortable with easier mainstream games | Low |
| Core Gamer | Enjoys AAA games on normal difficulties | Moderate |
| Souls Veteran | Beat multiple From Soft RPGs before | High |
| Gaming God | Conquers the most brutal titles imaginable | Guaranteed |
Where do you fall on that spectrum? If you consider yourself a casual gamer, I suggest either playing Nioh co-op or spending dozens of hours honing your skills in simpler action RPGs before attempting to conquer The Dual Dragon‘s trials alone.
But hey, if you possess the determination of a true samurai warrior – steel your mind, ready your reflexes, and you may just etch your name into the Nioh legends forevermore! Kanpai!
The Verdict: Should You Play Nioh If Seeking An Open World?
While Nioh employs linear levels instead of continuous open worlds, its supremely satisfying combat and rich RPG systems offer endless fun for those seeking a more focused, handcrafted adventure. Truly a hallmark within the punishing action RPG genre, Nioh deserves a spot in every gamer‘s library – assuming you have the skill to survive its merciless gauntlet of demons!
Let me know in the comments if you have any other questions about Nioh‘s epic saga! I could gush for hours about fallen samurai William‘s bloody redemption tale. Now if you‘ll excuse me, the fires of battle beckon…
