Nioh 3: Hell Rising review: a compact but satisfying expansion for Team Ninja's soulslike

Nioh 3: Hell Rising marks the first major content update for Team Ninja's 2026 soulslike, and according to a TechRadar review, it delivers more of what fans loved about the base game. The expansion, which launches August 19, 2026 on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S, requires players to have completed the main campaign and brings a new map, enemies, bosses, and a weapon archetype.

The reviewer, who previously praised Nioh 3 as one of the best soulslikes, notes that Hell Rising doesn't fundamentally overhaul the formula but introduces some of the most engaging level designs in the series. The new region, set in 1651 during the Keian era, features water-logged villages, an active volcano, and a laboratory run by foreign alchemists, offering strong verticality and density.

Story-wise, the expansion tasks protagonist Takechiyo with confronting a resurgence of the Crucible and demonic forces. New allies Yagyu Jubei and Rodrigo join the fight, and a late-game twist sets up the second expansion. The reviewer enjoyed the narrative's simplicity and the cutscenes that bookend major bosses.

Gameplay additions include the Hoko and Shield, a defensive weapon that rewards timing strong attacks to negate enemy hits. The reviewer found it a high-risk, high-reward option with both Samurai and Ninja variants, plus new skills, ninjutsu, onmyo magic, and Soul Cores to expand build variety.

However, the expansion is not without flaws. The review criticizes the frequent reuse of base-game bosses, which appear with little change beyond increased health and damage, feeling like padding. Late-game ambushes in the Crucible zone, with enemies swarming in tight corridors, are called out as occasionally unfair.

Despite these issues, TechRadar concludes that Hell Rising is a worthwhile purchase for those who finished Nioh 3 and want more. It took the reviewer around 8-10 hours to complete all main missions and some side quests—a relatively bite-sized package that leaves them eagerly awaiting the second expansion.

For players considering the DLC, TechRadar recommends having a competent endgame build with Divine tier gear due to harder enemies and bosses. The gatekeeper boss, Yagyu Jubei, is among the hardest, with fast attacks and elemental affinities. The review suggests that those hoping for a larger expansion might wait for the second DLC to play both back-to-back.