Nioh 2: Overview & Critic Reception
This is a research-based overview compiled from publisher information, official patch notes and published critic reception. It is not a hands-on review and ParryStack assigns no score of its own. How we research and verify · Report an error
Critic reception
Metacritic (critic aggregate): 85 (PS4)
Source: Metacritic, checked 12 Oct 2026. These are third-party critic scores, not ParryStack ratings.
Summary
Nioh 2 is a Team Ninja action RPG released on PS4 in 2020 and on PC and PS5 in 2021, with three expansions. Metacritic lists 85 on PS4, 86 on PC and 83 on PS5.
Combat
Nioh 2 combines three stances with Ki management. Each weapon type has a different moveset in each stance, and you switch stance mid-combo. Ki Pulse recovers stamina after an attack, and Strength and Skill both improve it. Burst Counters interrupt enemy attacks that carry the burst warning. The game has 11 melee weapon types and 3 ranged types.
Soul Cores add Yokai Skills: after you purify a core at a shrine and attune it to your Guardian Spirit, its skill becomes available for Anima. Enki, for example, unlocks Monkey Dance, and Kasha unlocks Hellfire Wheel.
Gameplay and Progression
The game has eight attributes: Constitution, Heart, Courage, Stamina, Strength, Skill, Dexterity and Magic. Each is tied to certain weapon types (for example, Strength with Odachi and Fists, Dexterity with Kusarigama). Missions are chosen from a map. The three expansions are included in the Complete Editions.
Multiplayer
Online co-op is available through the Torii Gate at the Starting Point on the world map; Expeditions let you create a lobby (the page mentions a three-player party), and Random Encounters let you join or host a mission. Benevolent Graves summon other players' characters as AI-controlled helpers. PlayStation Plus is required for multiplayer on PlayStation.
Platforms and Reception
Metacritic lists 85 for PS4, 86 for PC and 83 for PS5, and OpenCritic reports that 97 percent of critics recommend it. The successor, Nioh 3, was released on 6 February 2026.
Pros & Cons
- 11 melee and 3 ranged weapon types, each with stance-specific movesets
- Soul Cores add Yokai Skills tied to your Guardian Spirit
- Online co-op and AI-controlled Benevolent Graves
- Three expansions, all included in the Complete Edition
- Available on PS4, PS5 and PC
- Many systems to learn: stances, Ki Pulse, Burst Counters, Yokai Shift and Soul Cores
- Mission-based structure rather than a connected world
- PlayStation Plus is required for multiplayer on PlayStation
- Large loot and attribute systems can overwhelm newcomers
Sources & fact-check
Release facts, mechanics and boss details on this page were checked against these sources on 12 October 2026. Spotted an error? Tell us.
This review may contain affiliate links. Affiliate Disclosure