Nioh

Team Ninja, known for the Ninja Gaiden series, crafted with Nioh its own take on the soulslike genre, set in a fictionalized version of Sengoku-era Japan where the real historical English sailor William Adams becomes entangled in battles against samurai, yokai demons, and supernatural forces.

The combat system is built around three stances - high, mid, and low - each offering a different balance of attack power, reach, and speed, and players can switch between them even mid-combo. The second pillar is the Ki Pulse mechanic, allowing quick stamina recovery with a precisely timed button press after an attack; mastering this rhythm separates players who struggle with the game from those who master it. An elaborate equipment system with randomly generated weapon and armor traits draws inspiration from looter RPGs like Diablo, setting the game apart from FromSoftware's austere approach, and an extensive roster of optional missions lets players endlessly refine their gear, making the game a beloved endgame farming destination.

The difficulty is notoriously high and demands patient mastery of timing, but rewards players with a deep build system and a variety of playstyles, from a swift katana to a heavy hammer. Yokai such as the giant spider-woman Nure-onna or the fiery demon Enki give boss fights a visual and mechanical identity distinct from the Europe-flavored Souls games, drawing directly on Japanese folklore; pools of dark yokai energy on the battlefield also alter stamina recovery rules, forcing players to think about where they stand. The historical backdrop of civil wars, accompanied by drums and flutes in the score, lends missions a grim, cold gravity rarely seen in action RPGs of the time. Critics praised the original combination of soulslike difficulty with Japanese historical themes and rich loot, the game built a devoted fanbase, and it received a successful sequel, Nioh 2, which further developed the stance mechanics and yokai abilities.