Publisher Koei Tecmo and developer Team Ninja confirmed more details for Nioh 3, confirming the Bakumatsu period for its story.

For the first time in the franchise, the game will take players to the Bakumatsu period, joining the previous Edo, Sengoku, and Heian periods of Japan.

Here’s a rundown on the new details, plus more screenshots:

A future era is twisted beyond recognition after Kunimatsu, who fell into darkness, proclaims himself the eternal shogun.

As Edo and nearly all of Japan are swallowed by the Crucible, Kyoto, protected by the sacred Spirit Trees, stands as the final stronghold, where loyalists continue their desperate resistance.

For the first time in franchise history, the Bakumatsu period will be established as a new setting for players to fight through in Nioh 3. Serving as the final era of the samurai, the stage is set in 1800s Kyoto, where the land and iconic landmarks such as the Kiyomizu and Honnoji temples have been overtaken and transformed by the Crucible’s influence. 

In addition to encountering new and fearsome yokai, players will also face the Shinsengumi, a military squad that serves the shogunate. Shinsengumi troops are challenging foes equipped with modern weaponry such as firearms and gatling guns, delivering a combination of ranged and multi-directional attacks – a first in the history of the Nioh series. 

During their journey, players will encounter a new cast of distinctive characters unique to each time period. In Bakumatsu-era Kyoto, protagonist Tokugawa Takechiyo will meet Takasugi Shinsaku, Okita Soji, and Tokugawa Yoshinobu, the 15th shogun of the Edo shogunate.

Nioh 3 is in development for Windows PC (via Steam) and PS5, with a release set for February 6th, 2026.