Nioh 2

International boxart, depicting the protagonist and their ability to transform into a yokai

### Developer

Team Ninja
Kou Shibusawa

### Publisher

Koei Tecmo (Japan/PC)
Sony Interactive Entertainment (worldwide/PlayStation)

### Programmer

Yuta Yamazaki
Takahiro Suzuki

### Composer(s)

Yugo Kanno
Akihiro Manabe

### Platforms

PlayStation 4
PlayStation 5
PC

### Release

**PlayStation 4**:
JP: March 12, 2020
WW:March 13, 2020

**PlayStation 5**, **PC**:
February 5, 2021

### Mode(s)

Single-player, multiplayer

**Nioh 2** is a 2020 action role-playing video game developed by Team Ninja; it was published by Team Ninja's parent company Koei Tecmo in Japan and by Sony Interactive Entertainment internationally for the PlayStation 4 console; an updated PlayStation 5 and a PC version, *Nioh 2 Remastered*, was released in 2021. It is the successor to 2017's *Nioh*.

*Nioh 2* is set in feudal Japan's Sengoku period, during the late 1500s. The game's events follow the exploits of legendary Japanese leader Toyotmi Hideyoshi, who within the game's continuity was a public persona jointly held by two individuals, the Japanese samurai Kinoshita Tōkichirō and the playable character of *Nioh 2*; the game's events largely act as a prequel to the original game, while other plot elements serve as a sequel. *Nioh 2* combines role-playing and hack-and-slash gameplay, with the player having access to multiple weapons including various bladed tools and bows. A core aspect of *Nioh 2* revolves around stamina or "Ki" management and different sword stances that are strong or weak against different enemies. Unlike the first game which featured a set protagonist, *Nioh 2* features a customizable protagonist whose gender, physique and general features are decided by the player.

Development on *Nioh 2* began shortly after the release of *Nioh* in 2017; Team Ninja focused on increasing the game's Japanese aesthetics and usage of folklore to appeal to western audiences after noticing the game's stronger popularity outside Japan. The game's player customization was added after feedback on *Nioh'*s William, with Team Ninja hoping players could express themselves through the customization. The team chose to not include difficulty levels despite mixed opinions on difficulty in video games at the time, as they believed a set difficulty would make the game's completion more rewarding.

As with its predecessor, *Nioh 2* had several demos and open betas prior to its release, with Team Ninja adjusting the game based on feedback. *Nioh 2* received a positive reviews upon its release, drawing praise for its complex combat system, art direction, challenging difficulty and customization versatility, though it also received criticism for its cumbersome role-playing systems and incremental nature as a sequel; the game was nominated for several end-year accolades. *Nioh 2* was commercially successful, selling over 2.5 million copies by February 2022. Team Ninja continued to support the *Nioh 2* with updates and expansion packs.

## Gameplay

*Nioh 2* is a hack and slash action role-playing video game presented from a third-person camera perspective. The game structure, mission design and combat system are largely retained from the first *Nioh*, with additional combat mechanics and refinements.

## Reception

### Reviews

* Metacritic: 85/100
* Destructoid: 9/10
* Easy Allies: 8/10
* Edge: 7/10
* EGM: 8/10
* Game Informer: 8.5/10
* Game Revolution: 9/10
* GameSpot: 8/10
* GamesRadar: 4.5/5
* IGN: 9/10
* PlayStation Universe: 9.5/10
* Push Square: 8/10
* VideoGamer: 8/10

*Nioh 2* received positive reviews. Its original, PlayStation 4 version holds a score of 85/100 on Metacritic based on 91 scored reviews, classified as "generally favorable reviews" on the site.

### Sales

By October 2022, combined sales *Nioh* and *Nioh 2* across PlayStation and PC platforms reached 7 million copies.

### Accolades

* The Game Awards 2020
	+ Best Action Game - nominated
* 24th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards
	+ Action Game of the Year - nominated
* Golden Joystick Awards 2020
	+ PlayStation Game of the Year - nominated
* IGN Game of the Year 2020
	+ Best Action Game - nominated