Following the unexpected reveal of Nioh 3 during yesterday’s State of Play event, enthusiasts of Team Ninja’s work promptly questioned whether this installment would adopt an expansive sandbox design.

This speculation arises from the studio’s recent venture into broader environments with their previous title, Rise of the Ronin. The period-themed adventure allows traversal across sizable regions, contingent on a player’s combat preparedness.

However, Nioh 3’s creators clarified through a 4Gamer interview (interpreted by Automaton) that the title employs an “open field” approach. This design philosophy emphasizes moderately explorable zones that complement rather than compromise the franchise’s signature intense combat systems.

“If we were to dilute the map’s density to capture the vastness of an open world, it would no longer be Nioh 3,” states general producer Fumihiko Yasuda.

Though abandoning traditional stage-based progression, the sequel maintains the series’ hallmark challenging loop of trial-and-error gameplay. Areas will now demonstrate improved spatial continuity compared to predecessors.

A time-restricted trial version currently available for PS5 focuses primarily on demonstrating combat mechanics rather than environmental innovations discussed here.