Nioh 3 Demo Draws 20,000 Players in First Hours on Steam

The free demo for Nioh 3 has launched on Steam with impressive early numbers, attracting nearly 20,000 concurrent players within hours of release. This strong showing for Team Ninja's latest entry in the dark samurai action RPG series suggests significant anticipation for the February 2026 full release.

What's New in the Demo

The demo provides access to the opening sections of Nioh 3, set in a demon-infested version of Japan's Sengoku period. Players can experience the game's blend of supernatural horror and historical elements as they cut through yokai-infested regions and clear corrupted domains called the Crucible.

Key features available in the demo include:

• The full opening story sequence
• Representative exploration and combat mechanics
• Less linear environments compared to previous entries
• Optional challenges throughout the demo area
• Full multiplayer functionality with online co-op for up to three players

How It Compares to Previous Entries

Team Ninja has made several notable changes for this third installment. The environments appear more open and less linear than in Nioh 2, giving players more freedom to approach challenges. The demo also showcases improved combat mechanics that build on the series' signature blend of samurai swordsmanship and supernatural abilities.

The decision to enable unrestricted multiplayer in the demo is particularly noteworthy. Previous Nioh demos often limited online features, but Team Ninja has made co-op fully accessible from the start, allowing players to experience the game's multiplayer systems before launch.

Who It's For

This demo is ideal for:

• Fans of the Nioh series looking for improvements and changes
• Players who enjoy challenging action RPGs with deep combat systems
• Those interested in games that blend historical settings with supernatural elements
• Multiplayer-focused gamers who want to test co-op mechanics

Progress Carry-Over and Incentives

One of the most player-friendly features is that progress made in the demo carries over to the full game. This means time invested in the demo isn't wasted, and players can continue their journey seamlessly when the full game launches on February 6, 2026.

Additionally, players who complete the demo before February 15, 2026, will receive an in-game item as a reward. This incentive, combined with the unrestricted multiplayer access, likely contributes to the strong engagement numbers.

Technical Performance and Reception

The demo's performance on Steam has been solid, with the concurrent player count continuing to rise. This early success suggests that Nioh 3 could be a proper successor to Nioh 2, which launched in 2020 to positive reviews.

Players can currently pre-order the full game on platforms like Humble Bundle, indicating strong commercial interest ahead of launch. The demo's availability on Steam makes it easily accessible to the PC gaming audience, which has been crucial to the series' success.

What to Expect Next

With the full launch still several months away, this demo serves as both a technical showcase and a marketing tool. Early player feedback will likely influence any final adjustments before release, and the strong initial numbers suggest the community is eager to see what Team Ninja has developed.

The February 2026 release date gives the development team time to incorporate feedback from this demo period while maintaining their planned launch window. For now, players have a substantial taste of what appears to be another compelling entry in the Nioh series.