Nioh 2

Nioh 2 is Team Ninja's masterpiece — a soulslike action RPG set in the brutal world of Sengoku-era Japan that outperforms its already excellent predecessor in nearly every way. The addition of the Yokai Shift ability — allowing your half-human, half-yokai protagonist to transform into a powerful demonic form — adds a thrilling dimension to combat that is both visually spectacular and mechanically significant. The Soul Core system lets you absorb the abilities of defeated yokai, creating enormous build variety on top of the already extensive weapon type and Guardian Spirit selection. Nioh 2's combat rewards mastery at a level that rivals even FromSoftware's best work: Ki management through perfect dodge-cancels, Burst Counter timing, and the complex interplay of human and yokai abilities makes expert play genuinely mesmerizing to watch and execute. Three excellent DLC expansions complete an already enormous package. An overlooked masterpiece.