Compare Nioh 3 vs Total War: WARHAMMER III – Lords of the End Times

Pacing received excellent marks where reviewers described the setting and exploration rhythm as unrelentingly addictive.

Nagash’s later progression can slow sharply as Mortarchs, heroes, and high-tier content sit behind lengthy requirements.

Character roster was criticized in one review as thin compared with previous entries.

Nagash and Thanquol are the standouts, with a broad lineup of lords and heroes adding meaningful variety. Boris is consistently seen as the least distinctive member of the group.

Crash stability was mixed-negative, with multiple reviewers reporting crashes or fatal errors even when saves survived.

Update 9.0 is notably stable in extended play, with one long-form tester calling it among the most stable patches they had used.

Co-op was generally praised as smooth, strong, and helpful, with only some stability caveats.

Co-op loses some narrative elements and parts of Thanquol’s Masterplans, so playing with friends does not currently deliver the full campaign experience.

Narrative quality was the clearest creative weakness, often described as hard to follow, dry, rough, or merely functional, with a few positive exceptions.

The expansion adds welcome story structure without abandoning the sandbox. Lore-tailored goals and small narrative beats make campaigns feel more purposeful and memorable.

Animation quality received positive evidence from one review that noted improved animations supporting better combat feel.

One elite Empire unit may be held back by awkward attack animations that appear to hurt its battlefield performance.

Immersion was mixed: one review said empty restored areas harmed it, while another said technical hiccups did not break it.

Narrative pop-ups, cinematics, devastation, and changing world states make Immortal Empires feel more reactive and story-driven than before.

Frame rate stability varied sharply by reviewer and platform, from stable or flawless to serious regional problems and forced FPS caps.

Campaign-map performance is much steadier, with high settings holding frame rates in areas that previously caused dips.

Polish was praised by reviews that called Nioh 3 polished, refined, and fleshed out.

The package shows substantial effort, but bugs, uneven lord depth, and old-versus-new faction disparities keep it from feeling fully polished.

The learning curve was widely described as approachable but still steep, dense, or overwhelming depending on player familiarity.

The DLC is demanding for newcomers, particularly Nagash and Thanquol. Dense menus, layered resources, and opaque mechanics can overwhelm even experienced players at first.

Content variety was mixed: several reviews praised packed activities and systems, while others felt repetition or density set in.

Four very different lord campaigns, large unit additions, faction reworks, and new endgame scenarios give the package exceptional breadth. Variety is one of its most consistent strengths.

Progression was praised for free respecs, build freedom, rewarding upgrades, and flexible experimentation across styles and weapons.

Progression is strongest when early vulnerability grows into major late-game power, especially for Nagash. Some resource gates and Thanquol’s waiting-heavy schemes can slow that momentum.

The core loop was described as addictive and hard to put down, with repeated praise for combat-driven progression and long-term engagement.

Nagash meaningfully changes the usual campaign rhythm, while some Glottkin and Thanquol systems can fall back into familiar or menu-driven routines. The best campaigns feel substantially refreshed.

Art direction was mostly positive, especially for aesthetic and yokai style, despite one review saying it lacked FromSoftware-like beauty.

Bespoke character and mount designs fit the setting well and give major additions a suitably dramatic Warhammer look.

Resource balance drew criticism around elixir management, especially early on when healing items felt unnecessarily stressful.

Nagash’s economy and resource caps create meaningful decisions, but early income and scarce Necromantic Energy can feel restrictive. That tension adds strategy for some players and grind for others.

Graphics were mixed: some called the game good-looking or visually impressive, while others found graphics dated or uneven.

The campaign map looks cleaner and more refined after the update, with visible improvements to several regions.

AI behavior was criticized in one review for enemies failing to react believably to nearby actions.

End Times diplomacy can create convincing temporary alliances, but campaign AI remains inconsistent. Nagash can dominate neighboring factions too aggressively, while allied AI sometimes collapses during crisis scenarios.

Difficulty was generally seen as challenging but more approachable and flexible, though one review strongly criticized the lack of lower difficulty options.

The strongest campaigns pair demanding openings with satisfying late-game power, and the new crises can genuinely threaten a mature empire. Some encounters are punishing, but that challenge is usually treated as a strength.

Skill trees were praised for depth and hidden unlocks, though some reviewers felt the system could be overwhelming at first.

Nagash’s Black Pyramid is the standout progression tree, offering an enormous number of useful, branching upgrades. Its depth is exciting but can be intimidating.

Faithfulness to franchise was praised where reviewers felt the game preserved Nioh’s identity while evolving its formula.

The new campaigns strongly capture their Warhammer identities, from Nagash’s undead power fantasy to Thanquol’s scheming and the Glottkin’s Nurgle hybrid design. Thematic execution is consistently praised.

Atmosphere was praised for distinctive hubs, strong Sengoku flavor, and memorable area identity.

The apocalypse feels tangible once invasions begin and provinces are devastated. Persistent destruction gives late campaigns a much stronger sense of urgency and scale.

Load times were praised as very quick in both supporting reviews.

Loading is modestly faster, complementing the larger technical improvements in Update 9.0.

Bug frequency was a concern in several reviews, including disappearing health bars, glitches, and enemies behaving incorrectly.

Bugs remain one of the expansion’s clearest weaknesses, including broken Masterplans and scenario issues. The release feels less buggy than some prior DLC, but rough edges can still interrupt campaigns.

Reviewers largely praised the Samurai/Ninja systems and style switching for adding flexibility and depth, though a few found specific mechanics underpowered or limiting.

The expansion succeeds most when its faction systems reshape familiar races: Nagash’s undead network, Thanquol’s Masterplans, and the Glottkin’s hybrid mechanics all create distinct strategic identities. Some simpler systems do not reach the same depth.

Class balance was mostly positive, with Samurai and Ninja both seen as viable despite some flexibility concerns.

Power creep is present, but the new factions generally feel better balanced than feared. A few broader balance issues remain around individual campaigns and units.

Innovation received positive evidence for blending outside influences into a cohesive whole.

Nagash’s faction design and the world-changing End Times systems push Warhammer III into genuinely new territory. Not every lord is equally inventive, but the expansion as a whole raises the mechanical ceiling.

Weapon balance/depth was positive overall, though style-locked weapons were also described as controversial.

Stormfiends are powerful without completely invalidating existing weapons teams, preserving useful roles for older ranged options.

Visual effects quality was strongly praised in one review for the Crucible’s striking visual design.

Devastation and corruption visibly transform the campaign map, and Nagash’s wastelands are especially striking. These effects make faction impact easy to see.

Onboarding was usually praised for pacing new systems well and helping players get up to speed despite mechanical density.

Campaign flybys and Boris’s more familiar Empire structure help ease players in, but tooltips for deeper systems still need clearer explanations.

Combat was the most strongly praised attribute, repeatedly called deep, smooth, flexible, and among the best in the soulslike/action RPG space.

The new lords and units add enjoyable tactical options in battle, with the Glottkin standing out for their flexible mix of spellcasting, durability, and melee pressure.

Endgame content was strongly praised through NG+, deep loot payoff, and multiplayer/endgame longevity.

The revamped End Times are a major success, turning the late game into a real crisis with invasions, scripted objectives, world changes, and climactic battles. They give long campaigns a much stronger reason to continue.

Fun factor was very high across reviews, with repeated language around fun, addictive play, and strong enjoyment.

Most of the new campaigns are highly enjoyable, with Nagash, Thanquol, and the Glottkin drawing especially strong enthusiasm. Boris is simpler, but still lands as fun for many players.

Environmental detail was praised where reviewers found the large landscapes impressive.

Campaign-map terrain receives noticeable visual refinement, including more detailed mountain regions.

Voice acting was mixed, with Japanese voiceover praised but English voice acting criticized as poor or distracting.

The alternate Boris performance is praised as excellent, even if the decision to split voices between modes is questionable.

Menu usability was a repeated drawback, with reviewers citing convoluted systems, cluttered menus, and too much menu busy work despite mitigation tools.

Complex systems such as Nagash’s necromancy screen and Black Pyramid can be intimidating to navigate. The depth is appealing, but the presentation is not always immediately readable.

Sound design was strongly praised, especially combat effects, ambient audio, and overall audio presentation.

Nagash’s mixed undead roster creates a slightly jarring blend of vocal styles, especially when shifting between zombies, spirits, and Vampire Coast units.

World-building was mixed, with time-period variety praised but identity, lore depth, and restored-world immersion criticized in several reviews.

Immortal Empires is praised as an exceptional digital realization of Warhammer Fantasy, especially once apocalyptic events and post-crisis recovery reshape the world.

Map and navigation design was mostly positive, especially collectible reveal systems, though one review disliked checklist-style map completion.

The larger opening flyby improves orientation by showing the surrounding theater and giving players a clearer sense of where threats are located.

Multiplayer design received limited positive evidence for remaining a strong suit.

The underlying multiplayer potential is appealing, especially around revised Books of Nagash, but several story systems do not integrate smoothly with multiplayer campaigns yet.

Side quests were viewed favorably in the cited review because Myths were spaced out rather than overwhelming the map.

Quest battles are a highlight, offering memorable set-piece encounters that fit the featured characters and reward campaign progression.

The open-field/open-world shift was mostly praised as a strong evolution, with a minority finding it unnecessary or gimmicky.

Immortal Empires remains an enormous, impressive sandbox, though its scale can dilute direction and Nagash’s starting position can distort the regional campaign too quickly.

Mission and Crucible design were viewed positively, with reviewers noting more open paths, pressure-test encounters, and dungeon-like challenge.

Lore-driven objectives, quest battles, and revised victory conditions give campaigns stronger direction than simple territorial expansion. A few objectives still feel repetitive or underdeveloped.

Performance optimization was mixed, with some smooth experiences but repeated PC issues, frame dips, and calls for optimization.

Update 9.0 brings substantial technical gains, especially faster turn processing and smoother campaign-map performance. These improvements are noticeable even without benchmarking.

Soundtrack quality ranged from forgettable to gorgeous and well-placed, making the overall evidence mixed-positive.

Dynamic music changes help sell major world-state shifts and reinforce the scale of devastation.

Value for money was rated highly due to 100-hour completion, content richness, and strong day-one value claims.

Standalone character access can unlock Immortal Empires at a low price, while the full bundle delivers a large amount of substantial campaign content for its cost.

Replay value was rated very highly, with reviewers pointing to postgame hostility resets, NG+, long playtimes, and ongoing engagement.

Different lord mechanics, branching upgrades, optional endgame scenarios, and cross-faction unit additions give the expansion exceptional replay potential.

Accessibility evidence was mixed: one review criticized the lack of lower difficulty options, while another noted subtitle and caption-related options.

Camera behavior received a negative technical note because stuttery camera movement was part of a broader PC issue list.

Boris’s voice setup feels unnecessarily split between two performers. One performance lands well, but using separate voices across modes comes across as a missed opportunity.

Checkpoints were praised as well placed and supported by abundant shortcuts.

Thanquol’s schemes and narrative pop-ups make decisions feel consequential, with plans able to pay off, backfire, or reshape the next move.

Companion AI received a negative note where summonable allies were said to be ignored by bosses.

AI-controlled Nagash can become disproportionately dominant in his region, wiping out nearby factions early and narrowing who remains to fight later.

This is one of the fullest-feeling Warhammer III expansions, especially when paired with Update 9.0. A few missing characters and dated older factions keep it from feeling completely definitive.

Emotional impact received limited but positive evidence from one review citing some emotional weight in the leadership theme.

Enemy variety was divisive, ranging from praise for a huge monster lineup to criticism of recycled or repetitive foes.

Exploration was consistently praised as rewarding, meaningful, and strongly tied to progression, though a few reviewers noted checklist fatigue.

Reworked short campaigns offer a satisfying objective arc without requiring an enormous time commitment, while the new endgame supports much longer runs for players who want them.

Nagash’s late unlock requirements and resource gates can become grindy, especially for players who want Mortarchs and high-tier content quickly.

The expanded campaign flyby gives useful context about nearby factions and likely threats, making unfamiliar starts easier to read.

Loot was one of the most repeated pain points, with reviewers describing abundance, inventory pressure, and menu-heavy cleanup despite some useful tools.

The four lords pursue notably different goals and power-building paths, helping each campaign feel distinct rather than formulaic.

The bundle structure and individual lord purchases are flexible, but the return of pre-orders drew criticism as an unnecessary step backward.

Movement earned praise for mobility and flow, especially through Ninja style and the broader feel of moment-to-moment action.

Online stability was mixed-negative, with co-op praised but disconnections and network instability noted.

The expansion contains genuinely fresh systems, but some individual units and Boris-specific additions feel too close to existing designs or outright reskins.

Platforming was criticized in one review for inconsistency and for making terrain feel more dangerous than intended.

The Vampire Counts recruitment overhaul is a major improvement, making unit access and lord development feel more thematic and purposeful.

Immortal Empires remains highly flexible, letting players rewrite the End Times, reverse famous outcomes, and pursue very different campaign stories.

Stealth received a mixed note because one reviewer found stealth attacks could alert enemies too easily.

Tutorial quality was criticized for poorly introduced systems and badly timed mechanics during difficult early moments.

The unit additions are overwhelmingly strong, with Stormfiends, Ulric troops, undead monsters, and Nurgle units filling useful battlefield niches. Some reskins and redundant units keep the roster from being uniformly excellent.

The Black Pyramid offers a huge range of useful upgrades and synergies, giving Nagash unusually flexible long-term development.

Devastation, corruption, and faction conquest visibly alter provinces and can even reshape climate, making the campaign world feel more reactive. Some AI-driven transformations can become too dominant.

Writing quality was mixed-positive, with praise for spectacle and some story impact despite broader narrative caveats.

Boss design was broadly praised for memorable, fair, and demanding encounters, though a few reviewers found some bosses generic or less memorable.

Level design was broadly praised for open-field layouts, strong world structure, and mission-like areas integrated into larger spaces.

Nagash’s specialized settlements add meaningful faction identity, though capacity rules and settlement restrictions can feel a little clunky.

The Glottkin’s consolidated mechanics panel is clean and convenient, but the broader ten-year accumulation of systems has made parts of Warhammer III’s interface harder to parse.

Character customization was mostly praised as deep and flexible, though one review found it weaker than Nioh 2.

Style switching was described as smooth and responsive, with reviewers noting that swapping between Samurai and Ninja quickly became satisfying in battle.

The bundle offers unusually strong value for committed Warhammer III players, with multiple substantial campaigns and broad cross-faction benefits. Even individual lord packs can be worthwhile depending on faction preference.

The scale of Update 9.0 breaks compatibility with major overhaul mods such as SFO until their developers rebuild against the new version.