Ninja Gaiden 4 is One of the Biggest Games of 2025 – Here’s Why

If Team Ninja had started proclaiming 2025 as the Year of the Ninja out of nowhere, especially when its last major title was Rise of the Ronin (a more decidedly samurai-like affair), I would’ve mentally checked out. Yes, Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound had been announced at the last Game Awards, heralding the return of the classic side-scrolling series’ gameplay in a lovingly retro-like spin-off, but that was more or less it.

For many of us, it was the year of Monster Hunter with the imminent release of Wilds (and it released just fine with no issues). The year of Grand Theft Auto 6 (which ultimately became next year). Of course, Team Ninja didn’t simply proclaim this on a whim.

It was in the wake of revealing Ninja Gaiden 4, a full-fledged sequel to the 3D action-adventure series that truly made the name mainstream. When covering the Xbox Developer Direct at the time, I wondered what Microsoft could pull out to really start the year off on a high note. DOOM: The Dark Ages and some relatively unknown title called Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 were the biggest highlights on the lineup alongside South of Midnight. But Ninja Gaiden 4 was the first game showcased, and it was glorious.

Blazingly fast combat with new flashy mechanics. A new protagonist who’s arguably more dour than Ryu Hayabusa. High-speed traversal in a near-future version of Tokyo, besieged by the Dark Dragon’s curse. Parries, dodges, bloody executions – it all screamed Ninja Gaiden in the best way possible. Shadow-dropping Ninja Gaiden 2 Black also didn’t hurt, but from that moment on, Ninja Gaiden 4 immediately skyrocketed to the top of my must-play list. The fact that it went from not existing to confirmed for launch this year, already looking playable as heck in its first appearance, also felt unbelievable.

With only a few weeks left until launch, it’s somewhat surprising not to see more hype for the title. Before Ninja Gaiden 3 thoroughly destroyed all interest in the franchise, the first entry was one of the most universally acclaimed titles of all time. The side-scrolling formula translated wonderfully into fully fledged 3D exploration with a heavier emphasis on combat difficulty, and while the story wasn’t much to write home about, the action hooked me from the get-go.

Aggressive enemies that didn’t simply wait around to get pummeled, coupled with acrobatic techniques and highly damaging abilities, made for one of the most adrenaline-filled experiences of the time. And while Ninja Gaiden 2 wasn’t as showered in praise, it still sold well and introduced some great new mechanics to the series, from crazy new weapons to dismembered enemies remaining a threat and Obliteration Techniques for over-the-top gory finishes.

Ninja Gaiden 4, however, is operating on a higher level. Co-developed with PlatinumGames, it stars Yakumo, a member of the Raven Clan, as he ventures forth to stop the Dark Dragon’s curse. Which puts him at odds with an entire faction dedicated to its existence and, of all people, Ryu Hayabusa. There’s already a unique dynamic at play. Will this really result in the entity’s destruction, once and for all? Is Yakumo being played? Are we the baddies? Again, it’s nothing too complex, but the focus remains on the action and exploration.

And what a range of traversal tools at one’s disposal, from wall-running and grinding across rails – hopping from one to the other to avoid oncoming trains – to a wingsuit. It’s almost like both development teams examined how much ninja-style traversal really made up the older games and upped the complexity while creating a much faster tempo.

Once combat begins, however, things really start to shine. Yakumo is armed with multiple weapons, like the dual blades, staff, rapier, katana, and so on, each with unique roles. If you want to slice through multiple foes at once, the dual blades are an excellent option. But the real kicker is Bloodraven Form, which transforms his weapons in crazy ways. The rapier is suddenly a massive drill which can tear through enemies in almost comical yet bloody fashion.

This form also allows for activating Bloodbath Attacks. The mechanic is tied to the Berserk Gauge, which slowly builds up as you’re dealing damage and obliterating enemies, and once a Bloodbath is unleashed, Yakumo straight-up decimates lower-tier threats in a blaze of stylish gore. It looks cathartic and serves as the appropriate pay-off for playing well (or a strong comeback mechanic if you take too much damage).

Of course, there are plenty of other factors to take into account, from the Assassin’s Tools and bombs that can launch enemies into mid-air for follow-up attacks to the fact that players can swap weapons on the fly for even more combo depth. There have been concerns that this style of fast-paced action isn’t what Ninja Gaiden is known for, but between all the flashy gore is a mechanic called Hōgeki, a counter that serves to deflect the heavier hits. It’s crucial against tougher foes, but, as Team Ninja producer/director Yuji Nakao explained to Xbox Wire, there’s an element of risk vs. reward. Do you stay up close to trigger a deflection or stay back where it’s safe? Honestly, I’m interested in an approach that rewards mastery – where diving into the fray would be insane if you didn’t have the skills to back it up, and thus far, Ninja Gaiden 4 is delivering.

Thankfully, Team Ninja and PlatinumGames aren’t ignoring the exploration side of gameplay. Each chapter holds optional fights similar to Tests of Valor, and Challenge Missions provide various objectives to complete to earn a rank. These can range from fighting multiple enemies with unique conditions to rematching against story bosses. And if you really want to put your skills to the test, Death Wish allows you to forego all upgrades, relying purely on mastery of the combat system.

It’s also nice to hear that a typical playthrough of Ninja Gaiden 4 will take about 15 to 20 hours. Sure, you can always replay it on Master Ninja difficulty, or run through all the chapters as either Yakumo or Ryu Hayabusa (who has a meaty amount of playable sections otherwise). But I’m a fan of this playtime, with the focus remaining purely on enemy encounters and challenging bosses, with the occasional bouts of secret-hunting.

The series was never really known for offering a wide experience where you could go anywhere, relying instead on tight pacing and a barrage of action to keep players engaged, and it’s good to see Team Ninja sticking to that spirit. It’s almost a complete contrast to Nioh 3 with its open levels, if you think about it.

But above all else, Ninja Gaiden 4 feels like one of the biggest games of the year because of its energy. There’s a simultaneous meeting of the old and new school with a gorgeous aesthetic and fast-paced action that knows what it wants to offer, and escalates that at a steady, pulse-pounding rate. It looks like a return to everything that we loved about the series, but also a big step forward, seemingly ushering in a new age. Granted, we won’t truly know the franchise’s future until well after its launch – success would certainly be the crescendo to this Year of the Ninja – but if nothing else, Ninja Gaiden is back, and I couldn’t be more ecstatic to go hands-on.

Note: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, GamingBolt as an organization.