This Was the Year of the Ninja Video Game—These Were the Best in 2025

When you’re a gamer who additionally loves ninja-themed stuff, 2025 may’ve been the perfect 12 months ever.

It appears everybody and their canine have been releasing ninja and samurai video games this 12 months, as in the event that they’d mentioned it beforehand. 

Together with a remaster and a brand new platform for an older recreation, we rely eight ninja and samurai video games launched this 12 months alone, and 9 for those who’re prepared to incorporate a Ninja Turtles ways recreation. 

Let’s discuss concerning the plethora of katana-centric video games that hit PC and consoles this 12 months.

Murderer’s Creed Shadows

(Obtainable on: PC, PS5, Xbox)

Murderer’s Creed Shadows lastly delivers on the request avid gamers have been shouting from the rooftops ever because the sequence launched in 2007—a ninja-themed recreation.

That is essentially the most controversial recreation on the listing, for lots of causes drummed up by ragebait YouTubers, together with a couple of legitimate ones. 

Shadows presents probably the most stunningly rendered depictions of Japan within the Warring States interval, providing a panorama that options giant cities, tall mountains, and a stretching shoreline with out feeling like a theme park. 

The sport well separates AC’s two mechanical paths into two characters—Naoe the Ninja and Yasuke the Samurai. With some exceptions through the story, you possibly can play the overwhelming majority of the sport with whichever character you please, permitting you to sort out the sport as a shadowy shinobi or a tank of a samurai.

It has the issues typical of an Murderer’s Creed recreation: the map feels each too massive and too crowded. It feels foolish to knife a man behind the neck just for him to stay by means of it barely touched—although we suggest turning on one-hit assassinations for a real murderer expertise. 

When you do not like Ubisoft video games basically, Shadows will not change your thoughts, and you will need to keep away from this one. If you wish to hop on horseback and tour probably the most lovely video games since Purple Lifeless Redemption 2, whereas shedding loads of blood, that is the sport for you.

Ghost of Yotei

(Obtainable on: PS5)

The follow-up to 2020’s Ghost of Tsushima, Ghost of Yotei, is about in a wholly completely different a part of Japan and takes place 300 years later, on the finish of the Warring States/Sengoku interval. 

You may play as Atsu, who’s on a quest for revenge towards a gaggle of masked nobles who killed her household. It is weirdly much like Murderer’s Creed Shadows, however do not let that cease you from enjoying each of them.

It simply so occurs that getting revenge towards “a bunch of fellows” is a strong method for an open-world recreation. Atsu is not like Jin—she is not tied by honor to a single method of approaching revenge, a lot as she is a kenshi, or sword grasp. 

There aren’t any “honorable methods” for her to desert. You may go stealth, you possibly can play soiled, no matter will get the job finished. Instead of stances, you may have 4 completely different weapons at hand (comparable to a spear or kusarigama), with every meant to counter particular enemies. 

It is also a surprising recreation and a very good showcase for the PlayStation 5.

Ninja Gaiden II Black

(Obtainable on: PC, PS5, Xbox)

Workforce Ninja took the reins of Tecmo’s Ninja Gaiden sequence on the launch of the unique Xbox. 

One of the best liked of the three unique Workforce Ninja-developed Ninja Gaiden video games and their subsequent rereleases was Ninja Gaiden Black, because it added two new difficulties—a brand new simple mode known as Ninja Canine and a tougher Grasp Ninja mode. 

These made the sport each way more accessible to those that struggled with the primary launch’s excessive ability flooring and provided a brand new stage of issue for these aspiring towards new mastery. 

Whereas one other department reworked all three video games, known as Ninja Gaiden Sigma, Black is the fan favourite, and was the one one within the sequence to get the remedy, till earlier this 12 months when Workforce Ninja shadow-dropped Ninja Gaiden II Black to PC storefronts, PlayStation 5, and Recreation Move, remade in Unreal Engine 5. 

Ninja Gaiden II Black ups the gore and enemy rely, rolls the improve system again to one thing like that of Ninja Gaiden Black, and removes some poorly-received bosses and modes that have been added to Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2. Fan response says that the sport feels fairly much like the unique launch, and that it largely delivers on the expectations that include a Ninja Gaiden recreation.

Ninja Gaiden 4

(Obtainable on: PC, PS5, Xbox)

One Ninja Gaiden recreation merely wasn’t sufficient from online game developer Workforce Ninja.

Workforce Ninja didn’t simply shadow-drop the Ninja Gaiden 2 remake—it additionally revealed Ninja Gaiden 4, again in January. 

Now it’s right here, and early reception is robust, with a “Very Constructive” ranking on Steam. 

This time, the studio teamed up with PlatinumGames, mixing each groups’ trademark motion types right into a uncommon sequel that truly delivers as an alternative of leaving followers nostalgic for the outdated days.

Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound

(Obtainable on: PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox, Nintendo Swap)

Okay, two Ninja Gaiden video games weren’t sufficient. With two fashionable Ninja Gaiden video games releasing in the identical 12 months, for some purpose—we’re not complaining, to be clear—Tecmo determined to offer the Ninja Gaiden license to probably the greatest 2D motion devs round. 

The Recreation Kitchen, developer of Blasphemous and Blasphemous 2, takes the sport again to its roots, with an 8-bit-style sidescroller that refuses to tug punches in the case of issue and precision. 

Of the three Ninja Gaiden video games launched this 12 months, Ragebound takes residence the trophy of being the very best rated on each Metacritic and Steam.

Shinobi: Artwork of Vengeance

(Obtainable on: PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox, Nintendo Swap)

Whereas Ninja Gaiden Ragebound seeks to carry us again to the times of NES video games, Shinobi desires to do one thing new with out abandoning its roots. 

Shinobi retains issues two-dimensional and expands the usual sidescrolling with an overworld map the place you possibly can trip to new and outdated ranges, and “metroidvania” parts, with secret areas and branching paths. 

The controls are fluid, and executives are enjoyable all through the sport. On prime of all this, the sport is totally gorgeous to have a look at.

Honorable Mentions

There are some others that bear point out.

First, the re-release of Ninja 5-O onto digital storefronts. This recreation is wanted as one of many rarest Recreation Boy Advance cartridges, and that is the primary time it has been typically obtainable to avid gamers. 

This 12 months additionally noticed the discharge of Rise of the Ronin, an open-world recreation initially launched for the PlayStation 5 final 12 months, developed and printed by Ninja Gaiden writer Koei Tecmo. 

Rise of the Ronin is about within the 1800s, on the finish of the shogunate, as American black ships arrive. 

When you want your ninjas to additionally be turtles, there’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedown, a turn-based TMNT recreation that forces you to maintain your turtles on their toes and transferring as they battle.