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With Team NINJA’s focus shifting towards action RPGs with a distinct Souls-like feel, as seen in the first entry of the Nioh series, it seemed that the Ninja Gaiden franchise was coming to an end. The studio had not released any news on a new entry for years, making it appear that Ryu Hayabusa’s story had concluded. However, in early 2025, it became clear that the series is not only alive but thriving. Following the release of Ninja Gaiden 2 Black and the classic 2D action game Ninja Gaiden Ragebound earlier this year, the series will return to PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S with Ninja Gaiden 4. This game has the potential of being one of the best entries in the series and one of the best action games of the generation, combining the strengths of Team NINJA and PlatinumGames.
The Gamescom demo for Ninja Gaiden 4 was very short, lasting only about 30 minutes. However, it did an excellent job showcasing the game’s lightning-fast action gameplay with a distinct PlatinumGames flavor. Controlling Yakumo in a futuristic Tokyo on Xbox Series X, I tried out his parkour and movement abilities, which include a grappling hook for enhanced mobility over long distances and combat applications. I also fought regular enemies using different weapons, aerial launchers, and devastating finishing moves. The highlight of the experience was a boss fight that introduced Yakumo’s Bloodraven form, allowing him to enhance his weapons and expand their move sets with blood.
Mastering the complex combat system within such a short time was challenging. I needed multiple attempts to understand how to use the Bloodraven technique effectively to prevent the powerful boss from unleashing special attacks and stagger him for longer combos. One of the most appreciated aspects was that, unlike many character-action games, Ninja Gaiden 4 allowed me to use any intricate combo against regular enemies in boss fights. The game immediately evoked Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, one of PlatinumGames’ finest action titles.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t try Ryu Hayabusa’s gameplay, which should align more closely with the traditional series experience. It remains unclear how Ninja Gaiden 4 will balance the new and old approaches, but my limited taste of the game made me even more excited for it. The game has a serious chance of topping Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 as my game of the year. Thankfully, the wait won’t be long, as the game launches on October 21 for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S.
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