2025 could be considered the year of the ninja in video games. We began with Assassin’s Creed: Shadows, which features a ninja protagonist, and we’ll end the year with Ninja Gaiden 4. Now, during summer, gamers can enjoy the two titles this article is about — Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound and Shinobi: Art of Vengeance. If you’re a fan of ninjas, you’re in for a treat.
Both games hearken back to their respective 2D sidescrolling origins in terms of graphics and gameplay. That said, they also feature modern niceties, such as frequent checkpoints, robust customization options and numerous upgrades. These are challenging games, but far more lenient than the original 8- and 16-bit counterparts you might have played on systems like the NES or Sega Genesis. They’re the best entries of their respective franchises we’ve seen in years.
