Summary
- Ninja Gaiden 2 Black remaster features and female counterparts offers rewarding gameplay and variety of weapons.
- Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice by FromSoftware requires patience and repetition to defeat brutal bosses.
- Senran Kagura Shinovi Versus is a silly ninja game showcasing bite-sized missions and fan service.
Developers have been making ninja games since the heyday of the NES. Ninja Gaiden, Strider, Shadow of the Ninja, and the list goes on. Ninja games have their peaks and valleys with the genre having a bit of a resurgence right now thanks to games like Assassin's Creed Shadows. In this latest Assassin's Creed game, players can take on the role of Naoe on a classic tour through Japan to get her revenge.
Best Female Ninjas in Games, Ranked
In the worlds of fighting games and RPGs, ninjas are a force to be reckoned with -- and some of the best among them are women.
It's a long game, easily taking players at least forty or even eighty hours to complete it fully. After though, players may still be itching to play some more ninja-related games. The following will highlight some of the best ninja games out there, most of which have female leads or guest characters in them in tribute to Naoe in Assassin's Creed Shadows.
8 Final Fantasy 7 Remake: Episode INTERmission
Yuffie’s Big Break
Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade
- Released
- June 10, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Blood, Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Final Fantasy 7 Remake is an action RPG everyone should play but when the game was ported to PS5, it came with a special standalone DLC called Episode INTERmission. It serves as a prequel and a side story within the game, starring Yuffie, the party’s female ninja in training.
She won’t be executing anyone quite as bloodily as Naoe in Assassin's Creed Shadows, but Yuffie’s platforming skills are top-notch. Yuffie is playable within Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth as well, which is a fully open-world game, but she is a supporting cast member instead of the star. It may seem weird to highlight DLC, but Yuffie’s mini-adventure showcases what female ninjas are capable of.
7 Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance
Raiden’s Redemption
Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance
- Released
- February 19, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance served as a direct sequel following the aftermath of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. While Snake is retired, Raiden still continues to fight corruption with the political upheavals of countries. This cyborg ninja doesn’t cling to stealth at all and instead prefers slicing through enemies like he was chopping up vegetables for a salad.
The game also has one heck of a soundtrack to pump players up for their slicing and dicing especially during boss battles in class Metal Gear fashion. It’s wacky and over the top, quite the opposite of Assassin's Creed Shadows, but fans should still enjoy it for the solid action.
6 Muramasa: The Demon Blade
A Ninjtroidvania
Muramasa: The Demon Blade
- Released
- April 9, 2009
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Vanillaware
- Publisher(s)
- Marvelous, Rising Star Games
- Platform(s)
- PS Vita, Wii, Nintendo Wii U
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, Fighting, Action-Adventure
Muramasa: The Demon Blade has two campaigns and it could be considered a light Metroidvania or more like a Ninjtroidvania since both heroes are ninjas. Kisuke is a male ninja out for revenge while Momohime is a princess possessed by a demon who is also looking for blood. The game is set in the feudal Japan, but with a twist that demons exist.
The Best Ninja Games of All Time, Ranked
The best ninja games find ways to capture the essence of what it's like to be a ninja, often by testing players with challenging yet fun gameplay.
The art is one of the more striking things about the game as is the case for any Vanillaware RPG. While it is colorful, both games have a more serious tone that will match Assassin's Creed Shadows plus it highlights another deadly female ninja albeit one being controlled by a demon.
5 Nightshade
A Female Sequel To Shinobi
Nightshade
- Released
- January 1, 1992
- Platform(s)
- PC, Nintendo Entertainment System, Nintendo Switch
Shinobi is a classic Sega franchise that comes in and out of existence. Right now, Sega is planning a revival in 2025 via Shinobi: Art of Vengeance. In 2002, there was a revival via Shinobi on PS2. It was successful enough to get a sequel starring a female ninja instead, Hibana, in Nightshade.
The game is level based, focusing on action more than stealth and Hibana has slick moves as she hacks through enemies. Both games remain relics on PS2 but collectors should definitely track these two games down.
4 Ninja Gaiden 2 Black
The Beefiest Ninja Returns
Ninja Gaiden 2 Black
- Released
- January 23, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Koei Tecmo Games Co., Ltd.
- Platform(s)
- Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Ninja Gaiden 2 Black is a recent remaster that brought the OG ninja, Ryu, back into the limelight. The action demands perfection as even the lowest ninja on the totem pole can deal devastating damage if not dealt with quickly. It’s a game not for the faint of heart but it is rewarding the more time players invest.
Ryu has a ton of weapons from a katana to a scythe and there are three episodes in the story that follow three female counterparts: Momiji, Ayane, and Rachel. While they are not the focus of the game, they offer some enjoyable diversions.
3 Sekiro: Shadow’s Die Twice
For The Hardcore
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
- Released
- March 22, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- From Software
- Publisher(s)
- Activision
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Sekiro: Shadow’s Die Twice is even more brutal than Ninja Gaiden 2 Black as it’s one of FromSoftware’s finest in their long line of Soulslikes. Unlike the rest of their games, there aren’t many RPG mechanics. To get anywhere in the game, players have to practice the ninja art of patience.
The 7 Most Iconic Anime Ninjas
There have been plenty of great examples over the years, but the best anime ninjas always find ways to really set themselves apart from the rest.
Only through repetition can players hope to defeat some of the game’s deadlier bosses. Set in feudal Japan, a dishonored ninja known as Wolf repairs his body with a makeshift limb, allowing him to perform new acts like producing fire via a flame thrower.
2 Senran Kagura Shinovi Versus
Fan Service To The Max
- Developer: Tamsoft
- Publisher: XSEED Games (NA)
- Released: October 14, 2014 (NA, PS Vita Version)
- Platform: PS Vita and PC
Senran Kagura Shinovi Versus is one of the silliest ninja games that any one player could pick up. It has a similar gameplay design to Dynasty Warriors and other Musou games except with more bite-sized missions. Players gain control over several female-led ninja schools, each with a handful of playable characters.
They can hack, slash, and perform super combos once transformed into their more powerful states. The silly part comes into play when their clothes can be torn to shreds. While these students aren’t as graceful as Naoe in Assassin's Creed Shadows, they are still talented.
1 Tenchu 2: Birth of the Stealth Assassins
A PS1 Classic
Tenchu 2: Birth of the Stealth Assassins
- Released
- August 8, 2000
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Acquire
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 2
The Tenchu series began on the PS1 and Tenchu 2: Birth of the Stealth Assassins is a prequel. Set during an era where ninjas ruled, players can take on the role of either Rikimaru or Ayame at the start. The game is mission-based with one boss character being the goal of each level.
How players get to this boss is up to them and the equipment they bring along. This is definitely more of a stealth game and pulling off the right moves is always rewarding. It can be a bit hard to control now but Tenchu 2: Birth of the Stealth Assassins remains one of the finest ninja games of all time.
Assassin's Creed Shadows: 6 Ways Naoe Is Better Than Yasuke
Can a ninja beat a samurai? In Assassin's Creed Shadows, Naoe certainly makes a strong case for being the ideal Japanese hero.