Thanks to some of the most thrilling and visually breathtaking ninja games, players can get lost in some of the most impressively designed gaming worlds. Gamers can test their skills while playing some of the best fighting games with powerful ninja warriors. While many of these iconic video game ninjas were inspired by real-life ninjas, gamers can meet comic book and anime ninja warriors too.
13 Most Iconic Video Game Ninjas
Ninjas have appeared in some awesome video games over the years and this list showcases their unique talents for martial arts and stealth.
Players can step into the shoes of some of the most powerful gaming ninjas while playing with historically accurate games as well as vibrant action and fantasy-inspired titles. Casual and more experienced gamers can all find engaging and visually impressive ninja games that'll take them on epic adventures while immersing them in unique stories about the most heroic and deadly ninjas of the gaming world.
Updated June 11, 2024, by Tom Bowen: There have been plenty of great ninja games over the years, most of which encourage players to utilize stealth in order to silently take out their targets; just like a real ninja would. Not all of the best ninja games take this approach though, with some instead placing more of an emphasis on brutal hack-and-slash combat, forcing players to mow down wave after wave of enemies with their katanas, staffs, and throwing stars. Some are fairly easy to master, while others require god-like reflexes or a well-thought-out strategy. One thing that these games all have in common, though, is that they've all earned their places among the best ninja games of all time.
9 Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4
Metascore: 80 (Xbox One)
Naruto is not just the anime world's most well-known ninja, but also an icon in the gaming world. Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 is one of the best Naruto games that's a great choice for casual and advanced gamers alike who love beautifully designed and action-filled ninja games.
Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 is the most popular anime-inspired fighting game with a stunningly designed open world and an incredibly engaging story. Players get a chance to go on a new adventure with Naruto and his friends and show off their combat skills during epic battles.
Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4
- Released
- December 17, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- CyberConnect2
- Publisher(s)
- BNE Entertainment, Bandai Namco Studios, Namco Bandai
- Platform(s)
- PS4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows
- Genre(s)
- Fighting, Action-Adventure
8 Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun
Metascore: 85 (PC)
Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun is a brutal and colorful real-time strategy stealth ninja game that transports its players back to Japan's Edo period. Players will have to go on a challenging adventure and learn how to take control of a deadly group of assassin ninjas, all with their very own special skill sets.
10 Amazing Games Set In Feudal Japan
The PS4's Ghost of Tsushima uses its setting to great effect, but it is not the only amazing game set in Feudal Japan.
It's a great choice for gamers who love challenging but thrilling missions and want to defeat their enemies not just in duels or battles but by using all kinds of unique methods, including poison or by setting traps for their foes. Even though Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun is an atmospheric ninja game with a great story and fantastic characters, it is also a difficult game that will test players' survival and critical thinking skills.
Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun
- Released
- December 6, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Mimimi Games
- Publisher(s)
- Daedalic Entertainment
- Platform(s)
- Xbox One, PC, Linux, Microsoft Windows, macOS, Amazon Luna, PlayStation 4
- Genre(s)
- Real-Time Strategy, Tactical, Action, Adventure, Indie Games
7 Ghostrunner
Metascore: 81 (PC)
Ghostrunner is one of the best PS Plus free games with ninjas and a stunningly designed cyberpunk world. This first-person action game transports its players into a vibrant but violent post-apocalyptic future where they'll have to engage in challenging and fast-paced combat.
Ghostrunner is a great choice for players who love sci-fi games and are looking for a difficult ninja game that'll test their combat and survival skills. Gamers will have to fight their way through the Dharma Tower that's the last shelter for humanity while trying to reach the top of this deadly tower city to confront the merciless Keymaster, Mara.
Ghostrunner
- Released
- October 27, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- One More Level, Slipgate Ironworks
- Publisher(s)
- 505 Games, All In! Games
- Platform(s)
- PS5, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC, Switch
- Genre(s)
- Action
6 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge
Metascore: 87 (Nintendo Switch)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge is one of the most fun ninja games inspired by the iconic TMNT comic books. Players can meet their favorite characters once more and go on a fun adventure with their favorite ninjas: Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello, and Raphael.
12 Best Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Games, Ranked
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have starred in many games, and some are much better than others.
This hilarious and action-filled beat 'em up ninja game has colorful pixel graphics and players can go on their adventures alone or try its multiplayer option and play with their friends and family. While it's one of the most fun family-friendly ninja games, it can be challenging for beginners, so it's a good idea to check out useful tips about the best mods for TMNT: Shredder's Revenge to make the gaming experience more enjoyable.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge
- Released
- June 16, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Tribute Games Inc.
- Publisher(s)
- Dotemu
- Platform(s)
- Android, iOS, PC, PS5, PS4, Switch, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One
- Genre(s)
- Beat 'Em Up
5 Mark of the Ninja: Remastered
Metascore: 89 (Nintendo Switch)
Mark of the Ninja: Remastered is a stunningly designed 2D action stealth ninja game that transports its players into a beautiful yet deadly world. Players will step into the shoes of an assassin ninja and will have to learn what it takes to be a true ninja while completing the various challenges.
Gamers will get to explore a darkly atmospheric world while fighting their deadly enemies using their special abilities. It's a story-rich game that makes the adventure much more enjoyable and players get a chance to use a wide array of tools and learn special ninja techniques during their adventures.
Mark of the Ninja: Remastered
- Released
- October 9, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Klei Entertainment
- Publisher(s)
- Microsoft Studios
- Genre(s)
- Platformer, Indie, Fighting
4 Ghost of Tsushima
Metascore: 88 (PC)
Although most historians seem to be in agreement that ninjas weren't really a thing until a few hundred years after its story takes place, it still seems fair to describe Ghost of Tsushima as a ninja game: at least when it comes to gameplay. Sure, its protagonist Jin Sakai starts out as an honorable samurai, but it doesn't take long for him to adopt the ways of the ninja, with stealth and subterfuge ultimately proving to be two of the most deadly weapons at his disposal during his epic battle against the invading Mongol hordes.
Equipped with iconic ninja gear like Kunai and smoke bombs, players will need to infiltrate enemy camps and silently take out their occupants to avoid getting dogpiled. There are still moments when Jin's samurai training shines through though, thus creating the perfect blend of stealth-based gameplay and well-honed swordplay. The game also offers players one of the most compelling video game stories in recent memory, helping to elevate it above many of the other great ninja games that are on the market.
Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut
- Released
- August 20, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Sucker Punch
- Publisher(s)
- Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure, Open-World
3 Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
Metascore: 91 (Xbox One)
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is one of the most acclaimed shinobi games ever made with a stunningly designed dark fantasy world. It's great for players who are looking for difficult souls-like games set in the 16th century and want to go on an epic adventure filled with blood and violent battles.
While Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is a challenging game, it's also a deeply atmospheric one that immerses its players in a fascinating story while letting them explore a gorgeously designed world. Players will get to become powerful ninja warriors who embark on a dangerous journey of revenge while trying to restore their honor.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
- Released
- March 22, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- From Software
- Publisher(s)
- Activision
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
2 Tenchu: Stealth Assassins
Metascore: 87 (PlayStation 1)
Given the recent trend of rebooting classic video game franchises, it's a little surprising that Rikimaru and the rest of the Tenchu crew remain sat on the sidelines; even more so when one considers the improvements in parkour mechanics since the last Tenchu game. The series' most recent installment came more than a decade and a half ago now, yet Tenchu is still fondly remembered by many video game fans.
The franchise made its debut in 1998 with Tenchu: Stealth Assassins, which did an excellent job of making players feel like they were real ninjas. The game boasted eleven unique sandbox levels and several playable characters, allowing players to climb rooftops, hide behind walls, and perform brutal stealth takedowns. It was one of the best stealth games of the nineties and helped to inspire numerous other ninja games.
Tenchu: Stealth Assassins
- Released
- September 14, 1998
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Acquire
- Publisher(s)
- Activision
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation (Original)
1 Ninja Gaiden Black
Metascore: 94 (Xbox)
When it comes to the most iconic ninja games, Ninja Gaiden is usually one of the first names that spring to most people's minds. Whether they're thinking of the original trilogy that terrorized NES players with their uber-difficult gameplay or Itagaki's fantastic reboot series from the Xbox and Xbox 360 eras, these challenging yet highly rewarding titles have left their mark on many gamers as well as the industry itself.
The original was one of the first console games to include cinematic cutscenes and placed players into the shoes of Ryu Hayabusa, who would later go on to appear as a guest character in Koei Tecmo's Dead or Alive series. Over time, the franchise moved away from side-scrolling platforming to a more traditional hack-and-slash formula, but the brutal difficulty levels for which those first few games became known remained largely unchanged, as evidenced by Ninja Gaiden Black.
Ninja Gaiden Black
- Released
- September 20, 2005
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Team Ninja
- Publisher(s)
- Tecmo
- Platform(s)
- Xbox (Original)
- Genre(s)
- Hack and Slash