Ninja Gaiden, as a series, started in arcades in 1988 with an NES game soon to follow. The 2D games were challenging, but fans were there for it. The Ninja Gaiden series got rebooted on the original Xbox in 2004, bringing the series to full 3D for the first time. The series became known for its sleek 3D combat and challenging bosses for years, and then it went away.
Chapter 1 Walkthrough & All Collectibles – Ninja Gaiden 4
A complete guide to Ninja Gaiden 4's opening chapter, Bloodsoaked Tokyo.
2025 was a big year for the franchise because it revived both the 2D and 3D worlds. Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is a 2D action game, while Ninja Gaiden 4 continues what the original Xbox started. So, what games do their dimension better? Also, there will be NO spoilers.
The Main Character(s) - Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound
Two For The Price Of One
Yakumo is the major protagonist of Ninja Gaiden 4, a ninja part of the Raven ninja clan, and he’s a man of few words. Kenji, in Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, is part of the Hayabusa ninja clan along with Ryu, who takes a backseat in this one.
Also, Kumori is a playable character as a member of the rival Black Spider ninja clan. This may sound like a spoiler, but Kenji and Kumori actually merge and become one, which is a more interesting story setup and gameplay gimmick for a new game.
Good For Beginners: Ninja Gaiden 4
Almost A Tie
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound has assist options to make the game less challenging. The 2D games were known for being brutal, so this was a good change. While the 3D games were also acknowledged as tough-as-nails games, they did get some difficulty modes here and there.
However, the degree to which Ninja Gaiden 4 implements them is astounding in a good way. More games should follow suit with the auto dodge, auto combo, and auto block abilities to help more players get into intense action games.
The Music - Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound
Rock Vs Chiptune
Ninja Gaiden 4 mostly has either ambient music or rock solos during combat encounters or boss fights. The music sounds fine and is more or less the same style as the other 3D games, but Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is a step above.
How Long to Beat Ninja Gaiden Ragebound
Ninja Gaiden Ragebound is a retro action-platformer with 18 Main Stages to complete, along with a further 8 Special Ops Missions.
The chiptunes in this game are some of the best music to ever grace a modern pixel game, akin to indie homages like Shovel Knight. Some compositions are original, while others harken back to the NES days, and overall, they get players amped up.
The Upgrade System: Ninja Gaiden 4
From New Moves To Accessories
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound has a small upgrade system via purchasable accessories that boost stats or grant skills called Talismans. Ninja Gaiden 4 also has accessories, but that’s only a small part of the upgrade system.
Players can gain two currencies, Karma and NinjaCoins, which can be used to buy items, traversal abilities, and combat skills. It’s a more rewarding system to get players engaged in the combat and to also give them something to strive toward, which is one of the better systems in a 3D entry within this series.
The Art Style - Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound
A 16-Bit Upgrade
Ninja Gaiden 4 is a good-looking game if it were released on the PS4. It doesn’t look bad, but it doesn’t have graphics that make it scream that this is a modern game. It’s not much better than the remaster of Ninja Gaiden 2 Black.
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, for the 2D scene, is a big leap up from the NES days, or even when the games got remade for the SNES. It’s a modern pixel game, meaning the colors are bright and the animations are fluid. Plus, the cutscene art is nice enough to frame.
The Combat: Ninja Gaiden 4
Look Cool In Any Style
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound’s combat is secondary to the gameplay, as traversal is more of the focus. Enemies will basically die in a hit or two, and the only real challenge comes with bosses, so in this way, it’s not much better than the older 2D games.
Ninja Gaiden 4: How Long to Beat All Chapters & Missions
A complete list of all chapters and side missions in Ninja Gaiden 4, and how long wil take to reach 100% completion.
Ninja Gaiden 4 got a huge upgrade for the series when Koei Tecmo hired PlatinumGames to co-develop it, and their combat prowess peaks through. There are tons more abilities, movement is solid, the weapon designs are literally transformative, and overall, it’s just a bloody good time that borderlines on over-the-top action.
The Level Design - Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound
Short, Concise, Plenty Of Replay Value
Ninja Gaiden 4’s combat is almost its downfall, as the pacing can feel one-note at times. Even with the inclusion of side missions, there’s not much variety to levels. Thanks to Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound’s focus on traversal, it’s a more solid platformer.
Also, the gameplay gimmick of switching between Kenji and Kumori in various circumstances adds some fun puzzle challenges to the mix. What’s more, the world map is a nice feature that is easy to navigate, which would have been nice to see in the older 2D games.
The Verdict - Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound
The 2D Era Wins
Both of these games are great at what they are trying to achieve for their dimensions and do the series justice. Ninja Gaiden 4’s difficulty modes, combat, and upgrade system felt like a good refresh on what worked so long ago on the original Xbox. Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound almost has an unfair advantage because it has been so much longer since a proper 2D game was released than a 3D one.
This meant the game had more areas to improve, and it did all of them great, from the level design to the multiple character perspectives. Even though it’s in 2D, it can be easily argued that Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound was a bolder step forward. Either way, 2025 truly was the greatest year for Ninja Gaiden in decades.
Ninja Gaiden 4
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 82 /100 Critics Rec: 83%
- Released
- October 21, 2025
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes
- Developer(s)
- Platinum Games, Team Ninja, Koei Tecmo Games Co., Ltd.
- Publisher(s)
- Xbox Game Studios
