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Game Information

Game Title: Ninja Gaiden 4

Platforms:

• PC (Oct 21, 2025)
• PlayStation 5 (Oct 21, 2025)
• Xbox Series X/S (Oct 21, 2025)

Trailer:

• NINJA GAIDEN 4 - Official Story Trailer | Gamescom 2025
• NINJA GAIDEN 4 - Official Release Date Trailer | Xbox Games Showcase 2025
• NINJA GAIDEN 4 Official Announce Trailer | Developer_Direct 2025

Developers: PlatinumGames, Team Ninja

Publisher: Xbox Game Studios

Review Aggregator:

OpenCritic - 82 average - 88% recommended
Metacritic - 82 average (Xbox version)

Critic Reviews


AltChar - Asmir Kovacevic - 95 / 100

Ninja Gaiden 4 is a thrilling ninja adventure, packed with fast-paced combat, cinematic action, and stunning visuals, offering an intense and rewarding experience for the series veterans and the newcomers alike.

Atarita - Turkish - 86 / 100

Ninja Gaiden 4 is a great return for the series. Its strong level design and fast, fluid combat make it a very satisfying experience for hack and slash fans.

CGMagazine - Philip Watson - 8 / 10

Ninja Gaiden 4 brings a bloodsport of epic proportions to AAA gaming, a must play title for fans of hack and slash, action, and anything ninja.

CNET - Oscar Gonzalez - Unscored

Ninja Gaiden 4 will not be up for Game of the Year, or likely even considered one of the best games in the series, but that doesn't matter. This is a game for anyone who just wants to feel like a badass ninja carving up enemies in the blink of an eye, because sometimes that's all you want.

Cerealkillerz - Gabriel Bogdan - German - 7.5 / 10

Ninja Gaiden 4 offers a thrilling, action-packed experience with a creative arsenal and plenty of visceral combat. However, it drags on with too many on-rails segments, and its generic story and environments keep it from truly pushing the series forward or giving the new ninja enough presence to convincingly take up Ryu's legendary mantle.

Console Creatures - Dennis Price - 8 / 10

Ninja Gaiden 4 returns with a vengeance. With PlatinumGames at the helm, Combat is the best Ninja Gaiden has ever been, bringing back the challenging but satisfying gameplay that was missing from vanilla Ninja Gaiden 3, with blazing fast combat which includes dozens of heads and limbs that go flying as you slash through enemies in oh so satisfying ways with the variety of Devil May Cry-like weapons at your disposal.

It's not all good. In a medium where Ichiban Kasuga can carry the Like a Dragon torch just as well, Ninja Gaiden 4's new protagonist, Yakumo, feels like a downgrade to Ryu and feels shoehorned into the spotlight. This is somewhat compensated for by Yakumo's cast of characters, with whom he interacts throughout the story, but he still feels like an uninteresting character whose uncaring edginess serves as a crutch for his character development. Overall, Ninja Gaiden 4 is still a great game to play, and I hope this new Ninja Gaiden connection for Team Ninja and PlatinumGames is the start of a new trilogy.

Digitale Anime - Raouf Belhamra - Arabic - 9.5 / 10

"A Successful Return of a Legendary Title"
Ninja Gaiden 4 is more than just a return; it's a rebirth of one of the greatest action franchises. Team Ninja and PlatinumGames have redefined precise, masterful combat, delivering an experience that blends Japanese rigor with modern cinematic flair. It's a game that rewards skill and punishes complacency, restoring action to its original place in an age of simplification.

Digitec Magazine - Domagoj Belancic - German - 4 / 5

Ninja Gaiden 4 is an incredibly varied game that leaves no room for boredom. The constant change of locations, gameplay mechanics, enemies, and characters in the short playing time creates a brilliant overall package that is second to none in terms of variety and density of ideas.
The combat system impresses with precise controls and ultra-fast, bloody action. The tough difficulty level motivates me to keep going despite countless deaths. I never feel unfairly treated when I die – even if the camera doesn't always cooperate. Graphically, the game impresses with excellent art design, but disappoints with numerous unfinished-looking textures that pull me out of the experience.

Final Weapon - Jordan Brown - 5 / 5

Ninja Gaiden 4 is a triumphant return for the series, with Team Ninja and PlatinumGames uniting to deliver the most intense and fluid combat the franchise has ever seen. Its dual-protagonist story between Yakumo and Ryu is beautifully told, with jaw-dropping dynamic gameplay sequences for both characters. A stellar score ties it all together, making Ninja Gaiden 4 one of 2025's best games and firmly cementing the franchise's grand return in the modern era.

GameSpot - Richard Wakeling - 8 / 10

Ninja Gaiden 4 brings the series back with a bang, building on its intoxicating foundations with smart additions that further elevate its brutally brilliant combat

Gamepressure - Sebastian Kasparek - 8 / 10

Ninja Gaiden 4 is a full-blooded action game that delivers plenty of adrenaline from overcoming tough challenges. Even in light of a few missteps, it cannot be denied that PlatinumGames has created a strong representative of a heavily neglected genre.

Gamer Social Club - DeMandre Pressley - 8.5 / 10

The story may not be the greatest but that's not the primary reasons people play character action games. Ninja Gaiden 4 delivers with fun and fluid gameplay. After Ninja Gaiden 3 as well as the spinoff Yaiba left a lot to be desired, it's a very welcome return to form and along with Ragebound being a great game, the future of Ninja Gaiden looks to be great.

GamesFinest - Luca Pernecker - German - 8 / 10

Ninja Gaiden 4 is a spectacular comeback that combines the strengths of the series with modern influences from Team Ninja and PlatinumGames. The combat system shines with fast-paced, precise, and mercilessly satisfying fights, while the staging and boss battles showcase the action genre at its best. Although the level design remains too conservative in places and does not fully exploit its creative potential, the thrilling action, stylish brutality, and successful gameplay make it a worthy and impressive successor that skillfully continues the legacy of Ryu Hayabusa.

Gaming Boulevard - Lander Van der Biest - 8.5 / 10

Ninja Gaiden 4 is a comeback. It's fast, it's furious, and it honours the legacy while turning up the tempo. Yakumo leads the charge with new mechanics, Ryu anchors it with familiar weight, traversal soars, combat slashes, bosses challenge. It isn't flawless, repetition, some structuring echo past entries, and if you binge it you might feel the edges. But what it does best, it does with conviction. For fans of pure, no-nonsense action games, this hits hard. For those new to the series, it provides an accessible entry point without diluting the punch.

Gaming Nexus - Nathan Carter - 8 / 10

Ninja Gaiden 4 is a fantastic, fun and challenging action game that fans of the genre will be coming back to many times, with tons of replay value and inevitable DLC expansions in the future. It's a shame that the story and characters are completely undercooked, but the gameplay hard-carries this game to one of the best action games of the year.

GamingBolt - Ravi Sinha - 8 / 10

Ninja Gaiden 4 has its missteps, especially during the story and with Ryu's sections, but it's still a triumphant comeback for the franchise.

MKAU Gaming - Sammy Hanson - 8.5 / 10

It's been 13 long years since the last main entry in the Ninja Gaiden series, but the wait has been worth it. Ninja Gaiden and PlatinumGames are a match made in heaven as the combat is some of the most fun and exhilarating around, with tons of bloodshed and dismembered body parts.

MondoXbox - Mirko Rossi - Italian - 9 / 10

Ninja Gaiden 4 masterfully revives the series' legacy, blending Team Ninja's spirit with PlatinumGames' flair. Yakumo's journey delivers thrilling combat, massive boss fights, and a deep progression system that rewards skill and dedication. Despite camera flaws, repetitive environments, and Ryu Hayabusa's limited role, it remains a brutal, stylish, and essential action game for fans and newcomers alike.

MonsterVine - James Carr - 4.5 / 5

Ninja Gaiden 4 feels right at home with the classic, linear design of the first three entries in the series. A focus on tight, fast-paced action lets the best aspects of the game sing, and it avoids muddying the water with unnecessary souls-like mechanics. A few boss fights feel a bit too janky for the action, but overall, they make for excellent mission endpoints. The story isn't exactly memorable, but it doesn't bog down the experience, making for a tight roller coaster of an action game worthy of the title Ninja Gaiden.

One More Game - Ricki Buzon - 8.5 / 10

Ninja Gaiden 4 marks a triumphant return for a franchise long absent from the action spotlight. While its story may lean on familiar tropes and occasional padding, the game more than compensates with blistering combat, deep customization, and a rewarding difficulty curve that invites mastery.

Oyungezer Online - Onur Kaya - Turkish - 8.5 / 10

A comeback that builds upon the already solidified Ninja Gaiden gameplay with complementary mechanics - and if it hadn't done Ryu Hayabusa an injustice, it could've been hailed as a true classic.

PSX Brasil - Luis Guilherme Machado Camargo - Portuguese - 90 / 100

Ninja Gaiden 4 is a bold new beginning for the series that brings a new dynamic to combat while still living up to the series' legacy. It may not be the Ninja Gaiden longtime fans were hoping for, but it's an excellent game and one of the best action titles of the generation.

PlayStation LifeStyle - Tyler Treese - 9 / 10

Placed well among Team Ninja and PlatinumGames' best efforts, Ninja Gaiden 4 fully lives up to the hype and is a total blast.

PlayStation Universe - Timothy Nunes - 6.5 / 10

Maybe Ninja Gaiden 4 could be the weird transition game that helps the franchise find a new path in future entries. Like I said before, there is a good combat loop here. It just lacks the refinement and potency that fans have come to expect from this franchise. The Ninja Gaiden stories have never been complicated or over-the-top, but this one offers very little substantive content or drama to get its hooks in you. It's not perfect by any stretch of the word, but the right person can find a good time here.

PowerUp! - Leo Stevenson - 9 / 10

Ninja Gaiden 4 is pure, unadulterated video gaming. It's fast, it's slick and, most of all, it's incredibly satisfying.

Saudi Gamer - Arabic - 8 / 10

How much you'll like this will depend on how open you are for the series to change and be influenced, while still feeling like part of the series. If you do, you'll be rewarded with a blisteringly fast and bloody time.

Seasoned Gaming - Alejandro Segovia - 8.5 / 10

Let's not mince words: after more than a decade of dormancy, seeing Ninja Gaiden return with this much confidence feels triumphant.

Shacknews - TJ Denzer - 8 / 10

Quote not yet available

SteamDeckHQ - Noah Kupetsky - 4.5 / 5

Ninja Gaiden 4 is all about quality over quantity, and the quality is just incredible. The combat is fast-paced, brutal, flashy, and engaging, while still feeling accessible enough to use the diverse moveset and still require some skill to utilize to their fullest. With the gorgeous world, head-bopping soundtrack, and side content, I found many reasons to keep coming back for more even after finishing the campaign. There are some minor issues here and there, but nothing that stopped me from enjoying every moment.

It also plays quite nicely on the Steam Deck. It does have a specific Steam Deck Mode that can play at 30 FPS, and while it can handle higher framerates, there are a multitude of issues that keep it from being an amazing experience. Still, it's playable, looks decent, and a solid way to enjoy the game.

Stevivor - Steve Wright - 7 / 10

Ultimately, Ninja Gaiden 4 is fun, but not memorable -- something that extends into its general narrative. You're not there for witty banter though, nor for its plot twists and turns -- but instead to decapitate enemies as a bad-ass ninja. In that sense, Ninja Gaiden 4 does exactly what it says on the tin.

TechRaptor - Austin Suther - 9 / 10

Ninja Gaiden 4 is a rollercoaster of action, with a rich combat system to master and plenty of badass scenarios to overcome. Ryu's sections don't live up to the hype, nor does the writing. Even so, this is the best action game to come out in years, and perhaps Platinum's greatest hit yet.

The Nerd Stash - Julio La Pine - 9 / 10

Ninja Gaiden 4 is the action experience that perfectly caps off the year of the Ninja. It's fast-paced and brutal combat respects the franchise's legacy while modernizing its accessibility.

The Outerhaven Productions - Josh Piedra - 3 / 5

Ninja Gaiden 4 delivers fast and furious action that will have you hacking and slashing through demons and cybernetic soldiers in a fun and satisfying way, but its overuse of gimmicks in its level design, lack of variety of weapons, and flat story keep this from being a game that will leave a lasting impression.

TheSixthAxis - Miguel Moran - 9 / 10

Ninja Gaiden 4 is a shock to the system that reminds us of a time before Souls-likes. It's a high-octane, unrelenting, and effortlessly cool action game experience that newcomers and franchise fans alike need to play.

Toisto - Joonatan Itkonen - 4 / 5

At its best, Ninja Gaiden 4 is an exhilarating bloodbath that has finally struck the perfect balance between hardcore and accessible. It's a reminder of how invigorating this franchise once was, and how, in the right hands, it can be once again.

XDA - Tomas Franzese - 6 / 10

There are moments, specifically during flashy boss fights or particularly tough levels, where Ninja Gaiden 4 shines. Unfortunately, a lackluster story, repetitive content, and a general lack of polish on important gameplay elements like the camera make the series' grand return anticlimactic

Xbox Achievements - Richard Walker - 85%

This year has been a banner one for Ninja Gaiden games. Usually, the adage about buses involves two turning up at once, but 2025 has seen no fewer th...

XboxEra - Jesse Norris - 8.5 / 10

NINJA GAIDEN 4 revives the decade+ dormant franchise with a new developer leading it into an insanely fast, new direction. It's a fun, occasionally beautiful title with an actually not terrible story, perhaps a first for the series

ZTGD - Ken McKown - 9 / 10

Quote not yet available

 

[adamsapple]

Reviews are coming in hot so the score may be changing every few minutes, will try to update OP as frequently as I can.

 

[Topher]

Great scores. I'm no NG fan but I might give this a go

 

[Topher]

Reviews are coming in hot so the score may be changing every few minutes, will try to update OP as frequently as I can.

8 from IGN

Ninja Gaiden 4 Review - IGN

When it comes to combat, few games are even in the same ballpark.

www.ign.com

 

[coachmcguirk91]

About where I expected. An 80+MC is fantastic for pure action games

 

[Arsic]

That's a surprisingly good score with how it's less than a hour to go until you play. Was fully expecting 6/10s.

I'm obviously insanely hyped so I'm curious how it'll resonate with me.

 

[adamsapple]

About where I expected. An 80+MC is fantastic for pure action games

It's a 20+ point improvement over the last game too. Not too shabby.

 

[Juza]

So, great action game but the story sucks. I'm fine with that.

 

[Nephryte]

Decent. So on the same field of ninja gaiden 2 and 2 black. Ninja gaiden 1 stay goated

 

[Enzo88]

Gaming in 2025: 8+ scores = 'decent'.
Of course we are fucked.

Really good scores, will play later today.

 

[Topher]

Gaming in 2025: 8+ scores = 'decent'.

That attitude has been around for a long time. I'll never understand it

 

[RedC]

Added to my wishlist and will get on sale.

 

[DR3AM]

I love GamePass

 

[Gamer_By_Proxy]

Cons:
Gooner approved females
Not enough representation
Combat focus

 

[semiconscious]

i love seeing that there's still some life left at platinum! will be waiting on sale...

 

[DanielG165]

"BB-But, reviews for a game dropping the day before release is a bad thing!" -NG subreddit.

Yeah, just as I was saying, this shit isn't abnormal anymore. Games have a slew of different NDAs and timeframes for which reviews are allowed to be released by journalists. That does NOT MEAN that a game will be shit just because reviews won't drop until the day before, or day of release. That's not how it works anymore, period.

In any case, this is awesome to see!! My NG veteran heart is doing backflips right now, like after 12 long years, seeing Ninja Gaiden come back with a FORCE and drop three games in the span of a year that have ALL reviewed *incredibly well* is just so amazing to see, man, holy shit. Tuesday will be here before we know it!

 

[JoduanER2]

Gaming in 2025: 8+ scores = 'decent'.
Of course we are fucked.

Really good scores, will play later today.

Its the critics who use this metric... how many times have you seen critics give 8s across the board for mediocre games before?.. to many to count.
Games review scores is broken. I don't get why in metacritic an 8 for a movie is incredible/amazing but for games is just good. Well I know, is because game critics don't know how to score games.

 

[Blood Borne]

I have no doubt that it will be a better game than NG2.


NGB > NG4 > NG2 > NG3. This is what I think the general consensus will be in future.

 

[xenosys]

I predicted something between 80 and 85 so this isn't too surprising.

Games of this ilk rarely get mega-high scores.

 

[playbignbox]

Any action game from PlatinumGames is an instant buy for me.

And even better is that it's a Ninja Gaiden game.

 

[Ulysses 31]

Any action game from PlatinumGames is an instant buy for me.

And even better is that it's a Ninja Gaiden game.

What did you think of Legend of Korra or Mutans in Manhattan?

 

[splattered]

Landed right about where i thought it would, nice! Do not regret pre-ordering deluxe edition a few hours ago now haha sweet

 

[playbignbox]

What did you think of Legend of Korra or Mutans in Manhattan?

PlatinumGames games are great, but yeah… those low-budget licensed cash-ins don't count lol

 

[bender]

Ninja Gaiden 4 is a triumphant return for the series, with Team Ninja and PlatinumGames uniting to deliver the most intense and fluid combat the franchise has ever seen,

 

[Ceadeus]

in remembrance of Tomonobu Itagaki

 

[Gaiff]

Can character action games even score over 90 anymore? Seems low to mid-80s is the best they can get these days.

No more 90+ like NGB, DMC, or Bayonetta 2.

 

[bender]

Can character action games even score over 90 anymore? Seems low to mid-80s is the best they can get these days.

No more 90+ like NGB, DMC, or Bayonetta 2.

I guess it depends on what you classify Sekiro and if you consider 2019 part of "these days".

DMCV:SE is sitting at an 89 with the original version being an 87.

 

[Enzo88]

Its the critics who use this metric... how many times have you seen critics give 8s across the board for mediocre games before?.. to many to count.
Games review scores is broken. I don't get why in metacritic an 8 for a movie is incredible/amazing but for games is just good. Well I know, is because game critics don't know how to score games.

I agree that game reviews tend to skew a bit higher than they should.

That said, i don't see a barrage of games that average 8 on open/meta critic, that are 'mediocre'.

Mediocre is like 5/10, i don't believe that 3 points gap to be real.

 

[Gaiff]

I guess it depends on what you classify Sekiro and if you consider 2019 part of "these days".

DMCV:SE is sitting at an 89 with the original version being an 87.

Eh, close enough for DMC5. Not quite 90+, but that's as good as it gets it seems.

 

[bender]

Eh, close enough for DMC5. Not quite 90+, but that's as good as it gets it seems.

Not a lot of competition these days. Bayo 3 is a technical mess and that' setting aside how divisive it is amongst the fanbase. Astral Chain is sitting at 87 which is impressive considering it is a new IP.

 

[anyasok]

Shitty level design, repetitive enemies and dogwater graphics. I will pass

 

[Giallo Corsa]

Shitty level design, repetitive enemies and dogwater graphics. I will pass

Shitty level design yes, repetitive enemies = no different than previous entries (and especially NG3), dog water GFX = visit to the ophthalmologist, this looks literally 10x better than Nioh, nioh2 and especially rise of the Ronin...

C'mon man

 

[anyasok]

Shitty level design yes, repetitive enemies = no different than previous entries (and especially NG3), dog water GFX = visit to the ophthalmologist, this looks literally 10x better than Nioh, nioh2 and especially rise of the Ronin...

C'mon man

Black looks better than this by far. Comparing it to Nioh games and Rise of Ronin is disingenous. They always looked likr ass including Nioh 3. How about death stranding 2, yotei and AC shadows? They are charging the same price after all. Also ass level design and repetitive enemies should have, you know, improved maybe? Like why is it considered normal if past games had that?

 

[//DEVIL//]

Black looks better than this by far. Comparing it to Nioh games and Rise of Ronin is disingenous. They always looked likr ass including Nioh 3. How about death stranding 2, yotei and AC shadows? They are charging the same price after all. Also ass level design and repetitive enemies should have, you know, improved maybe? Like why is it considered normal if past games had that?

You were doing semi fine till you wrote Yoti. Now you have no base and you lost this conversation lol

 

[DreamcastSkies]

Looks like mission accomplished. Congratulations to Team Ninja and Platinum Studios. And I think Xbox helped fund the game and encouraged getting it off the ground. A big thank you to them for that.

 

[Giallo Corsa]

Black looks better than this by far. Comparing it to Nioh games and Rise of Ronin is disingenous. They always looked likr ass including Nioh 3. How about death stranding 2, yotei and AC shadows? They are charging the same price after all. Also ass level design and repetitive enemies should have, you know, improved maybe? Like why is it considered normal if past games had that?

NG2 Black doesn't look better than 4 since IMO looks like your typical UE5 slop.
Nothing disingenuous about the comparison, those 3 are literally TC's latest games (there's also the new DW origins) and in comparison to those it looks better.

DS2,.GoY and even shadows have astronomical budgets compared to this and also, they don't have to accommodate such fast action.
Apparently, the normal "performance" mode runs at 120fps ffs and that's ok since performance should be king in these type of games.

I get what you're trying to say but shit looking it is not.

 

[Guardian Monkey]

Seems cool so far. Reminds me a bit of rising.

 

[Buggy Loop]

Wow high praise from FightinCowboy, 5/5

 

[drotahorror]

Those are great scores. Grats to the team(s).

 

[Gaiff]

Shitty level design, repetitive enemies

How the fuck do you know? You haven't even played the game.

 

[BennyBlanco]

Wow high praise from FightinCowboy, 5/5

More valid than any website review imo. I was buying this no matter what anyway.

 

[Liopleurodon]

Now please start working on Ninja Gaiden 5, AND Metal Gear Rising 2.

 

[Buggy Loop]

Now please start working on Ninja Gaiden 5, AND Metal Gear Rising 2.

Astral Chain 2

 

[MagiusNecros]

Astral Chain 2

Yeah give me Astral Chain 2. Most interesting setting. Failing that give me a 60 FPS S2 patch for Astral Chain 1.

 

[Memati187]

Cool, but what about them dittos

 

[LavitzSlambert]

I have no doubt that it will be a better game than NG2.


NGB > NG4 > NG2 > NG3. This is what I think the general consensus will be in future.

Black was a perfectly timed cult classic. Very much a product of its time, and one difficult to capture the essence of. Sounds like NG4 does as good a job as any could to follow that up.

 

[Feel Like I'm On 42]

Wow high praise from FightinCowboy, 5/5

I still have a bad taste in my mouth from his Dragons Dogma 2 review ....but yeah ill still listen to him over a lot of others.

 

[Arsic]

The most amazing thing this game proves to me is platinum is still a very talented studio.

The director for this game is smoking the good shit.

 

[Feel Like I'm On 42]

You were doing semi fine till you wrote Yoti. Now you have no base and you lost this conversation lol

Yotei is a nice looking game. Could've looked better had they pumped up the geometry of the rocks and boulders and improved animations but it looks good in spite of those things. Oh and water sucks

 

[Buggy Loop]

1h in so far, got to stop for sleep and work tomorrow, but I can't wait to continue.

Runs butter fucking smooth on PC. OMG thank god no UE5