Ninja Gaiden 4: The arrival of a worthy successor

Ninja Gaiden 4 has officially sliced its way onto the scene. The game is finally available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Co-developed by Team NINJA and PlatinumGames, this long-awaited sequel revives the ferocity and precision that defined the series while introducing a host of modern innovations.

A new generation of Ninja Gaiden

While the iconic Ryu Hayabusa returns in the game, Ninja Gaiden 4 introduces a new central hero: Yakumo of the Raven Clan. The game alternates between the perspectives of Yakumo and Ryu, giving players a fresh narrative lens while preserving the legacy of its most famous warrior. Yakumo's story intertwines with Ryu's in a Tokyo engulfed by supernatural chaos. The city is consumed by miasma and threatened by the rebirth of the Dark Dragon.

The campaign picks up after Ninja Gaiden 3, thrusting players into a 15- to 20-hour journey through a corrupted world of cybernetic ninjas and demonic forces. Players can alternate between Yakumo and Ryu during specific chapters, and returning modes like Chapter Challenge allow you to replay missions with different characters and strategies. The narrative explores legacy and renewal, and it delves into how the next generation of ninjas carries the weight of those who came before. It's both a continuation and a reinvention, aiming to satisfy veterans while welcoming newcomers into its world of steel and shadows.

However, Ninja Gaiden 4 offers much more than a new story with another protagonist. The game implements new gameplay mechanics that have a deep impact in combat and movement. The Ninja Gaiden series has always been synonymous with fast, skill-based combat, but this installment pushes things further. Yakumo's Bloodraven Form introduces a new "Bloodbind Ninjutsu" system, allowing players to morph weapons mid-battle and unleash devastating attacks. This new mechanic alongside the return of core techniques from previous installments in the series offer a blend of classic style with new ferocity and a more dynamic approach to combat. Movement has also undergone a dramatic transformation. Rail and wire traversal systems let players sprint across rooftops and chain acrobatics seamlessly between combat encounters. This heightened mobility gives Ninja Gaiden 4 a distinct sense of verticality and pace that its predecessors never achieved.

Longtime fans know Ninja Gaiden for its notorious difficulty, but Team NINJA's latest approach focuses on fairness over frustration. Enemies are designed to operate on equal terms with the player, rewarding mastery rather than punishing mistakes. The result is a combat rhythm that feels intense and demanding, but deeply satisfying once learned.

The game takes advantage of next-generation hardware to offer a visual experience that is more impressive than ever. Powered by a revamped engine, it supports up to 120 fps gameplay and cinematic lighting that captures the grit of Tokyo's war-torn streets. The result is a blend of speed, precision, and spectacle rarely seen in modern action titles.

This is Ninja Gaiden reborn, not just a return to form, but a redefinition of what the franchise can be in a modern era. Brutal, stylish, and surprisingly introspective, Ninja Gaiden 4 is both a love letter to the past and a sharp-edged step into the future of action games. Of course, you can get the cheapest Ninja Gaiden 4 digital code with our comparator. Remember to check out the system requirements if you intend to play the game on PC.