For shinobi enthusiasts who cut their teeth on Sho Kosugi marathons, Naruto volumes, or the 8-bit golden age of stealth, 2025 emerged as a definitive landmark year. After a massive surge of popularity in the late ’80s (led by icons like Ninja Gaiden and Shinobi) and a brief resurgence in the early 2000s (thanks to Tenchu), the genre seemed to retreat into the shadows. That changed abruptly this year, as no fewer than six major titles slashed their way onto every modern gaming platform.
The most impressive part? The quality remained remarkably high, with nearly every entry pushing the boundaries of ninja action in bold new directions. Fans finally saw the Assassin’s Creed franchise travel to feudal Japan, introducing the lethal kunoichi Naoe. While Assassin’s Creed Shadows sparked its share of online debate, Ubisoft’s AAA foray provided a rare, big-budget look at the intricate dance of high-stakes stealth.
But for those who crave more than just hidden blades—those who want to scale fortress walls with shuko claws or vanish beneath the water with a reed pipe—the year offered an even deeper library of titles, including a late-December surprise for retro purists.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows
Technically half of a dual-protagonist experience, Assassin’s Creed Shadows serves as the long-awaited Japanese chapter of Ubisoft’s historical saga. It is a visually stunning, expansive epic, but it is Naoe who truly steals the spotlight, embodying the pure essence of the series’ stealth roots.
The game feels like a culmination of decades of stealth-action mechanics. When playing as Naoe, the objective shifts from open warfare to surgical precision. The game’s intricate castle environments function as elaborate 3D puzzles; shadows become sanctuaries, and rooftops serve as tactical perches for surveying the guard rotations below.
In Shadows, the thrill lies in the tension between perfect execution and desperate improvisation. Naoe is far more fragile than her counterpart, meaning a single mistake forces you to use the environment as a weapon. Whether you are vanishing into a dark corner or utilizing verticality to evade a squad of samurai, the gameplay loop remains consistently rewarding and high-stakes.
Blade Chimera
Standing out with a distinct aesthetic, Blade Chimera leans heavily into Metroidvania territory. Crafted by the talented teams at Team Ladybug and WSS Playground, the game draws inspiration from the Castlevania lineage to offer a sophisticated combat system. Players can seamlessly transition between firearms, traditional melee weapons, and the supernatural abilities of a sentient demon sword.
The narrative and gameplay revolve around Lux, a versatile spirit-blade capable of incredible feats. She isn’t just a weapon; she is a traversal tool that functions as a shield, a grappling hook, a makeshift platform, and even a jetpack. While Shin is the ninja you control, Lux is undoubtedly the centerpiece of the experience, representing one of the most inventive weapon designs in recent memory.
Ninja Gaiden 2 Black
Arriving as a bolt from the blue, Ninja Gaiden 2 Black served as the opening salvo for Team Ninja’s massive year. This iteration is arguably the definitive way to experience Ryu Hayabusa’s second modern outing. Rebuilt in Unreal Engine 5, it offers a level of visual fidelity that the series has never seen before, fueling hope that a full-scale franchise revival is on the horizon.
While this version aligns more closely with the uncompromising vision of the original 2008 release, it isn’t without its quirks. Some technical hitches remain, and purists might miss specific over-the-top set pieces—like the infamous battle against a mechanical Statue of Liberty—but as a pure combat experience, it remains unparalleled in its intensity.
Ninja Gaiden 4
The most polarizing entry of the year, Ninja Gaiden 4 attempted to break away from the established Team Ninja blueprint. A collaboration with PlatinumGames, the title introduces Yakumo—a warrior from the rival Raven Clan—who must navigate a world plagued by the Dark Dragon’s curse. While the ambition is evident, the result felt somewhat hollow to long-time fans.
The game is a fascinating experiment in modernizing the 3D brawler. It trades some of the series’ traditional soul for the fluid, stylish action hallmarks found in titles like Nier: Automata or Astral Chain. It may not feel exactly like the Ninja Gaiden of old, but its technical depth and punishing difficulty ensure it still carries the franchise’s DNA.
Ninja Gaiden Ragebound
The year’s most delightful surprise came from The Game Kitchen in the form of Ninja Gaiden Ragebound. This 2D side-scrolling powerhouse masterfully utilizes a dual-protagonist system. Players switch between two distinct ninjas who eventually merge their abilities to become a singular, unstoppable force of nature.
Featuring breathtaking sprite work and a soundtrack that pays homage to the 8-bit era without feeling dated, Ragebound is a masterclass in efficient game design. It manages to evoke the spirit of the classic NES trilogy while offering the responsive, modern controls that today’s players demand. However, even with its brilliance, it was arguably overshadowed by another legendary return…
Shinobi: Art of Vengeance
After years of experimental and often inconsistent entries, Sega finally reclaimed the throne with Shinobi: Art of Vengeance. Drawing direct inspiration from the 16-bit masterpiece Shinobi 3: Return of the Ninja Master, this revival successfully blends classic arcade action with modern exploration elements. It feels both nostalgically familiar and strikingly fresh.
With its meticulously balanced combat encounters, rewarding exploration, and a razor-sharp art style, Art of Vengeance didn’t just satisfy old-school fans—it earned its place as one of the premier gaming experiences of 2025. It stands as a testament to how a legacy IP can be reimagined for a new generation without losing its core identity.
The Last Ninja Collection
Rounding out the year is The Last Ninja Collection, a comprehensive digital archive of the Commodore 64 and Amiga legends. Recently launched on Steam with console versions on the horizon, this collection is a deep dive into the Western “ninja mania” of the late 80s. It features the core trilogy—The Last Ninja, Last Ninja 2, and 3—alongside isometric classics and fighting games like International Karate.
These games are historical landmarks, offering a completely different perspective on the genre compared to their Japanese counterparts. For those interested in the evolution of digital stealth and the origins of the ninja trope in gaming, this collection is an essential piece of interactive history.
Source: Polygon
