Still, the original Ninja Gaiden remains unmatched with a 91, and Ninja Gaiden Black tops the series at 94, cementing its status as one of the finest action games ever made. Looking only at 2025 releases, Ragebound edges out Ninja Gaiden 4 by a single point, sitting at 84.
The highest individual score for Ninja Gaiden 4 came from GamesRadar+. Reviews editor Oscar Taylor-Kent awarded it 5/5 stars, describing the game as a genre triumph that rewards patience and skill. He praised its slick, over-the-top combat and the blood-power system for adding depth and encouraging players to push their limits, calling it “a deadly delight.”
Designers of punishing, yet fair games now argue that balance is the key to satisfying difficulty: “Enemies are on equal footing with the player.”
