A New Chapter for Action Games
When Ninja Gaiden 4 hit screens on October 21, 2025, it marked a significant return for the character-action genre, feeling both fresh and familiar. Developed through a partnership between PlatinumGames and Team Ninja, this game marks the franchise's first mainline entry since 2012. With a Metacritic score of 83 on Xbox Series X and 82 on PC and PlayStation 5, it's the second-highest rated mainline 3D Ninja Gaiden entry since 2005, trailing only the legendary Ninja Gaiden Black's 94. What makes this release stand out is the successful fusion of polished combat and a unique collaboration between two studios with distinct design philosophies, breathing new life into a dormant series.
The collaboration began with discussions between Koei Tecmo's Hisashi Koinuma and PlatinumGames' Atsushi Inaba, who pitched the idea to Microsoft's Phil Spencer. After initial discussions nearly six years ago and three years of full production, the result is a game that feels like a love letter to action fans. Available day-one on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, it reaches a broad audience, from longtime Ninja Gaiden players to newcomers curious about the hype.
Combat That Feels Alive
At the heart of Ninja Gaiden 4 lies its Bloodbind Ninjutsu system, a mechanic that lets players transform weapons into blood-fueled constructs for devastating attacks. By filling a blood gauge through aggressive moves and obliteration finishes, players can break through enemy defenses, creating a combat loop that rewards bold, relentless play. This system, paired with modernized classics like the Izuna Drop and Flying Swallow, delivers a sense of power and precision that's hard to match. The Raven Gear system adds dynamic movement, with rail grinding and grappling hooks that enhance vertical combat flow.
PlatinumGames' flair for stylish combos shines through in Yakumo, the new Raven Clan protagonist, whose high-dexterity moves echo Bayonetta's elegance. Meanwhile, Team Ninja's influence ensures every input feels tight and responsive, rooted in their Dead or Alive heritage. The game's 120 FPS performance on Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5, powered by PlatinumGames' proprietary engine, makes every slash and dodge buttery smooth, a technical feat that sets a high bar for the genre.
Learning From Past Mistakes
To understand Ninja Gaiden 4's success, look at Ninja Gaiden 3's stumble in 2012. That game, scoring a dismal 58 on Metacritic, suffered from a misguided attempt to chase mainstream appeal with cinematic fluff and watered-down mechanics. Fans felt betrayed by the loss of weapon variety and punishing difficulty, leading to a 12-year franchise hiatus. PlatinumGames and Team Ninja learned from this, focusing on deep, skill-based combat while adding accessibility options like Hero mode's auto-combos and customizable difficulty tiers. The result balances the series' hardcore roots with broader appeal, welcoming new players without alienating veterans.
Contrast this with PlatinumGames' Bayonetta(2009), a critical hit that helped define stylish, expressive combat in action games. Its success came from giving players freedom to experiment, a philosophy that carries into Ninja Gaiden 4's Bloodbind system. The lesson here is clear: action games thrive when they prioritize player agency and mechanical depth over forced narrative or simplified gameplay. Ninja Gaiden 4 nails this balance, proving that collaboration can revive a struggling franchise by staying true to its core.
Where It Falls Short
No game is perfect, and Ninja Gaiden 4 has its flaws. Critics point to a lack of variety in level design, with traversal sections that feel repetitive despite the Raven Gear's flair. The story, centered on Yakumo and series veteran Ryu Hayabusa, struggles to engage, with predictable plot beats and weak character development for the new protagonist. Some reviewers find Yakumo less charismatic than Ryu, though his technical combat style earns praise. Enemy variety also takes a hit, with encounters that can feel samey despite the robust mechanics.
The game's heavy blood and gore, central to the Bloodbind Ninjutsu mechanic, might turn off players who prefer less graphic content. On-rails sections, meant to add spectacle, sometimes disrupt the combat flow. These issues don't overshadow the game's strengths, but they remind us that even strong collaborations can't cover every base perfectly. Still, the focus on combat over narrative aligns with what action fans crave, and the game delivers that in spades.
A Blueprint for the Future
Ninja Gaiden 4's success goes beyond its gameplay; it's a case study in how collaboration can revive a genre. By blending PlatinumGames' flashy, combo-driven style with Team Ninja's precision, the game creates something neither studio could achieve alone. Its day-one Game Pass launch exposes it to millions, though the $29.99 Ultimate tier price hike in October 2025 raises questions about subscription value. Still, the multiplatform release and physical editions through retailers like GameStop show a commitment to reaching every player, not just subscribers.
This partnership could inspire other studios to team up on dormant franchises, combining creative visions to refresh beloved series. With strong critical reception and modest sales expectations of 2 to 2.5 million units, Ninja Gaiden 4 proves there's still a hunger for pure action games. Its technical achievements, like the 120 FPS target and optimized engine, set a standard for responsiveness that could push the genre forward. For now, players can revel in a game that feels like a triumphant return, with every slash and combo proving the action genre still has plenty of fight left.