Ninja Gaiden Revival: A Fresh Alternative to Soulslike Games

The 2025 Xbox Developer Direct brought a thrilling announcement for fans of classic action games: the revival of the Ninja Gaiden series. This legendary franchise is set to make a triumphant return with multiple new titles, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and the immediately available Ninja Gaiden 2 Black, which was shadow dropped right after the event. This unexpected revival marks a significant shift for the series, which has been dormant since the release of Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge in 2012, aside from the Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection. The return of Ninja Gaiden could signal a pivotal moment for the gaming industry, potentially heralding the resurgence of traditional 3D action games that have been overshadowed by the dominance of Soulslike titles in recent years.

Once upon a time, games like Ninja Gaiden, Devil May Cry, and the original God of War series dominated the action genre. However, the rise of FromSoftware's titles, such as Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and Elden Ring, has largely supplanted these classic action games. While we appreciate the depth and challenge of Soulslike games, there remains a crucial space in the AAA marketplace for the fast-paced, skill-based combat of games like Ninja Gaiden. Their revival could help rebalance the action genre, offering players a broader range of experiences.

The Ninja Gaiden series has long been widely considered the epitome of action gaming. The 2004 reboot on the original Xbox transformed the series from its 2D roots on the NES into a 3D masterpiece, celebrated for its smooth gameplay, fluid animations, and intense difficulty. While other hack and slash games like Devil May Cry were known for their challenges, Ninja Gaiden distinguished itself with its relentless difficulty, famously exemplified by the first boss, Murai, who intimidated many players with his nunchaku mastery.

Despite its steep learning curve, Ninja Gaiden's difficulty is lauded for being fair. The game's deaths often stem from player errors rather than unfair design, requiring players to master the game's combat rhythm—a delicate balance of movement, defense, and counterattacks. From the iconic Izuna Drop to the powerful Ultimate Techniques and a vast array of weapon combos, Ninja Gaiden equips players with the tools needed to overcome its formidable challenges.

The series' focus on brutal challenge and the satisfaction of conquering its hardest difficulty settings have influenced the mindset of Soulslike fans, who similarly seek the thrill of overcoming seemingly impossible odds. Ninja Gaiden's impact on the genre is undeniable, having laid the groundwork for the Soulslike phenomenon that FromSoftware later refined and popularized.

Follow the Leader

The shift in the action gaming landscape can be traced back to 2009, when Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2, considered an inferior version of Ninja Gaiden II, was released alongside Demon’s Souls. Demon’s Souls received strong reviews and paved the way for Dark Souls in 2011, which is often hailed as one of the greatest video games ever made, including by IGN. As Ninja Gaiden 3 and its re-release, Razor’s Edge, struggled, Dark Souls and its sequels solidified FromSoftware's position in the action market, influencing games like Bloodborne, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and Elden Ring.

FromSoftware's success has led to a proliferation of Soulslike games, including titles like Respawn Entertainment’s Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and its sequel Jedi: Survivor, Team Ninja’s Nioh, and Game Science’s Black Myth: Wukong. While these games are well-received, the dominance of the Soulslike model has overshadowed traditional 3D action games. Ninja Gaiden's return after a long hiatus, alongside the last major Devil May Cry entry in 2019 and the revamped God of War in 2018, underscores the need for diversity in the action genre.

The hallmarks of Soulslike games—timing-based combat, stamina management, character builds, open-ended levels, and strategic save points—have become ubiquitous. While FromSoftware's innovation is commendable, the saturation of this style has left little room for the fast-paced, combo-driven gameplay of traditional action games. Ninja Gaiden 2 Black's release offers a refreshing return to form, showcasing the unique strengths of character action games.

The Master Ninja Returns

Ninja Gaiden 2 Black revitalizes the action genre with its fast-paced combat, diverse weapon arsenal, and the restored gore from the original release, which was absent in the Sigma version. This remaster is the definitive version of Ninja Gaiden 2 for modern platforms, ideal for both newcomers and veterans. While some may criticize the adjusted difficulty and enemy counts, Ninja Gaiden 2 Black strikes a balance, delivering a challenging yet fair experience while retaining the additional content from Sigma 2, minus the unpopular statue boss fights.

Ninja Gaiden 4 Screenshots

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The remaster serves as a poignant reminder of the classic action games that once thrived. Titles inspired by Ninja Gaiden and God of War, such as PlatinumGames’ Bayonetta, Visceral Games’ Dante’s Inferno, Vigil Games’ Darksiders, and even FromSoftware’s Ninja Blade, were staples of the late 2000s and early 2010s. The linear, fast-paced combat and curated boss battles of these games offer a distinct experience that has been largely absent in recent years, with few exceptions like Hi-Fi Rush in 2023.

Playing Ninja Gaiden 2 Black underscores the purity of traditional action games, where success hinges solely on mastering the game's mechanics without relying on builds, experience points, or stamina limitations. This direct challenge between player and game is a refreshing change from the current trends. While Soulslike games continue to captivate audiences, the return of Ninja Gaiden offers hope for a new golden age of action gaming, catering to a diverse audience that appreciates both styles.