Ninja Gaiden Revival: A Fresh Counter to Soulslike Games

The 2025 Xbox Developer Direct brought a wave of excitement with the announcement of the Ninja Gaiden revival, marking a significant moment for fans of the iconic action franchise. The reveal included not one, but two new titles: Ninja Gaiden 4 and Ninja Gaiden 2 Black, with the latter being shadow dropped immediately after the event. This surprising resurgence comes after a long hiatus, the last major entry being Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge back in 2012, aside from the Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection. The return of this series signals a potential shift in the gaming landscape, bringing back the classic 3D action genre that was once overshadowed by the dominance of Soulslike games.

In the past, titles like Ninja Gaiden, Devil May Cry, and the original God of War series defined the action genre. However, the rise of games like Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and Elden Ring from FromSoftware shifted the focus to a different style of play. While we appreciate the Soulslike genre, the action gaming market could benefit from a variety, and the return of Ninja Gaiden might just be the catalyst needed to restore balance.

The Ninja Gaiden series has long been widely considered the apex of action gaming. The 2004 reboot on the original Xbox transformed the franchise from its 2D roots into a 3D masterpiece, cementing Ryu Hayabusa's adventures with its silky smooth gameplay, fluid animations, and notorious difficulty. While other hack and slash games existed, Ninja Gaiden distinguished itself with its relentless challenge, famously exemplified by the first boss, Murai, who intimidated many players right from the start.

Despite its steep learning curve, seasoned players affirm that Ninja Gaiden's difficulty is fair, rooted in mastering the game's rhythm of combat. From the iconic Izuna Drop to the devastating Ultimate Techniques and a plethora of weapon-specific combos, the game equips players with the tools needed to overcome its challenges. This dedication to mastering mechanics is a trait that Ninja Gaiden shares with the Soulslike genre, which it ironically helped inspire. The ethos of conquering seemingly impossible odds, a hallmark of Soulslike fans, was first championed by the Ninja Gaiden community. However, the overwhelming success of the Soulslike formula may have overshadowed traditional action games.

Follow the Leader

The release of Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 in 2009, a PS3 port considered inferior and marking the beginning of the series' decline, coincided with the launch of Demon’s Souls. The latter received strong reviews and paved the way for Dark Souls in 2011, a game often hailed as one of the greatest ever made, including by IGN. As Ninja Gaiden 3 and its re-release Razor’s Edge struggled, Dark Souls thrived, spawning sequels and influencing FromSoftware's subsequent titles like Bloodborne, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and Elden Ring.

The widespread adoption of FromSoftware's mechanics influenced other franchises, such as Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and Jedi: Survivor by Respawn Entertainment, Nioh by Team Ninja, and Black Myth: Wukong by Game Science. These games, while successful, have contributed to a saturation of the Soulslike formula in the AAA action genre, leaving less room for traditional 3D action games. The return of Ninja Gaiden after over a decade, along with the release of Devil May Cry 5 in 2019 and the revamped God of War in 2018, which shifted towards a more Soulslike approach, underscores the need for diversity in the action gaming space.

The Master Ninja Returns

The release of Ninja Gaiden 2 Black revitalizes the action genre with its fast-paced combat, diverse weaponry, and the return of the original's gore, which was absent in the Sigma versions. This iteration is the definitive version of Ninja Gaiden 2 for modern hardware, offering a balanced difficulty and additional content, making it an ideal entry point for newcomers while satisfying veteran players. Despite some criticisms regarding difficulty adjustments and enemy numbers, Ninja Gaiden 2 Black stands out as a comprehensive experience, retaining the essence of the original while enhancing its appeal.

Ninja Gaiden 4 Screenshots

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The reintroduction of Ninja Gaiden through Ninja Gaiden 2 Black serves as a reminder of the genre's past glory. The late 2000s and early 2010s saw a proliferation of games inspired by Ninja Gaiden and God of War, such as Bayonetta by PlatinumGames, Dante’s Inferno by Visceral Games, Darksiders by Vigil Games, and even FromSoftware's Ninja Blade. These games offered fast-paced, combo-driven battles against numerous foes and epic bosses in a linear format. While games like Hi-Fi Rush in 2023 continue this legacy, Ninja Gaiden 2 Black stands as a prominent reminder of what the genre once was and could be again.

Playing Ninja Gaiden 2 Black underscores the unique purity of traditional action games. Without the crutches of builds, experience points, or stamina bars, it's a pure test of skill. You must master the combat system to progress, offering a challenge that can't be replicated by other genres. While Soulslike games continue to dominate, the return of Ninja Gaiden could herald a new era for action gaming, proving there's room for both styles to thrive.