Ninja Gaiden Revival: A Fresh Alternative to Soulslike Games

The 2025 Xbox Developer Direct event brought a thrilling announcement for gamers: the revival of the beloved Ninja Gaiden series. With the reveal of Ninja Gaiden 4 and the immediate release of Ninja Gaiden 2 Black, fans are buzzing with excitement. This unexpected resurgence marks a significant shift, especially since the last major installment, Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge, was released in 2012. The return of this iconic franchise could signal a renaissance for classic 3D action games, which have been overshadowed by the dominant Soulslike genre in recent years.

Historically, games like Ninja Gaiden, Devil May Cry, and the original God of War series defined the action genre. However, the rise of FromSoftware's titles such as Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and Elden Ring has shifted the focus. While we appreciate the depth and challenge of Soulslike games, the action genre needs diversity, and the comeback of Ninja Gaiden might just be the catalyst to bring balance back to the marketplace.

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 into a 3D powerhouse, featuring Ryu Hayabusa in a game renowned for its smooth gameplay, fluid animations, and challenging difficulty. While other hack-and-slash games existed, Ninja Gaiden set itself apart with its demanding nature, famously exemplified by the first boss, Murai, who has been the bane of many players.

Despite its notorious difficulty, Ninja Gaiden is cherished for its fairness. Player deaths often stem from mistakes rather than unfair game mechanics, requiring players to master the game's rhythm of combat, blending movement, defense, and counter-attacks. From the iconic Izuna Drop to the powerful Ultimate Techniques and a variety of weapon combos, players have the tools needed to overcome the game's challenges.

The series' influence on the Soulslike genre is undeniable. The community's love for Ninja Gaiden's tough challenges and the thrill of mastering its hardest settings laid the groundwork for the Soulslike phenomenon. While FromSoftware and its imitators have dominated the action genre, the return of Ninja Gaiden could reignite interest in traditional action games.

Follow the Leader

The release of Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 in 2009, considered inferior to the original, coincided with the emergence of Demon’s Souls, which received strong reviews and paved the way for Dark Souls in 2011. Dark Souls, often hailed as one of the greatest games ever, including by IGN, shifted the focus of the action genre. As Ninja Gaiden 3 and its rerelease, Razor’s Edge, struggled, Dark Souls and its sequels solidified the Soulslike model, which was further refined in games like Bloodborne, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and Elden Ring.

The widespread adoption of the Soulslike mechanics has influenced other franchises, including Respawn Entertainment’s Star Wars Jedi series, Team Ninja’s Nioh, and Game Science’s Black Myth: Wukong. While these games have been well-received, the dominance of the Soulslike model has led to a scarcity of traditional 3D action games. The revival of Ninja Gaiden after over a decade, alongside the last Devil May Cry entry in 2019 and the altered God of War series in 2018, highlights a need for variety in the action genre.

Soulslike games are characterized by their challenging combat, timing-based dodges and parries, stamina management, customizable builds, and open-ended level design. While FromSoftware's innovation in this area is commendable, the saturation of this style across the industry has left fans craving the fast-paced, linear, and combo-heavy gameplay of classics like Ninja Gaiden.

The Master Ninja Returns

Ninja Gaiden 2 Black breathes new life into the action genre. Its fast-paced combat, diverse weapon set, and restored gore from the original, absent in the Sigma version, make it the definitive experience for both newcomers and veterans. While some might miss the original's raw difficulty, Ninja Gaiden 2 Black strikes a balance, offering a challenging yet fair gameplay experience with additional content from Sigma 2, minus the unpopular statue boss fights.

Ninja Gaiden 4 Screenshots

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This remaster serves as a reminder of what was lost when the action genre shifted away from games like Ninja Gaiden and God of War. The late 2000s and early 2010s saw a surge of similar titles, such as Bayonetta, Dante’s Inferno, Darksiders, and even FromSoftware's Ninja Blade. The fast, combo-based action against numerous enemies and large bosses in a linear format has been largely replaced by the Soulslike model. However, games like Hi-Fi Rush in 2023 show that there's still an appetite for this style of gameplay.

Playing Ninja Gaiden 2 Black underscores the unique appeal of these action games. Their purity lies in the absence of shortcuts; there are no builds to exploit, no experience points to grind, and no stamina bars to manage. It's a direct challenge between the player and the game, demanding mastery of the provided tools. While Soulslike games will likely continue to thrive, the return of Ninja Gaiden could herald a new era for action games, catering to a diverse audience that appreciates both styles.