We Love It's Guide to…
When demons attack Hayabusa Village, young ninja Kenji joins forces with rival Kumori in a fast-paced 2D action-platformer.
Released 31 Jul 2025
Bounce Off Enemies
Pair Blade and Kunai
Race Kumori’s Timed Routes
A brand-new side-scrolling entry to the NINJA GAIDEN series from the team behind Blasphemous, NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound redefines the classic platformer saga in a spectacular, thrilling and challenging ninja adventure.
Developed by The Game Kitchen · Published by Dotemu, Joystick
With Ryu Hayabusa away in America, young ninja Kenji Mozu must defend Hayabusa Village from a demon invasion. He forms an alliance with Kumori of the rival Black Spider Clan to fight the threat.
Run through side-scrolling levels, cutting down enemies, dodging attacks, and navigating jumps, walls, and hazards. Kenji specializes in close-range sword attacks, while Kumori provides ranged attacks and can tackle certain timed routes.
Use the pair’s combined abilities to unleash powered attacks, including strikes that can take down tougher enemies when earned through the right attacks. Find collectibles, take on level challenges, and earn rankings; collected currency can be spent on equipment and abilities. Levels can be replayed, and a harder mode unlocks after finishing the game.
In the supplied reviews, players often praise the responsive movement and fast combat, especially when chaining attacks and platforming into a smooth run through a level. Pixel art and music are also recurring highlights, as are the old-school side-scrolling feel and a challenge that many find rewarding. Some players instead describe the combat as repetitive or shallow, and criticize the game’s length, some boss fights, or difficulty with leaving and resuming a level.
From the acclaimed team behind Blasphemous, NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound successfully unites the classic lore and gameplay of the Tecmo-developed (now KOEI TECMO GAMES) NINJA GAIDEN series from the 8-bit era with the depth and intensity of the modern 3D entries. The best of both eras come together to create an epic and thrilling adventure.
Our story begins when Ryu Hayabusa journeys to America to honor his father's will. While he is away, the barrier between the human and the demon worlds suddenly shatters, unleashing a terrifying army upon the Hayabusa Village, which now faces an unprecedented threat in Ryu's absence.
To stand against this new threat, Kenji Mozu, a young ninja from the Hayabusa Village, rises to the challenge! Trained by Ryu, he fights fiercely but soon finds himself in desperate straits. Forced to tap into forbidden power, Kenji sets aside centuries of animosity and forms an alliance with the sinister Black Spider Clan, convinced that combining their souls and skills is the only way to protect the world out of the Demon Lord's grasp!
Combining old-school feeling with modern precision, NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound retains the pick-up-and-play action of the classic titles, while introducing new layers of depth.
Alongside the new protagonist, Kenji Mozu, is the skilled assassin Kumori. Take control of these two powerful ninjas simultaneously and unravel their interconnected stories.
Use the Ninja Fusion to unleash devastating abilities and obliterate your enemies. NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound features impeccable mechanics that are easy to learn but hard to truly master, challenging the skills of even the most seasoned fans of the NINJA GAIDEN series!
Step into a reimagined version of the classic NINJA GAIDEN universe, brought to life through stunning, meticulously crafted visuals. Every enemy is recreated with a level of detail that was once impossible.
The brutal, nostalgia-filled aesthetic of NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound pays homage to the past while pushing the boundaries of modern pixel art, making every battle a feast for the eyes.
Do you have what it takes to become a true ninja master?
| Platforms | Windows |
|---|---|
| Achievements | 36 |
| Age ratings |
|
| Controller support | PlayStation, Xbox |
| Controller required | No |
| DLC / extras | 1 listed on Steam |
| DRM / EULA |
|
| Metacritic | 84/100 View on Metacritic |
| Website | Official website |
