Summary
Developers have been making ninja games since the heyday of the NES.Ninja Gaiden,Strider,Shadow of the Ninja, and the list goes on. Ninja games have their peaks and valleys with the genre having a bit of a resurgence right now thanks to games likeAssassin’s Creed Shadows. In this latestAssassin’s Creedgame, players can take on the role of Naoe on a classic tour through Japan to get her revenge.
It’s a long game, easily taking players at least forty or even eighty hours to complete it fully. After though, players may still be itching to play some more ninja-related games. The following will highlight some of the best ninja games out there, most of which have female leads or guest characters in them in tribute to Naoe inAssassin’s Creed Shadows.
Final Fantasy 7 Remakeis an action RPG everyone should play but when the game was ported to PS5, it came with a special standalone DLC calledEpisode INTERmission. It serves as a prequel and a side story within the game,starring Yuffie, the party’s female ninja in training.
She won’t be executing anyone quite as bloodily as Naoe inAssassin’s Creed Shadows, but Yuffie’s platforming skills are top-notch. Yuffie is playable withinFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirthas well, which is a fully open-world game, but she is a supporting cast member instead of the star. It may seem weird to highlight DLC, but Yuffie’s mini-adventure showcases what female ninjas are capable of.
Metal Gear Rising: Revengeanceserved as a direct sequel following the aftermath ofMetal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. While Snake is retired, Raiden still continues to fight corruption with the political upheavals of countries. This cyborg ninja doesn’t cling to stealth at all and instead prefers slicing through enemies like he was chopping up vegetables for a salad.
The game also has one heck of a soundtrack to pump players up for their slicing and dicing especially duringboss battles in classMetal Gearfashion. It’s wacky and over the top, quite the opposite ofAssassin’s Creed Shadows, but fans should still enjoy it for the solid action.
Muramasa: The Demon Bladehas two campaigns and it could be considered a light Metroidvania or more like a Ninjtroidvania since both heroes are ninjas. Kisuke is a male ninja out for revenge while Momohime is a princess possessed by a demon who is also looking for blood. The game is set in the feudal Japan, but with a twist that demons exist.
The art is one of the more striking things about the game as is the case forany Vanillaware RPG. While it is colorful, both games have a more serious tone that will matchAssassin’s Creed Shadowsplus it highlights another deadly female ninja albeit one being controlled by a demon.
Shinobi is aclassic Sega franchisethat comes in and out of existence. Right now, Sega is planning a revival in 2025 viaShinobi: Art of Vengeance. In 2002, there was a revival viaShinobion PS2. It was successful enough to get a sequel starring a female ninja instead, Hibana, inNightshade.
The game is level based, focusing on action more than stealth and Hibana has slick moves as she hacks through enemies. Both games remain relics on PS2 but collectors should definitely track these two games down.
Ninja Gaiden 2 Blackis a recent remaster that brought the OG ninja, Ryu, back into the limelight. The action demands perfection as even the lowest ninja on the totem pole can deal devastating damage if not dealt with quickly. It’s a game not for the faint of heart but it is rewarding the more time players invest.
Ryu has a ton of weapons from a katana to a scythe and there are three episodes in the story that follow three female counterparts:Momiji, Ayane, and Rachel. While they are not the focus of the game, they offer some enjoyable diversions.
Sekiro: Shadow’s Die Twiceis even more brutal thanNinja Gaiden 2 Blackas it’sone of FromSoftware’s finestin their long line of Soulslikes. Unlike the rest of their games, there aren’t many RPG mechanics. To get anywhere in the game, players have to practice the ninja art of patience.
Only through repetition can players hope to defeat some of the game’s deadlier bosses. Set in feudal Japan, a dishonored ninja known as Wolf repairs his body with a makeshift limb, allowing him to perform new acts like producing fire via a flame thrower.
2Senran Kagura Shinovi Versus
Fan Service To The Max
Senran Kagura Shinovi Versusis one of the silliest ninja games that any one player could pick up. It has a similar gameplay design toDynasty Warriorsandother Musou gamesexcept with more bite-sized missions. Players gain control over several female-led ninja schools, each with a handful of playable characters.
They can hack, slash, and perform super combos once transformed into their more powerful states. The silly part comes into play when their clothes can be torn to shreds. While these students aren’t as graceful as Naoe inAssassin’s Creed Shadows, they are still talented.
The Tenchu series began on the PS1 andTenchu 2: Birth of the Stealth Assassinsis a prequel. Set during an era where ninjas ruled, players can take on the role of either Rikimaru or Ayame at the start. The game is mission-based with one boss character being the goal of each level.
How players get to this boss is up to them and the equipment they bring along. This is definitely more of a stealth game and pulling off the right moves is always rewarding. It can be a bit hard to control now butTenchu 2: Birth of the Stealth Assassinsremains one of the finest ninja games of all time.
