Overview of Ninja and Samurai Video Games Released in 2025
In 2025, eight ninja and samurai games were released, with a ninth included if counting Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedown. Assassin's Creed Shadows launched on PC, PS5, and Xbox, featuring two playable protagonists, Naoe the Ninja and Yasuke the Samurai, allowing players to switch between them through most of the game. The game showcases a visually stunning depiction of Japan during the Warring States period, though its map is notably large and crowded, reflecting a common Ubisoft design trait.
Ghost of Yotei, a PS5 exclusive and sequel to Ghost of Tsushima, is set 300 years later and follows protagonist Atsu as he seeks revenge against masked nobles. The combat system features four weapons, each with counters tailored to specific enemy types. Ninja Gaiden II Black was shadow-dropped across PC storefronts, PS5, and Game Pass; this remaster in Unreal Engine 5 increases gore and enemy count, reverts upgrades to resemble Ninja Gaiden Black, and removes certain bosses and modes from Sigma 2.
Ninja Gaiden 4, announced in January, was released on PC, PS5, and Xbox. Developed by Team Ninja in collaboration with PlatinumGames, it has received a Very Positive rating on Steam. Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound arrived on PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch as an 8-bit-style sidescroller developed by The Game Kitchen. It stands as the highest-rated Ninja Gaiden game of the year on both Metacritic and Steam.
Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is a 2D game featuring an overworld map and metroidvania elements such as secret areas and branching paths. Praised for its visuals and controls, it is available on PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch. The year also saw honorable mentions including the re-release of Ninja Five-O on digital storefronts, the original release of Rise of the Ronin on PS5 by Koei Tecmo last year, and the turn-based Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedown.
