At a Glance
- Ninjas return in 2025 with six blockbuster games from Ubisoft, Sucker Punch, Sega, Game Kitchen, and Team Ninja.
- The releases revive classic franchises and have already seen positive reception for Yotei and Shadows.
- Commercial performance of the other titles remains largely unreported, though expectations are high.
Why it matters: The resurgence shows that stealth-action titles still captivate players and could reshape the genre’s future.
In 2025, the ninja genre made a striking comeback, with six high-profile releases from major studios. These titles re-ignite beloved franchises and offer a blend of stealth, combat, and narrative depth that had been missing from recent games.
The 2025 Ninja Boom
In the past year, six new ninja-themed games were launched: Ubisoft‘s Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Sucker Punch‘s Ghost of Yotei, Sega‘s Shinobi: Art of Vengeance, Game Kitchen‘s Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, Team Ninja‘s Ninja Gaiden 4, and a remaster of 2008’s Ninja Gaiden II. Each title spans both long-running and revived franchises, bringing back iconic characters and challenging gameplay.
- Ubisoft – Assassin’s Creed Shadows
- Sucker Punch – Ghost of Yotei
- Sega – Shinobi: Art of Vengeance
- Game Kitchen – Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound
- Team Ninja – Ninja Gaiden 4
- Team Ninja – Ninja Gaiden II (remaster)
Legacy and Revival
Shinobi and Ninja Gaiden were once flagship ninja franchises known for punishing difficulty. Both franchises faded in the 2010s as their developers pivoted to other projects. Sega hinted at a Shinobi revival in 2023.
Team Ninja’s return to Ninja Gaiden came with the surprise announcement of Ragebound and the shock of Ninja Gaiden 4. The shift followed the 2013 release of Ninja Gaiden 3, the first game not directed by Tomonobu Itagaki, who left in 2008 and died in October.
| Franchise | Original Peak | 2025 Revival |
|---|---|---|
| Shinobi | 1990s hit | 2025 reboot |
| Ninja Gaiden | 2000s hit | 2025 reboot |
Narrative and Gameplay
Assassin’s Creed Shadows introduces Naoe and Yasuke, while Ghost of Yotei centers on Atsu and her brother Jubei, with Atsu the only playable ninja. The games respect each other’s heritage, with Shadows leaning into stealth and Yotei emphasizing action. A side story in Yotei reveals Jin Sakai as the “First Shinobi”, a legend outlawed by the shogun, and positions Atsu as the true inheritor of the “Way of the Shinobi”.
Key Takeaways
- Ninjas returned in 2025 with six blockbuster titles.
- Classic franchises were revived after years of dormancy.
- Positive reception for Yotei and Shadows signals strong market demand.
The renewed interest in ninja-centric games shows that players still crave stealth and slash gameplay, and the industry is ready to deliver more titles that blend action and storytelling.
