Ninja Gaiden’s Revival is the Perfect Antidote to the Soulslike Phenomenon

At the 2025 Xbox Developer Direct, one of the most exciting announcements was the revival of the iconic action franchise, Ninja Gaiden. Fans were thrilled to learn about multiple new games in development, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and the surprise release of Ninja Gaiden 2 Black, which was shadow dropped immediately after the event. This significant turnaround for the series comes as a refreshing surprise, especially since the last major entry, Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge, was released back in 2012. The resurgence of Ninja Gaiden could mark a crucial turning point for the gaming industry, signaling a potential revival of classic 3D action games that have been overshadowed by the dominance of Soulslike titles in recent years.

In the past, action games like Ninja Gaiden, Devil May Cry, and the original God of War series defined the genre. However, the rise of FromSoftware's titles such as Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and Elden Ring has shifted the focus. While Soulslike games have their merits, the action gaming landscape needs diversity. The return of Ninja Gaiden might just be the catalyst needed to restore balance and bring back the variety that the genre desperately requires.

The Dragon Lineage

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 on the NES into a 3D masterpiece, celebrated for its smooth gameplay, fluid animations, and intense difficulty. While other hack-and-slash games like Devil May Cry were known for their challenge, Ninja Gaiden set itself apart with its relentless difficulty, famously exemplified by the first boss, Murai, who tested players' skills right from the start.

Despite its steep learning curve, Ninja Gaiden's difficulty is fair, rooted in player errors rather than unfair game mechanics. Mastering the game involves understanding the rhythm of combat, a delicate balance of movement, defense, and counter-attacks. From the iconic Izuna Drop to the powerful Ultimate Techniques and a vast array of combos for different weapons, players have all the tools needed to overcome the game's challenges.

The brutal challenge and satisfaction of conquering Ninja Gaiden's hardest difficulty settings have influenced the mindset of Soulslike fans, who seek the thrill of overcoming seemingly impossible odds. Ninja Gaiden's influence on the genre is undeniable, having paved the way for the Soulslike phenomenon. However, the dominance of Soulslike games over the past decade has overshadowed other action game styles, potentially to their detriment.

Follow the Leader

The release of Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 in 2009, considered an inferior version of Ninja Gaiden II, coincided with the launch of Demon’s Souls, which received strong reviews and set the stage for Dark Souls in 2011. Dark Souls, often hailed as one of the greatest video games ever made, including by IGN, marked a turning point in the action genre. As Ninja Gaiden 3 and its rerelease Razor’s Edge struggled, Dark Souls and its sequels, along with FromSoftware's subsequent titles like Bloodborne, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and Elden Ring, dominated the market.

The popularity of FromSoftware's mechanics influenced other franchises, including Respawn Entertainment’s Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and Jedi: Survivor, Team Ninja’s Nioh, and Game Science’s Black Myth: Wukong. While these games are well-received, the Soulslike model has dominated the AAA action space, leaving little room for traditional 3D action games. Ninja Gaiden's return after over a decade, alongside the last major Devil May Cry entry, DMC5, in 2019, and the revamped God of War in 2018, which shifted away from its original fast-paced style, highlights the need for diversity in the genre.

Soulslike games are characterized by challenging combat, timing-based dodges and parries, stamina management, customizable builds, and large, open-ended level designs. While FromSoftware's approach is innovative, the industry's over-reliance on this model has left gamers craving variety. With Ninja Gaiden 2 Black's release, the unique strengths of character action games have a chance to shine once more.

The Master Ninja Returns

Ninja Gaiden 2 Black offers a refreshing experience for the action genre. Its fast-paced combat, diverse weapon selection, and the return of the original's gore, which was absent in the Sigma version, make it the definitive version of Ninja Gaiden 2 for modern platforms. It's an ideal entry point for newcomers and a satisfying return for veterans, despite some adjustments to difficulty and enemy counts. Ninja Gaiden 2 Black strikes a balance between maintaining the series' challenging nature and providing a more polished experience, including additional content from Sigma 2 while removing unpopular elements like the statue boss fights.

Ninja Gaiden 4 Screenshots

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The remaster of Ninja Gaiden 2 Black serves as a reminder of what was lost when games like it fell out of favor. In the late 2000s and early 2010s, titles inspired by Ninja Gaiden and God of War, such as PlatinumGames’ Bayonetta, Visceral Games’ Dante’s Inferno, Vigil Games’ Darksiders, and even FromSoftware’s Ninja Blade, were prevalent. The fast-paced, combo-driven battles against numerous foes and epic bosses in a linear format have largely disappeared as Soulslike games took over. While games like Hi-Fi Rush in 2023 have kept the spirit alive, Ninja Gaiden 2 Black stands out as a major release from a prominent developer in recent years.

Playing Ninja Gaiden 2 Black underscores the unique experience of classic action games. There's a purity to games like Ninja Gaiden, where success depends solely on mastering the game's mechanics without relying on external aids like builds or experience points. It's a direct challenge between player and game, requiring skill and precision. While Soulslike games will likely continue to dominate, the return of Ninja Gaiden offers hope for a new golden age of action games, catering to a diverse audience that appreciates both styles.