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

The 2025 Xbox Developer Direct event brought a thrilling announcement for fans of classic action games: the revival of the Ninja Gaiden series. With the reveal of Ninja Gaiden 4 and the immediate release of Ninja Gaiden 2 Black, the franchise is making a significant comeback. This marks a surprising shift, as the last major entry, Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge, was released back in 2012. The resurgence of Ninja Gaiden could signal a pivotal moment for the gaming industry, potentially reviving the genre of old-school 3D action games that have been overshadowed by the dominance of Soulslike titles in recent years.

Historically, games like Ninja Gaiden, Devil May Cry, and the original God of War series defined the action genre. However, the rise of FromSoftware's titles such as Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and Elden Ring has shifted the focus. While we appreciate the depth and challenge of Soulslike games, the action genre needs a balance, and Ninja Gaiden's return could be the catalyst for this much-needed equilibrium.

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 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 from the outset.

Despite its steep learning curve, Ninja Gaiden's difficulty is fair, rooted in player error rather than unfair game mechanics. Mastering the game involves understanding the rhythm of combat, a delicate balance of movement, defense, and counter-attacks. Techniques like the Izuna Drop and Ultimate Techniques, along with a variety of combos for different weapons, provide players with the tools needed to overcome the game's challenges.

Ninja Gaiden's influence on the gaming community is undeniable. Its brutal challenge and the satisfaction of conquering its highest difficulty settings paved the way for the Soulslike genre. FromSoftware and its followers took this concept and created a subgenre that has dominated the action game market for the past decade, perhaps to the detriment of other styles.

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. Demon’s Souls received strong reviews and set the stage for Dark Souls in 2011, which is often hailed as one of the greatest video games ever made, including by IGN. 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, captured the action market.

The widespread adoption 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 dominance of the Soulslike model has left little room for traditional 3D action games. Ninja Gaiden's return after over a decade, alongside the last major Devil May Cry entry in 2019 and the transformed God of War in 2018, highlights the need for variety in the action genre.

Soulslike games are characterized by their challenging combat, timing-based dodges and parries, stamina management, customizable builds, and open-ended level design. While FromSoftware pioneered this style, its widespread imitation has led to an oversaturation in the market. 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 make it the definitive version of Ninja Gaiden 2 for modern platforms. It's an ideal entry point for newcomers and a satisfying revisit for veterans, despite some adjustments to difficulty and enemy counts. Ninja Gaiden 2 Black strikes a balance between maintaining the series' high difficulty and incorporating additional content from the Sigma version, while wisely omitting the unpopular statue boss fights.

Ninja Gaiden 4 Screenshots

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The remaster of Ninja Gaiden 2 Black serves as a reminder of the action games that once thrived in the late 2000s and early 2010s, inspired by Ninja Gaiden and God of War. Titles like PlatinumGames’ Bayonetta, Visceral Games’ Dante’s Inferno, Vigil Games’ Darksiders, and even FromSoftware’s Ninja Blade showcased frenetic, combo-based battles in a linear format. While games like Hi-Fi Rush in 2023 continue this legacy, Ninja Gaiden 2 Black stands out as a major release from a prominent developer, highlighting the enduring appeal of this style.

Playing Ninja Gaiden 2 Black underscores the unique experience of these action games, characterized by their purity. There are no shortcuts or builds to exploit; success depends solely on mastering the game's mechanics. As Soulslike games continue to dominate, the return of Ninja Gaiden offers hope for a new golden age of action gaming, where both styles can coexist and cater to diverse player preferences.