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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Early hands-on previews of Ninja Gaiden 4 described fast, bloody combat built around a new layer of play: Yakumo’s Bloodraven Form. The impressions come from 2025 demo sessions, not a fresh test of the released game. Xbox Wire’s Sebastian Yamaguchi played the opening segment at PlatinumGames, while Game Informer’s Marcus Stewart tried a longer demo at Summer Game Fest Play Days.
What the 2025 hands-on previews found
Both previews focused on action that asks players to move, attack and respond quickly. Stewart reported fast swordplay, combos and acrobatics in his demo, and described facing aggressive groups of enemies. He also found the demo challenging; that is his account of one preview session, not a guarantee of how every player will experience the game.
Yamaguchi’s Xbox Wire account covered more than combat. He described traversing a transformed Tokyo, using the Assassinate mechanic, taking on optional missions and learning combat skills. These details give a sense of the opening segment he played, but a preview build does not establish how every system works across the full game.
How Yakumo’s two forms change combat
Base Form
Yakumo is a Raven Clan ninja and the new protagonist. Xbox Wire describes his Base Form as carrying the traditional Ninja Gaiden-style approach to play.
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#1 Best Overall
![NINJA GAIDEN 4 | Deluxe Edition | PlayStation 5 [Disc + Code in Box]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51Nbngz0TGL._SL160_.jpg)
- DELUXE EDITION: Comes with the Base Game (disc) and exclusives like character and weapon skins for Yakumo and Ryu, Future Gameplay Content*, 50,000 Bonus NinjaCoin, and additional in-game items.
- Experience a return to the intense, high-speed combat that established NINJA GAIDEN as a premier action game series. Prepare for a legacy reborn with captivating style for a new generation of players.
- NINJA GAIDEN 4 fuses Team NINJA'S tempered combat philosophy with the stylish, dynamic action gameplay of PlatinumGames. Engage in visually stunning combat that rewards precision and strategy.
- An endless rain of miasma hangs over a near-future Tokyo in the wake of an ancient enemy’s resurrection. The fate of the city lies in the hands of young ninja prodigy, Yakumo.
Bloodraven Form
Bloodraven Form adds a different combat option. Stewart reported that it turns Yakumo’s sword into a larger crimson blade for stronger attacks. Yamaguchi described the form as part of Yakumo’s combo combat. The previews present it as an added layer to the action rather than a replacement for the series’ familiar style.
Why the action was described as faster
“Faster” reflects the developers’ stated design goal and the previewers’ impressions, not a measured performance comparison. Yuji Nakao, Ninja Gaiden 4’s producer and director at PlatinumGames, told Xbox Wire: “That solid, grounded feeling emphasized the game’s weighty and linear movement style, but to aim for even faster, high-speed action, we had to significantly enhance responsiveness.”
Rank #2
- INTENSIVE 2D ACTION: Engage in fast melee and acrobatic movements that require precision and concentration to master every challenge your way through the game.
- CONFIDENCY VISUAL STYLE: Explore hand-drawn environments with dark and atmospheric tones that deliver a unique visual identity and enhance the epic feel throughout the game.
- NEW HERO AND STORY: Take the role of Kenji Mozu, disciple of Ryu Hayabusa, and unexpectedly work with enemies to fight the demons invasion and restore balance between the worlds.
- INNOVATIVE GAMING SYSTEMS: Discover new abilities and battle techniques through the band between Kenji and the mysterious Kumori, which opens up to variety and strategy in the gaming experience.
- CHOOSING FIENDS AND BOODS : Every enemy and boss requires carefully timing and strategy, where slightest mistakes can become decisive, keeping the adrenaline at peak in any confrontation.
The reviewed previews provide no frame-rate or input-latency measurements, nor a quantitative comparison with earlier games. The useful takeaway is that the team said it increased responsiveness to support quicker action while trying to preserve the series’ tactile feel.
Is it still Ninja Gaiden, or a different kind of action game?
IGN’s preview description posed the question of whether Ninja Gaiden still works in 2025, “in a world where soulslikes dominate the high-skill action game subgenre.” The hands-on coverage points to continuity as well as change: Yakumo’s Base Form is framed as familiar series play, while Bloodraven Form introduces a new combat layer. Stewart’s account of demanding fights suggests the demo retained a challenge, but the available previews do not establish how accessible the full game is for newcomers or how its difficulty compares with other action games.
Rank #3
- Enter the stadium and take part of one of the biggest competitions across 34 sports: from swimming, soccer, extreme bike, weightlifting, trampoline and much more!
- Defend your own country and visit the World: United States, Australia, Japan, France…
- Train yourself alone or compete with your friends!
- An enhanced version of “30 Sport Games in 1”, with revamped design, new games and more customisation!
Who is Yakumo, and where does Ryu Hayabusa fit?
Yakumo, a Raven Clan ninja, is the new lead character, and Ryu Hayabusa also returns. The January 2025 announcement described the game as a direct sequel to Ninja Gaiden 3 and the first new mainline entry in 13 years. Team Ninja and PlatinumGames are collaborating on the game; Xbox Game Studios is identified as publisher in the official product information.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Platforms and editions listed in preview-era sources
Game Informer’s June 2025 preview lists PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and PC. Xbox Wire’s product information lists Standard and Deluxe editions. Those are details from preview-era pages, not confirmation of current regional stock, pricing or edition availability. Check the relevant storefront for up-to-date listings before deciding where or which edition to buy.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Each round you take a different role. Will you be an insightful Spy or Mystic, a game-changing Trickster, or a deadly Assassin?
- To win, you'll have to deceive your opponents, figure out who can and can't be trusted, and fight for your house's honor!
- Includes over 40 beautiful cards featuring the papercut art of star artist Ben Charman.
- Fun, simple, and quick to play. Night of the Ninja is certain to shake up your social deduction game!
Rank #4
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