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The clearest split is between the Ultimate Ninja STORM games, which present anime-style battles alongside Naruto and Boruto story material, and NARUTO TO BORUTO: SHINOBI STRIKER, which is built around online four-versus-four team combat. Choose STORM when story coverage and solo progression matter most; choose SHINOBI STRIKER when coordinated multiplayer matches are the priority.
What counts as the main Naruto game series?
For this comparison, the main line means the Ultimate Ninja STORM series. The Naruto Official Site’s STORM lineup describes these games as anime-style action fighters that stage battles in the visual style of the show and follow the saga from Naruto’s era into Boruto’s. That combination of fighting and story is the feature that separates STORM from Naruto titles designed primarily as online arenas, role-playing experiences or other spin-offs.
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Calling STORM the main series does not mean every entry contains every episode or every character. Individual releases package the saga differently. Some concentrate on a particular period, while newer collections gather major moments from several games. Check the exact title and edition rather than assuming that the word STORM guarantees identical story content.
Why the STORM format feels like the anime
STORM’s battles are presented as dramatic set pieces rather than as abstract competitive rounds. The official series description emphasizes fights staged in the style of the anime. In practical terms, the series is aimed at players who want recognizable rivalries, special techniques and cinematic confrontations alongside combat systems that can be played as a fighting game.
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- New Generation Systems - With the power of the new generation systems, this brand new game will take players through an incredible journey of beautifully Anime-rendered fights!
- Change Leader System - Recreate all the legendary teams from Naruto Shippuden or create your own team! Players will be able to switch characters during the fight!
- New Features - Enjoy fast-paced fights with the Wall-run!
- Incredible Roster - The most impressive collection in the history of Naruto games will span the Naruto Shippuden story arc and capture the latest character appearances from the anime.
- Original Voiceover Support - Includes the Japanese, American, Mexican and Brazilian voiceover cast!
The story material also gives solo players a reason to move from one battle to the next. Instead of treating Naruto characters as an unrelated roster, STORM uses the source saga as its organizing structure. That makes it the natural starting point if your first question is, “Which Naruto game should I play for the story?”
Where NARUTO X BORUTO Ultimate Ninja STORM CONNECTIONS fits
NARUTO X BORUTO Ultimate Ninja STORM CONNECTIONS is a particular STORM entry, not a definition of every Naruto game. Bandai Namco describes it as a collection of key moments from the STORM franchise. It includes a History Mode and an original Special Story Mode involving Boruto, so it combines retrospective story coverage with new material rather than simply reproducing one earlier campaign.
History Mode and the collected saga
History Mode is the part to look for if you want a guided trip through important events represented across the STORM franchise. The phrase “key moments” matters: the mode is a curated selection, not a promise that every scene, mission or event from the entire anime appears in full. It is therefore useful as an introduction or refresher, while fans seeking a single earlier game’s complete structure may prefer to investigate that specific release.
The original Boruto Special Story Mode
The separate Special Story Mode adds an original story involving Boruto. That gives CONNECTIONS a reason to appeal to players who already know Naruto’s history but want additional Boruto-era material. Treat it as extra content within this entry, not evidence that all STORM games include an original Boruto campaign.
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- Celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Naruto's Debut!
- THE LARGEST ROSTER OF PLAYABLE CHARACTERS EVER - Largest roster of characters to play as than any Ultimate Ninja STORM game in the past
- New additions include the brothers who started legendary ninja clans, Ashura and Indra Otsutsuki, more to come
- For the first time in one game, relive selected scenes from Naruto’s childhood until his final battle with Sasuke through anime scenes & battles
- Players of past Ultimate Ninja STORM games can see it all with updated graphics. Plus, experience a new Boruto story exclusive to the game
Supported platforms
The official CONNECTIONS product page lists PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch and Steam. The publisher’s official Naruto store page lists physical standard editions for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X and Nintendo Switch. Those are different kinds of listings: the product page identifies supported platforms, while the store page reflects physical-edition inventory. Stock, regional availability and which edition is offered can change, so verify the platform variant before buying.
What makes SHINOBI STRIKER a different kind of Naruto game?
NARUTO TO BORUTO: SHINOBI STRIKER is the clearest contrast to STORM. Its official Bandai Namco description calls it an online multiplayer action game centered on four-versus-four team battles. Eight ninjas fight simultaneously, making team composition, positioning and coordination central to the format.
Four-versus-four is the defining match structure
In SHINOBI STRIKER, the match is organized around two teams of four rather than a story campaign that moves from one canonical duel to the next. The official description’s eight-player battlefield is the key fact to remember when comparing it with STORM. You are choosing an online team-action structure, not simply selecting another entry in the same story-fighting series.
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Because the game is presented as online multiplayer action, its appeal is strongest when you want repeatable team matches and the social tension of fighting alongside other players. The cited product description does not frame SHINOBI STRIKER as a single-game retelling of Naruto’s saga. If your priority is to follow plot events in sequence, start with a STORM title instead; if your priority is simultaneous squad combat, SHINOBI STRIKER addresses that need directly.
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- All Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 Content in One Edition - Includes the Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 game 3 DLC packs from the Season Pass (Gaara's Tale Extra Scenario Pack,
- Shikamaru's Tale Extra Scenario Pack, and the Sound Four Extra Playable Character's Pack), the all new Road to Boruto DLC, and all the previously exclusive worldwide pre-order bonus content
- New Generation Systems - Road to Boruto will take players through an incredible journey of beautifully Anime-rendered fights!
- New Character Roster and Hidden Leaf Village - Additional playable characters including Boruto, Sarada, Hokage Naruto, and Sasuke (Wandering Shinobi) and a new setting of a New Hidden Leaf Village
- New Collection and Challenge Elements that extends gameplay
STORM versus SHINOBI STRIKER at a glance
| Comparison point | Ultimate Ninja STORM line | SHINOBI STRIKER |
|---|---|---|
| Primary identity | Anime-style action-fighting series tied to the Naruto-to-Boruto saga | Online multiplayer action game |
| Story coverage | Story material is a central part of the line; CONNECTIONS collects key franchise moments | The cited official description emphasizes online matches rather than a saga-spanning story mode |
| Specific example | STORM CONNECTIONS includes History Mode and an original Boruto Special Story Mode | Four-versus-four battles with eight ninjas fighting at the same time |
| Match or battle format | Anime-style battles presented through a fighting-game structure | Team-based online action, two teams of four |
| Solo versus online emphasis | Story-led solo play is the clearest reason to choose the line; individual entries can have additional modes | Online team play is the defining focus in the official product description |
| Platforms stated by the cited pages | CONNECTIONS: PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One and Series X|S, Nintendo Switch and Steam | Not enumerated in the cited product description; check the current regional listing |
| Additional story content | CONNECTIONS has an original Boruto Special Story Mode | Not stated in the cited description |
The table compares the formats supported by the cited official pages; it is not a complete catalog of every Naruto game or every mode in each release.
Which Naruto game should you play?
Choose a STORM game for a story-first playthrough
Pick the STORM line if you want the Naruto saga to provide the structure for your sessions. It is the better fit when you want to revisit major events, see anime-styled battles and play without making online teammates the center of the experience. CONNECTIONS is the most straightforward single purchase to investigate first when you want a collection of STORM moments in one game, because its official description specifically combines History Mode with the Boruto Special Story Mode.
Choose SHINOBI STRIKER for organized team combat
Choose SHINOBI STRIKER when the appeal is eight ninjas fighting simultaneously in four-versus-four online matches. This is the appropriate direction if your decision is driven by team roles, coordinated attacks and an online battlefield rather than by a chronological retelling.
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Story interest can get you to install a game, but the format you intend to repeat should decide the purchase. Ask yourself which of these descriptions matches your plan:
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- The Largest Roster of Playable Characters Ever: This game has the largest roster of beloved characters to play than any Ultimate Ninja STORM game in the past. New additions include the brothers who started legendary ninja clans, Ashura and Indra Otsutsuki. Stay tuned for more playable characters!
- The Story of Naruto and Sasuke’s Rivalry Combined into One! For the first time in one game, relive selected scenes from Naruto’s childhood until his final battle with Sasuke through anime scenes and in-game battles. Players of past Ultimate Ninja STORM games can see it all with updated graphics. Plus, experience a new story exclusive to the game.
- “I want a guided Naruto and Boruto story experience.” Start with a STORM title, then check the individual game’s listed campaign and edition.
- “I want a broad sampler of STORM’s important moments.” Investigate CONNECTIONS and its History Mode.
- “I want an original Boruto-related story in the same package.” CONNECTIONS is the entry whose official page lists that Special Story Mode.
- “I want online matches with seven other ninjas on two teams.” SHINOBI STRIKER is the game whose official description matches that requirement.
- “I want both.” Treat them as complementary choices: STORM supplies the story-led fighting format, while SHINOBI STRIKER supplies online team action. Neither should be evaluated as though it were trying to be the other.
How to check platform and edition before buying
- Identify the exact title. Search for the full name, especially NARUTO X BORUTO Ultimate Ninja STORM CONNECTIONS, rather than relying on a listing that only says Naruto or Storm.
- Match the platform to your hardware. The official CONNECTIONS page lists PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch and Steam. A physical listing may cover fewer platforms than the digital product page.
- Confirm the edition and contents. The standard physical editions listed by the publisher store are not proof that every regional or digital edition has identical bonuses. Read the current product description for the platform you intend to use.
- Check regional availability and stock. The store page is a live retail listing, so inventory can change. Use it to confirm that a physical copy is currently offered in your region instead of treating the list as permanent.
- Verify the game’s actual mode focus. If the listing is for STORM, look for the named story modes and saga coverage. If it is for SHINOBI STRIKER, look for the online multiplayer and four-versus-four description so you do not buy the wrong format.
What the STORM label does—and does not—tell you
The STORM name reliably signals the anime-style action-fighting identity described by the Naruto Official Site, but it does not tell you the exact amount of story content in every release. A numbered game may focus on a particular portion of the saga, while CONNECTIONS is described as a collection of key moments and adds its own Boruto story. Read the mode list for the individual title.
Likewise, SHINOBI STRIKER should not be dismissed as merely another STORM variant. Its official positioning is different at the structural level: online multiplayer action and simultaneous four-versus-four combat. The distinction is about how the game is played, not just which characters appear.
How broad is this comparison?
Naruto has games beyond the two lines discussed here. The Naruto Official Site’s game directory lists the wider catalog. This guide uses STORM as the story-led reference point and SHINOBI STRIKER as the online team-action contrast because those official descriptions make the difference especially clear. It does not claim to classify every Naruto release, mobile title, older console game or spin-off.
For the same reason, do not infer unlisted features. The cited pages establish STORM’s anime-style battles and saga framing, CONNECTIONS’ History and original Boruto modes, and SHINOBI STRIKER’s eight-player four-versus-four online format. They do not establish a universal mode list, cross-play policy, performance target or identical platform support for every Naruto game.
Quick Recap
A quick decision checklist
- Do you want story events to organize your play sessions? Choose STORM.
- Do you want a curated set of major STORM moments in one release? Look at CONNECTIONS.
- Do you specifically want an original Boruto story mode? CONNECTIONS lists one.
- Do you want two teams of four fighting simultaneously online? Choose SHINOBI STRIKER.
- Are you buying a physical copy? Check the publisher store’s current platform and regional stock listing.
- Are you comparing another Naruto title? Use the official game directory, then check that title’s own mode and platform description.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
