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

The resurgence of Ninja Gaiden at the 2025 Xbox Developer Direct was a monumental event, overshadowing many other announcements. The classic action franchise is getting a significant reboot with the release of Ninja Gaiden 4 and the surprise launch of Ninja Gaiden 2 Black. This marks a remarkable comeback for the series, dormant since Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge in 2012 (excluding the Master Collection compilation). More importantly, it signals a potential shift in the gaming landscape: the return of classic 3D action games after years of Soulslike dominance.

Once, titles like Ninja Gaiden, Devil May Cry, and the original God of War defined the action genre. However, FromSoftware's Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and Elden Ring largely supplanted this style. While Soulslikes are undeniably popular, the AAA market should accommodate both styles. Ninja Gaiden's return could be the much-needed balance.

### A Legendary Legacy

The Ninja Gaiden series was once considered the apex of action games. The 2004 Xbox reboot, a departure from its 2D NES roots, instantly became iconic for its fluid gameplay, smooth animation, and brutal difficulty. While other hack-and-slash games existed, Ninja Gaiden stood apart, its challenge legendary. Many players recount their struggles against Murai, the formidable first boss.

Despite the difficulty, the challenge is generally considered fair. Deaths result from player error, demanding mastery of combat mechanics, movement, defense, and counter-attacks. The Izuna Drop, Ultimate Techniques, and diverse weapon combos provide ample tools for overcoming obstacles. This demanding gameplay, ironically, foreshadowed the Soulslike ethos, influencing the community's pursuit of overcoming seemingly insurmountable odds. Few action games demand such mechanical mastery. FromSoftware, and the games it inspired, took this concept and created an entire subgenre. However, this success may have been detrimental, as the Soulslike model has dominated action games for over a decade.

A Genre Shift

The release of Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 (a widely criticized PS3 port) coincided with Demon's Souls (2009). Demon's Souls received strong reviews and paved the way for Dark Souls (2011), a landmark title often cited as one of the greatest games ever made (including by IGN). While Ninja Gaiden 3 and Razor's Edge faltered, Dark Souls solidified its place in the action market, spawning sequels and influencing Bloodborne, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and Elden Ring.

The popularity of FromSoftware's mechanics spread to other franchises, including Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Jedi: Survivor, Team Ninja's Nioh, and Black Myth: Wukong. While Soulslikes aren't inherently flawed, their dominance has stifled the AAA action space, leaving classic 3D action games scarce. Ninja Gaiden's return, after over a decade, is significant. The last major Devil May Cry entry (DMC5) was released in 2019, and while God of War was revived in 2018, it sacrificed its fast-paced hack-and-slash gameplay for a more methodical, semi-open-world style.

The Soulslike hallmarks—challenging combat focused on timing, stamina management, character builds, open-level design, and save points—are recognizable. While fitting for FromSoftware, the widespread adoption has led to an oversaturation. With Ninja Gaiden 2 Black, the strengths of character action games have a renewed opportunity to shine.

The Master Returns

Ninja Gaiden 2 Black provides a refreshing change of pace. The lightning-fast combat, diverse weapons, and restored gore (absent in Sigma 2) make it the best version on modern hardware, an ideal entry point for newcomers. While veterans might criticize difficulty adjustments and enemy counts, the original Ninja Gaiden II suffered from technical issues and unbalanced design. Ninja Gaiden 2 Black strikes a balance, retaining high difficulty, reinstating gore, and including extra content (excluding the unpopular statue boss fights).

Ninja Gaiden 4 Screenshots

19 ImagesThis remaster showcases the loss of games like it. In the late 2000s and early 2010s, Ninja Gaiden and God of War-inspired games were prevalent (Bayonetta, Dante's Inferno, Darksiders, and even Ninja Blade). The frenetic, combo-based combat against numerous enemies and giant bosses in a linear format is a proven formula. The Soulslike model's rise led to its decline. While similar games still exist (Hi-Fi Rush), Ninja Gaiden 2 Black is a prominent example from a major developer.

The Ninja Gaiden experience is unique. There are no shortcuts—no build guides, experience points, or stamina bars. It's a pure test of skill, demanding mastery of the combat system. While Soulslikes' popularity persists, Ninja Gaiden's return hopefully ushers in a new era for action games, catering to both audiences.

If you had to choose between Soulslikes and traditional action games like Ninja Gaiden, which would you pick?

I'm a Ninja Gaiden, Devil May Cry kinda personSoulslikes, every single timeI don't really care for eitherAnswerSee Results