After 13 years of waiting, Ninja Gaiden 4 will finally see the light of day. Co-developed by Team Ninja and PlatinumGames, it’s set to release for Windows, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S on October 21, 2025.
A City in Decay
The game takes place a “significant amount of time” after Ninja Gaiden 3, in a near-future Tokyo gripped by chaos. The city suffers under a cursed miasma rain, slowly decaying as it’s corrupted by the return of the Dark Dragon—a malevolent deity whose soul once powered the Dark Dragon Blade from the 2004 reboot.
Enter Yakumo: The Bloodraven Ninja
Interestingly, master ninja Ryu Hayabusa isn’t the main character this time. That spotlight belongs to Yakumo, a young ninja of the Raven Clan, whose mission is to save the city from its curse while grappling with a fate tied directly to Ryu’s.
Yakumo’s story isn’t about replacing Ryu; it’s about forging his own path in the shadow of a legend.
Ryu’s Legacy Still Stands
Ryu is still playable in Ninja Gaiden 4, and he holds a significant role in this game. He’s both a mentor and a rival to Yakumo, which makes his absence as the main protagonist feel all the more surprising. The Ninja Gaiden series has revolved around Ryu since the first game was released back in 1988. Handing the series to a new lead is a bold move. One that demands a careful balance between centering Yakumo’s journey while preserving Ryu’s place at the heart of the franchise.
A New Legend Begins
Given how long it’s been since the last mainline Ninja Gaiden game, the introduction of Yakumo seems designed to make the story more approachable for new players. But for longtime fans, the question still lingers.
So, can Ninja Gaiden 4 pass the torch to Yakumo without letting Ryu’s legacy fade? From what we’ve seen, the game isn’t just honoring the past; it’s forging a new future. And with the steel of their blades, a new legend might be born.
