I’ve been a playing Ninja Gaiden since the original Xbox days and let me tell you, the hype and love for these games was at its peak in those days. I know how much this series means to action game fans. Few franchise deliver the same level of precision, speed, and brutal combat than Ninja Gaiden.
However, it’s been far too long since my guy Ryu had a proper new adventure and while he might not be the main focus on Ninja Gaiden 4, I’m still truly excited for this game as I’m sure you’re too.
This franchise needs to shine again but the question is, what should Team Ninja do to make sure this sequel feels both true to its roots and fresh for a modern audience? I’ve go some suggestions.
From combat depth to level design, here are five features that could make Ninja Gaiden 4 the comeback fans like me have been dreaming of.
A Wider Variety of Weapons and Skill Trees
One of the best parts of Ninja Gaiden games was unlocking new weapons and learning how each weapon completely changes the way our combat style works. From the amazing Dragon Sword to Nunchaku and Scythes, every weapon in Ninja Gaiden felt different.
But in modern action RPGs, players expect even deeper customization. A proper skill tree for each weapon could let fans experiment with combos, upgrades, and elemental effects, much like Team Ninja already did in Nioh.
I want to be able to tailor my arsenal for not only raw damage but also to my playstyle; be it fast and agile, slow and devastating or somewhere in between. This kind of progression would keep the gameplay fresh and reward long-term mastery.
Smarter Enemies and Boss Encounters
One of the reasons I fell in love with Ninja Gaiden in the first place was its brutal difficulty. But let’s be honest, sometimes it wasn’t just skill testing, it was downright cheap. Remember those rocket ninjas from Ninja Gaiden 2? They kept knocking you out of the air or the exploding shuriken enemies that would punish any forward movement.
Although that kind of frustration was part of the charm back in the day but this is 2025. Modern audiences don’t like that and gamers of my age are too old to feel the charm of it anymore.
Ninja Gaiden 4 needs to maintain its signature challenge, but with smarter enemy AI rather than relying on swarms or cheap tricks. Enemies that can turn combos, dodge projectiles attacks or coordinate as a group instead of spamming projectiles endlessly.
If Team Ninja nails this balance, Ninja Gaiden 4 could become the gold standard for modern action combat difficulty, just like the originals once were.
Optional Stealth Segments
Ryu is a ninja and with that comes stealth. However, majority of the sections in Ninja Gaiden have always been about hack and slash style gameplay. Relentless action than being an actual ninja can sometimes get repetitive.
I think having optional stealth mechanics could give players more freedom in how they approach each level.
Sneaking across rooftops, taking down enemies like ninja, or using the shadows to set up the perfect ambush before an all out war breaks out would be totally amazing. I don’t think this kind of gameplay structure will replace the franchise’s hack n slash core, but it would add a new flavor and make Ryu / Yakumo feel more like deadly assassins.
This also opens up the door to a more creative level design. We can have branching paths that reward either stealth master or raw combat skill.
Better Accessibility and Scalable Difficulty
Ninja Gaiden is a brutal game if you’re playing on higher difficulties. Its difficulty has earned it both praise and criticism. With Ninja Gaiden 4 we need to strike a balance between keeping the hardcore challenge but offering scalable difficulty modes and accessibility features.
Games like Celeste and God of War Ragnarök have shown that difficulty doesn’t have to be one-size-fits-all. Whether through assist modes, customizable difficulty sliders, or training arenas where players can practice combos, Ninja Gaiden 4 could be more inviting without losing its reputation as a hardcore action franchise.
Modernized Mobility
Something that made Ninja Gaiden stand out back in the day was its really awesome fluid movement systems compared to other action games. Wall runs, flying swallows, and quick dashes really added a sense of speed to every engagement. But well, go back and play Ninja Gaiden Black now and you’ll see how those same mechanics are really stiff for modern times.
In Ninja Gaiden 4, I’d love to see a fluid mobility system expanded into something truly next-gen. Chaining wall runs into grappling hook swings, or using mid-air dashes to close the gap on enemies before a powerful combo.
Games like Sekiro and Devil May Cry 5 have raised the bar for fast, acrobatic movement, and Ninja Gaiden has all the DNA to push it even further. After all, Ryu and Yakumo aren’t just a swordsmen, they are ninjas.
