NINJA GAIDEN is having a renaissance this year with not one but two games coming out. The next chapter in this storied action franchise releases in October with NINJA GAIDEN 4, evolving the series with a new focus on combat with the expertise of PlatinumGames. The other title takes things back to the series’ roots while bringing in the franchise’s modern sensabilties. That’s what makes NINJA GAIDEN Ragebound so special, the blending of the old school and new school. We got the chance to go hands-on with the title to see how developer The Game Kitchen is mixing the franchise’s history for its foray back to the 2D style.

The veil between the human and demon realms has broken. It’s time to prepare for battle.

NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound slashes its way onto PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox consoles digitally on July 31, 2025. pic.twitter.com/T88Dn5j5DF

— Dotemu (@Dotemu) June 4, 2025

NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound tells an untold chapter in the NINJA GAIDEN saga and follows Kenji Mozu who is trying to protect Hayabusa Village, which is under attack after the barrier between the human and demon worlds shatters suddenly, while the series’ main protagonist Ryu Hayabusa is away in America honoring his father’s will. Along the way, Kenji crosses paths with the skilled assassin Kumori of the Black Spider Clan. They realize that they’ll need to work together to save the world from the demons.

The demo we got to try consisted of four levels, a tutorial stage, trying to defend the village as it comes under siege, an introduction to Kumori, and infiltrating a castle.

What’s immediately clear as soon as get your hands on the sticks is how much Ragebound feels like a modern NINJA GAIDEN game, despite the classic 2D style. Platforming is smooth and quick. Players can dodge the way you’d expect in a NINJA GAIDEN game, and combat is fast and brutal. The other noticeable thing about Ragebound is how Kenji and Kumori play very differently from one another.

Kenji is very much about getting in your face in the classic NINJA GAIDEN  style while Kumori uses ninja tools to take out demons from afar from any direction. Being fused together, Kenji and Kumori have abilities that they share like the aerial attack. However, there are also unique mechanics made for each character. Certain enemies will exzue a certain aura, Kenji will gain the ability to one-shot the next enemy he attacks called the hypercharge. The ability to one-shot an enemy is dependent on the type of aura they have. Certain enemies you have to hit with a basic attack while another may require a ranged attack. Kumori has very specific timed platforming sections that will reset if you don’t do it in time. Kumori is also the chracter that unleashes an ultimate attack when enough of the resource to do so is built up. She’ll pretty much take out any enemy so it’s a good one to keep in your pocket when things get dicey.

When its mixing of the old and new, NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound is breathing new life into the franchise in a way that honors what’s been done in the past and highlights what makes the modern titles, and the franchise itself popular and unique.

The game is set to release on July 31, 2025, for PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S. A demo will be available during Steam Next Fest which is running from June 9 – 16.