2025 is a great year for ninja and samurai games on PlayStation – PlayStation.Blog

Ninjas and samurai have always been a staple in video games, but despite their enduring popularity, 2025 has been an especially good year for titles about deadly Japanese warriors. A number of ninja and samurai-themed games are coming to PlayStation 5 this year, offering a variety of ideas for becoming crafty fighters wielding swords and wearing dark clothing.

From fast-paced, combo-packed action games, to slower, stealthier assassin-themed games, no matter how much you like your ninjas, 2025 has something for you.

Shadow of the Assassin’s Creed

Of course, the Assassin’s Creed series is about two ancient orders of highly influential warriors who fought each other throughout history, and there are also god-like aliens. But what these games sometimes lack in narrative realism, they make up for by implementing a historical setting. Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ depiction of feudal Japan is unparalleled, and the series’ focus on stealthy takedown aligns with the ninja sensibilities of its protagonist, Naoe — after all, “assassin” is in his name. But if you’re looking for variety, good news: Assassin’s Creed Shadows has it two protagonist, so you can gain ninja experience and experience the life of a samurai throughout the long story.

Publisher: Ubisoft | Developer: Ubisoft Québec | PS5

Yōtei Ghost

Like Ghost of Tsushima before it, Ghost of Yōtei features “Kurosawa Mode,” named after the famous Japanese filmmaker, and that’s a pretty good indication of the cinematic experience that awaits you. Yōtei is very similar to playing in a samurai movie, but with lots of shinobi elements thrown in along the way. The protagonist, Atsu, is not a ninja or a samurai, basically — he’s a mercenary, and he uses every advantage he can to win battles in his quest for revenge. What Ghost of Yōtei channeled from ninja experience was the idea of ​​stealth and stealth erasure. For example, Atsu’s upgraded kusarigama can ensnare enemies from a distance. He can also release kunai for serial killings and disappear with smoke bombs. Every enemy encounter demands clever improvisation to match the threat, and that’s what Atsu is.

Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment | Developer: Sucker Punch Production | PS5

Ninja Gaiden4

Team Ninja and PlatinumGames’ titles often emphasize speed — defeating enemies through lightning-fast reactions and relentless combos. With Ninja Gaiden 4, it’s all slashing, dodging, and obliterating enemies. While there are plenty of classic ninja-style elements at play, as you might expect from all the uses of the word “ninja” in this paragraph, what Ninja Gaiden 4 really stands out for is the excessive mobility and agility in its ninja experience. You’re incredibly fast when running along walls, grappling through gaps, and dodging enemies, and once you start attacking your opponent, you can combo them so quickly that they can’t even react. If you need ninja speed, this is the game for you.

Publisher: Microsoft Corporation | Developer: Team Ninja, PlatinumGames | PS5

Ninja Gaiden: Angry

The side-scroller Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound channels early entries in the Ninja Gaiden series, blending modern game design ideas with old-school charm. You fight against hordes of enemies, including many demons, with weapons that kill most enemies in one hit. The ninja fantasy lies not in blades, speed, or skill — although all of those elements exist — but rather in mastery of the battlefield. You have to predict the enemies and the order in which to defeat them, so you can utilize your strengths to defeat tougher enemies, or avoid potentially devastating attacks.

Publisher: Dotemu | Developer: Games Kitchen| PS5, PS4

Onimusha 2: Fate of the Samurai Remaster

Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny, as the name suggests, falls on the samurai side of the spectrum, but has many similarities to the ninja games of 2025, such as strong fighting abilities and a focus on fighting demonic enemies. Capcom’s remaster of the 2002 classic sends you on a mission of revenge against an army of demons, encouraging you to engage in clever swordplay while balancing Issen’s powerful slashing, blocking, and counterattacks. Onimusha 2 also provides a slightly different samurai experience, utilizing elements of Capcom’s contemporary games at the time, such as the Resident Evil series, to channel a bit of a survival-horror vibe.

Publisher: Capcom | Developer: Capcom Production Studio 2 | PS5, PS4

Shinobi: The Art of Vengeance

Similar to Ragebound, Shinobi: Art of Vengeance also revives the famous ninja series by going back to the old days of 2D side-scrolling. Shinobi plays to the ludicrous strength and skill of its ninja, Joe Musashi, with an emphasis on wearing down enemies so you can perform extremely quick kills on several of them at once. Strategically reducing the health of every enemy on screen without defeating them outright, so you can watch Musashi run at lightning speed to finish them off, is always satisfying. With powerful and magical katanas, kunai, and Ninpo and Ninjutsu abilities, you have all sorts of ninja-themed options at your disposal to take on anything the game throws your way.

Publisher: Sega | Developer: LizardCube | PS5, PS4

Honorable Mention: Ninja Five-O

Another side-scrolling ninja title returning from the past, Ninja Five-0 was previously a very hard to find game and was only available for portable systems in the early 2000s. But with the arrival of Ninja Five-0 on PS5 this year, you’re finally free to answer the age-old question: What would happen if a cop was also a ninja? You’ve already asked that question, right? Ninja Five-O gives you some pretty in-depth answers as you use your ninja skills and abilities to rescue hostages and take down bank robbers and other criminals. Firearms are no match for speed, skill, or the arsenal of classic weapons at your disposal, including katanas, grappling hooks, and shuriken.

Publisher: Konami | Developer: Hudson Soft | PS5, PS4

Even though 2025 is coming to an end, don’t worry — it looks like we won’t be short of ninjas and samurai on PS5 in the New Year either. Sucker Punch is gearing up to deliver cooperative multiplayer action with the release of Ghost of Yōtei Legends next year.* Ghost of Yōtei Legends will be free DLC for all Ghost of Yōtei owners.* Nioh 3 is already gearing up to strike on February 6, and brings a range of ninja skills and abilities to complement its deep samurai gameplay. Ninja Gaiden 4 is gearing up with a massive expansion in early 2026 that adds story content and new weapons for its ninja protagonist. And Onimusha: Way of the Sword, the first new mainline entry in Capcom’s series in two decades, will launch a sneak attack sometime next year.

*Available via patch update. An internet connection and an account for the PlayStation Network are required. A PlayStation Plus subscription (sold separately) is required for online or multiplayer play. PS Plus is subject to a recurring subscription fee which is collected automatically until cancellation. Age restrictions apply. Conditions apply: playing.st/psplus-usageterms .