Some people have already dubbed this year ‘the year of the ninja’ with a bunch of big titles being announced. Assassin’s Creed Shadows came out earlier this year and received great praise, a handful of Ninja Gaiden games were announced and have been releasing/set to release, and a beloved fan favourite character from the Shinobi franchise is set to make his return. I got to try SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance first-hand last week, and I think fans of the series should really get hyped.
SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance will mark a return to the franchise after 14 years, with players once again taking on the role of Joe Musashi. As the title eludes to, this is a quest of vengeance, as you find your village burned to the ground and your clan turned to stone. It is up to you to use your ninja arts and master the way of the Shinobi while traversing a new stylistic world. From scorching deserts to military bases, each with their own hidden secrets and challenging platforming puzzles, you must prepare to face the evil ahead and avenge your clan.
Though the story begins in a pre-established world with characters you’d only be familiar with if you’ve played the other games in the series, SHINOBI eases the player in while learning the controls and movements. It sets you up for each new ability, tells you how to use it, and then adds in enemies to defeat using your new ability as you progress. It felt very easy to pick up, and it was very satisfying chaining moves and combos together to take down enemies.
Platforming and traversal through the beautiful hand-drawn world felt very smooth as well, with each area having multiple ways around and secrets to discover. Some areas had puzzles to solve, finding levers to open certain doors to progress, as well as ambushes of enemies to take down. You can’t just speed through, though, and there’s no button mashing here. Taking things slow and truly embracing being a ninja with calculated moves will reward you the most.
The experience of playing this game felt quite reminiscent of the older games in the Shinobi series, with the same side-scrolling and platformer style of gameplay, but with a lot of modern elements that kept it feeling fresh and new. Learning new skills and using them to obliterate any enemy in your path is super satisfying, and the only time the game felt frustrating was due to my own error on things like timing.
I think that long-time fans of the series are going to be more than happy with this return to the franchise, and even those who are new to Joe Musashi’s adventures will find enjoyment in this satisfying experience.
SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance is set to slash its way onto screens on the 29th of August 2025 for PS5/4, Xbox Series X|S, PC and Nintendo Switch.
About the Author
Hayley Louise
she/they
Hayley spends most of her time gaming, but when she's not doing that you can find her doing all kinds of nerd-adjacent things like playing board games, building Lego, reading books and talking nerdy to everyone who will listen.
