Ninja Games: A Guide for Stealthy Gamers
Do you like sneaking around in the shadows, using your skills and weapons to overcome your enemies, and experiencing the thrill of being a covert agent? If so, you might enjoy playing ninja games. Ninja games are video games that feature ninjas as protagonists or antagonists, or that incorporate elements of ninjutsu, the art of stealth and espionage practiced by ninjas in feudal Japan. Ninja games are appealing because they offer a unique blend of action, adventure, strategy, and fantasy that challenges your physical and mental abilities.
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In this article, we will explore the history and origin of ninja games, the types and features of ninja games, and the best ninja games to play in 2023. Whether you are a fan of ninja games or a curious newcomer, this article will help you discover more about this fascinating genre.
The History and Origin of Ninja Games
The Influence of Japanese Culture and Ninjutsu
Ninja games are inspired by the historical and fictional depictions of ninjas in Japanese culture. Ninjas were covert agents who specialized in sabotage, espionage, infiltration, assassination, and guerrilla warfare in feudal Japan. They were trained in various martial arts techniques, especially ninjutsu, which involved stealth, disguise, deception, weaponry, acrobatics, and other skills. Ninjas were often hired by samurai lords or other factions to perform secret missions or to disrupt their enemies.
Ninjas became popular subjects of legends, folklore, literature, theater, comics, movies, anime, and video games in Japan and around the world. They were portrayed as mysterious warriors with supernatural abilities such as invisibility, teleportation, and control over natural elements. Some of the most famous examples of ninjas in popular culture are Naruto, Ninja Gaiden, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Shinobi.
The Evolution of Ninja Games Over Time
Ninja games have evolved and diversified over time, reflecting the changes in technology, gameplay, and audience preferences. The first ninja games were 2D platformers and arcade games that focused on fast-paced action and simple controls. Some of the earliest examples are Ninja-Kid (1984), The Legend of Kage (1985), and Shinobi (1987). These games were influenced by the martial arts movies of the 1970s and 1980s, such as Enter the Dragon and The Karate Kid.
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As video games became more advanced and realistic, ninja games also became more complex and immersive. They incorporated 3D graphics, cinematic cutscenes, voice acting, and branching storylines. They also expanded into different genres and styles, such as action-adventure, stealth, role-playing, and strategy. Some of the most notable examples of this era are Tenchu: Stealth Assassins (1998), Onimusha: Warlords (2001), Ninja Gaiden (2004), and Assassin's Creed (2007). These games were influenced by the anime and manga culture of the 1990s and 2000s, such as Naruto and Samurai Champloo.
Today, ninja games continue to innovate and experiment with new features and mechanics, such as online multiplayer, open-world exploration, customization, and VR support. They also cater to different tastes and preferences, from casual to hardcore, from realistic to fantasy, from historical to futuristic. Some of the most recent examples of ninja games are Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice (2019), Ghost of Tsushima (2020), Cyber Shadow (2021), and Naraka: Bladepoint (2021). These games are influenced by the current trends and issues in the gaming industry and society, such as diversity, accessibility, and social justice.
The Types and Features of Ninja Games
The Different Genres and Styles of Ninja Games
Ninja games can be categorized into different genres and styles, depending on their gameplay, setting, theme, and tone. Here are some of the most common types of ninja games:
Stealth: These games emphasize stealth over combat, requiring the player to avoid detection, use distractions, hide in the shadows, and strike silently. They often feature complex AI systems, dynamic lighting and sound effects, and multiple ways to complete a mission. Examples: Tenchu: Stealth Assassins, Mark of the Ninja: Remastered, Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun.
Action: These games emphasize combat over stealth, requiring the player to fight their way through enemies using various weapons, skills, abilities, and combos. They often feature fast-paced gameplay, flashy animations, gore effects, and boss battles. Examples: Ninja Gaiden, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice.
Adventure: These games emphasize exploration over combat or stealth, requiring the player to traverse different environments using parkour moves, climbing tools, and grappling hooks. They often feature rich storylines, character development, and side quests. Examples: Assassin's Creed, Ghost of Tsushima, Naraka: Bladepoint.
Platformer: These games emphasize jumping over combat or stealth, requiring the player to navigate through obstacles, gaps, and enemies using precise timing and reflexes. They often feature retro graphics, simple controls, and high difficulty. Examples: The Legend of Kage, The Messenger, Cyber Shadow.
Puzzle: These games emphasize logic over combat or stealth, requiring the player to solve puzzles using ninjutsu skills, such as shuriken throwing, shadow cloning, and fire breathing. They often feature cartoon graphics, humorous dialogue, and creative level design. Examples: Mini Ninjas, N++, Ninjala.
The Common Elements and Mechanics of Ninja Games
Ninja games share some common elements and mechanics that make them distinct from other types of games. Here are some of them:
Weapons: Ninja games usually feature a variety of weapons that ninjas use in combat or stealth situations, such as swords, daggers, shuriken, kunai, nunchaku, sai, kama,
Skills: Ninja games usually feature a variety of skills that ninjas use to enhance their performance or to gain an edge over their opponents, such as speed, agility, stealth, perception, and intuition. They often require the player to manage their stamina, energy, or chakra levels to use these skills effectively. Examples: Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, Shadow Warrior 2.
Abilities: Ninja games usually feature a variety of abilities that ninjas use to unleash powerful attacks or to manipulate their surroundings, such as fireballs, lightning bolts, ice spikes, and wind blades. They often require the player to charge up their abilities or to perform certain inputs or gestures to activate them. Examples: Onimusha: Warlords, Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2, Aragami 2.
Enemies: Ninja games usually feature a variety of enemies that ninjas face in their missions or quests, such as samurai, bandits, demons, zombies, and robots. They often have different strengths, weaknesses, behaviors, and attack patterns that the player needs to learn and exploit. Examples: Shinobi, Nioh 2, Strider.
Environments: Ninja games usually feature a variety of environments that ninjas explore or infiltrate in their missions or quests, such as forests, temples, castles, cities, and factories. They often have different hazards, traps, secrets, and opportunities that the player needs to avoid or use to their advantage. Examples: Tenchu: Stealth Assassins, Ghost of Tsushima, Mark of the Ninja: Remastered.
Missions: Ninja games usually feature a variety of missions or quests that ninjas undertake for different purposes or goals, such as assassination, sabotage, rescue, reconnaissance, and infiltration. They often have different objectives, challenges, rewards, and consequences that the player needs to complete or face. Examples: Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun, Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China, Ninja Blade.
The Best Ninja Games to Play in 2023
The Criteria and Methodology for Selecting the Best Ninja Games
With so many ninja games available in the market, how do you choose the best ones to play in 2023? To help you with this decision, we have selected the best ninja games based on the following criteria and methodology:
Popularity: We have considered the popularity of the ninja games among the gamers and the critics, based on their sales, downloads, ratings, reviews, awards, and nominations. We have also taken into account the hype and anticipation for the upcoming or newly released ninja games.
Quality: We have evaluated the quality of the ninja games in terms of their graphics, sound, gameplay, story, and overall experience. We have also considered the technical aspects, such as the performance, optimization, bugs, and glitches of the ninja games.
Innovation: We have assessed the innovation of the ninja games in terms of their features, mechanics, modes, and genres. We have also looked for the originality, creativity, and uniqueness of the ninja games.
We have ranked the best ninja games from best to worst, based on a weighted average of these criteria. We have also provided a brief description, a screenshot or a video clip, and a link to where to buy or download each ninja game. Please note that this list is subjective and based on our personal opinions and preferences. You may disagree with our choices or have other suggestions for the best ninja games to play in 2023. If so, feel free to share your thoughts and feedback in the comments section below.
The List of the Best Ninja Games to Play in 2023
Rank
Title
Description
Image/Video
Link
1
Naraka: Bladepoint
Naraka: Bladepoint is a multiplayer online battle royale game that features ninjas with different abilities and styles. The game boasts stunning graphics, fluid combat, and a variety of weapons and skills. The game also allows the players to customize their characters, use parkour moves and grappling hooks to traverse the map, and interact with the environment. The game was released in August 2021 and has received positive reviews from critics and players alike.
2
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is an action-adventure game that follows the story of a shinobi who seeks revenge against a samurai clan that kidnapped his lord. The game features challenging gameplay, intense boss fights, and a variety of weapons and abilities. The game also allows the players to stealthily assassinate their enemies, use prosthetic tools to enhance their combat options, and resurrect themselves after death. The game was released in March 2019 and has won several awards and accolades.
3
Ghost of Tsushima
Ghost of Tsushima is an action-adventure game that follows the story of Jin Sakai, a samurai who becomes a ghost, a legendary ninja who fights against the Mongol invasion of Tsushima Island in the 13th century. The game features stunning graphics, immersive gameplay, and a rich narrative. The game also allows the players to choose between different playstyles, such as honorable samurai or dishonorable ghost, and to customize their appearance, weapons, skills, and gear. The game was released in July 2020 and has received critical acclaim and commercial success.
4
Ninja Gaiden
Ninja Gaiden is a series of action games that follows the adventures of Ryu Hayabusa, a modern-day ninja who battles against evil forces such as demons, terrorists, and rival ninjas. The series is known for its fast-paced combat, challenging difficulty, and gore effects. The series has spawned several sequels, spin-offs, and remakes, such as Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2, Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge, and Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection. The series has been praised for its gameplay, graphics, and soundtracks.
5
Mark of the Ninja: Remastered
Mark of the Ninja: Remastered is a stealth game that puts you in the role of a ninja who must use his skills and tools to complete various missions and objectives. The game features 2D graphics, fluid animations, and dynamic sound effects. The game also allows you to choose between different paths, strategies, and outcomes, depending on your actions and decisions. The game was originally released in 2012 and has been remastered in 2018 with enhanced visuals, audio, and gameplay.
6
Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun
Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun is a strategy game that lets you control a team of five ninjas and samurai who must execute covert operations in feudal Japan. The game features isometric graphics, tactical gameplay, and multiple solutions. The game also allows you to switch between different characters, each with their own abilities and personalities. The game was released in 2016 and has received positive reviews from critics and players.
7
Cyber Shadow
Cyber Shadow is a platformer game that pays homage to the classic ninja games of the 8-bit and 16-bit era. The game follows the story of Shadow, a ninja who must fight his way through a dystopian world ruled by synthetic life forms. The game features pixel art graphics, retro music, and hardcore gameplay. The game also allows you to unlock new abilities, upgrade your weapons, and discover secrets and easter eggs. The game was released in January 2021 and has received favorable reviews from critics and players.
8
Nioh 2
Nioh 2 is an action role-playing game that is a prequel to the original Nioh game. The game follows the story of a half-human, half-yokai warrior who must fight against the demonic forces that plague feudal Japan. The game features dark fantasy graphics, brutal combat, and deep customization. The game also allows you to create your own character, use various weapons and skills, transform into different yokai forms, and cooperate or compete with other players online. The game was released in March 2020 and has received critical acclaim and commercial success.
9
Aragami 2
Aragami 2 is a stealth game that is a sequel to the original Aragami game. The game follows the story of an aragami, a vengeful spirit who can control the shadows, who must protect his clan from a mysterious enemy. The game features cel-shaded graphics, stealth-based gameplay, and a dynamic combat system. The game also allows you to customize your aragami, use different shadow powers, craft items and weapons, and play solo or co-op with up to three players. The game was released in September 2021 and has received mixed reviews from critics and players.
10
Strider
Strider is an action game that is a reboot of the classic Strider franchise. The game follows the story of Strider Hiryu, a high-tech ninja who must infiltrate a futuristic metropolis and assassinate its tyrannical ruler. The game features colorful graphics, fast-paced gameplay, and a variety of weapons and abilities. The game also allows you to explore an open-ended world, unlock new upgrades and items, and face challenging enemies and bosses. The game was released in February 2014 and has received positive reviews from critics and players.
Conclusion
Ninja games are one of the most popular and diverse genres of video games that offer a unique blend of action, adventure, strategy, and fantasy. They are inspired by the historical and fictional depictions of ninjas in Japanese culture and ninjutsu, the art of stealth and espionage. They have evolved and diversified over time, reflecting the changes in technology, gameplay, and audience preferences. They can be categorized into different types and styles, such as stealth, action, adventure, platformer, puzzle, etc. They also share some common elements and mechanics, such as weapons, skills, abilities, enemies, environments, missions, etc.
In this article, we have presented the best ninja games to play in 2023, based on their popularity, quality, and innovation. We have ranked them from best to worst, and provided a brief description, a screenshot or a video clip, and a link to where to buy or download each ninja game. We hope that this article has helped you discover more about this fascinating genre, and that you will enjoy playing these ninja games as much as we do.
Do you agree with our list of the best ninja games to play in 2023? What are your favorite ninja games of all time? Do you have any suggestions or recommendations for other ninja games that we should try? Let us know in the comments section below. We would love to hear from you.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about ninja games:
What are some tips and tricks for playing ninja games?
Some tips and tricks for playing ninja games are:
Learn the basics of the game, such as the controls, the objectives, the mechanics, and the features. Read the tutorials, the manuals, or the guides to familiarize yourself with the game.
Practice your skills, such as stealth, combat, movement, and abilities. Try different strategies, techniques, and combinations to find what works best for you.
Explore the environment, such as the terrain, the structures, the items, and the secrets. Look for hidden paths, shortcuts, advantages, and disadvantages. Use the environment to your benefit or to your enemies' detriment.
Study your enemies, such as their types, their behaviors, their patterns, and their weaknesses. Learn how to avoid, distract, lure, or defeat them. Use your weapons, skills, abilities, and items to counter them.
Manage your resources, such as your health, your stamina, your energy, your ammo, and your inventory. Conserve them when possible, replenish them when needed, and use them wisely.
What are some resources for learning more about ninja games?
Some resources for learning more about ninja games are:
: A wiki that provides information about various ninja games and related topics.
: A YouTube channel that features gameplay videos, reviews, tips, and news about ninja games.
: A podcast that discusses and analyzes different aspects of ninja games and culture.
: A subreddit that is dedicated to ninja games and their fans.
: A blog that covers the latest trends and developments in ninja games and industry.
What are some upcoming or anticipated ninja games?
Some upcoming or anticipated ninja games are:
: An action game that follows a kung fu student who seeks revenge against the assassins who killed his family. The game features realistic combat, aging mechanics, and a stylized art direction. The game is expected to be released in 2023 for PC and PlayStation consoles.
: An action-adventure game that follows a paranormal investigator who must fight against mysterious spirits that have invaded Tokyo. The game features supernatural abilities, urban exploration, and a horror atmosphere. The game is expected to be released in 2023 for PC and PlayStation 5.
: A multiplayer online battle arena game that is based on the Naruto franchise. The game features customizable characters, team-based gameplay, and various modes and missions. The game is expected to be released in 2023 for PC and Xbox consoles.
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