The story of Ninja Gaiden 4 follows a young ninja named Yakumo, who uses a combat technique called Bloodraven Form. This allows the ninja to manipulate blood and create powerful attacks. Ryu Hayabusa (the previous protagonist in other Ninja Gaiden games) will also appear in this new release. It is currently unclear how the two characters will interact or what their ultimate goal is. However, it seems that the plot will revolve around the complete defeat of what remains of the Dark Dragon and stopping the curse of the "Rain of Darktrune".
The action takes place in Tokyo, where the current state is a result of the actions of an organization called the "Divine Dragon Order". Yakumo will regularly confront members of this group during his mission. They guard the seal of the Dark Dragon. Demons are also on the loose, and Devils are back in action!
The game focuses on ruthless and fast combat against enemies, combining attacks that make you the ultimate ninja. Yakumo uses two combat styles: The first is called "Bloodbind Ninjutsu Nue Style". It seems to have elements of 'Steel on Bone' from Ninja Gaiden 3 and Razor's Edge in that it is designed for instant kills and violently removing large enemies, as well as visual elements of the Zandatsu system from Metal Gear Rising in that cutting enemies leads to elegant pauses with large Japanese text serving as a kill screen. His second combat style is called "Raven Style". From the available video materials, we also know that as you progress through the story, you will have to deal with an environment that works against you as the curse tries to destroy everything. This means that buildings will collapse and roads will warp, creating an even greater challenge as Yakumo tries to complete his mission.
Players will also be able to play as Ryu, who has a significantly different fighting style from Yakumo. This means there are numerous different ways players can approach combat and play the game.
As for the difficulty, according to Yuji Naka, the game is inspired by Ninja Gaiden 2. An article from Xbox News states, "We combined the best aspects of the series and elevated them to a higher level for the current generation. Personally, I believe that the (difficulty level) of NINJA GAIDEN 2 had many standout qualities and I think fans will strongly feel its influence throughout NINJA GAIDEN 4."… "Enemies are designed to be masters of defense and experts in relentless aggression, but players never feel that they are in an unfairly disadvantaged position. There is a sense of balance that carries through the series, transcending current trends."
Ninja Gaiden 4 is coming to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC on October 21, 2025, while Xbox Game Pass subscribers will have access to the game from day one.
