NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound Review- Unleash the Rage

The Ninja Gaiden series has been through a lot of ups and downs since its inception as an arcade Beat’em Up in 1988. But it was the Nintendo hard trilogy that catapulted the blue-clad Ryu Hayabusa to superstardom. The series was once again revitalized by one crazy dude named Tomonobu Itagaki as a hard-as-nails 3D character action game for the OG Xbox. It’s 2025, and Ninja Gaiden is once again seeing a surge in popularity thanks to the flawed-but-fun Master Collection re-release, the Ninja Gaiden 2 remaster in UE5, and the upcoming Ninja Gaiden 4 headed by the character-action veterans at Platinum Games.

Among all these, it’s Spanish developer The Game Kitchen’s Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound that’s got my attention. The studios’ Blasphemous series is one of my favorite platformers of all time, and the news that they’re making a Ninja Gaiden interquel caught me by surprise. I had a blast with the demo—though honestly, it was about as similar to the classic 8-bit trilogy as a tortilla is to a ninja star. Also, not a single sign of Momiji’s bouncing bodonkers anywhere. So seriously, what’s the deal with Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound? Am I missing a memo, or is Ryu Hayabusa on a sabbatical while The Game Kitchen is just out here reinventing ninjas?

A Slice From the Past

Contrary to what you might expect, Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound isn’t a sequel to Tecmo’s notoriously tough 2D platformer. Instead, it’s a pure Game Kitchen creation through and through. That means you get all the signature goodies: stunning art design, fast-paced and brutal combat, and an adrenaline-pumping soundtrack. However, Ragebound marks a clear shift from the Blasphemous games—it features fully linear levels. These stages, while packed with detail and challenges, are relatively short and clearly designed with speedrunning in mind.

Personally, I found the best way to enjoy the game was to tackle one or two levels at a time on the Steam Deck, then occasionally dabble in speedrunning through levels I’d already completed. Thanks to simple controls, no complicated combos, and a straightforward level structure, the game is super pick-up-and-play friendly.

Web of Shadows

One of the selling points of Ragebound (other than the fact that it looks good, plays great) is the addition of a second playable character. Ragebound centers on Kenji Mozu, a plucky ninja apprentice left to guard Hayabusa Village while the legendary Ryu Hayabusa is off handling “serious ninja business” in America. Nothing says “promotion” like being left behind to deal with an all-you-can-slice demon buffet.

Naturally, the Black Spider Clan picks this perfect moment to try and summon a Demon Lord, which involves their resident kunoichi, Kumori, trapping said demon in a “fancy dagger.” As plans invariably do, this goes off the rails, forcing Kenji and Kumori to form an “uneasy alliance” and stop the bad guys from ruining the day.

Smooth Ninja

Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound doesn’t attempt to simply mimic its iconic predecessors, nor does it go out of its way to drastically overhaul the action-platformer formula. Instead, it understands what truly matters in a game of this genre—the exhilarating, moment-to-moment experience of playing. Rather than obsess over novelty, Ragebound expertly refines the essentials.

From the very first moments, it’s clear that the developers prioritized feel and responsiveness above all else. Every movement, from a simple jump to a complex dash, is buttery smooth and incredibly satisfying. The control scheme is responsive and intuitive, making every input register with rewarding immediacy. Animations transition seamlessly, lending a fluidity that keeps the action intense yet never chaotic. Attacks connect with precision, dodges feel tight, and chaining together acrobatic moves becomes second nature. Whether you’re wall-jumping, hurling shurikens, or slicing through an onslaught of foes, the game’s mechanics work in harmonious sync.

The boss fights also deserve a mention. The plethora of boss fights featured in the game is fair but challenging. The thrill of finally toppling a heavily-armored brute or a menacing demon after multiple attempts is immensely satisfying, further cementing Ragebound’s commitment to tight, rewarding action. The momentum of slicing and dicing through enemies does get a bit tedious towards the end due to the enemies overloading your reflexes, but YMMV. The campaign is also a bit short, clocking in around 6 hours for an average playthrough.

Real Talk

Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is the best thing to happen to Ninja Gaiden since Itagaki. The Game Kitchen understood the assignment and delivered a slick action game worthy of its namesake. Now we wait for the return of Ryu Hayabusa!

FINAL SCORE: 85/100