Ninja Gaiden 4 Releases October 21 With Ryu and Yakumo

Ninja Gaiden 4, co-developed by Team Ninja and PlatinumGames, will release worldwide on October 21, 2025, thirteen years after Ninja Gaiden 3. The game introduces Yakumo as the new lead character while also featuring Ryu Hayabusa, the series’ long-standing protagonist.

In an interview with IGN, Team Ninja co-director Masazaku Hirayama explained how both characters share the story. He said that more than half of the story is played as Yakumo, but Ryu also has dedicated segments. Hirayama clarified that Ryu will not appear briefly and then disappear, stating that there will be a very robust amount of content for him. With the full story estimated at about 15 to 20 hours, Ryu’s role accounts for roughly seven to nine hours of gameplay.

After finishing the main story, players can use the Chapter Challenge mode to replay any chapter as either character. This feature makes it possible to experience Yakumo’s chapters as Ryu or complete the entire game as Ryu after the first playthrough.

Ninja Gaiden 4 also reintroduces the Ultimate Guidance ability, first seen in Ninja Gaiden II on Xbox 360 in 2008. PlatinumGames announced its return on August 25 in a post on X. The mechanic gives players a choice: absorb essence to heal or consume it to charge an Ultimate Attack, creating a risk-versus-reward decision. Director Yuji Nakao said that the system influenced other games he has worked on and confirmed that its strengths have been preserved in this installment.

New gameplay footage released with the announcement showed Yakumo using the mechanic with his double swords, either healing with essence or powering up attacks. PlatinumGames also revealed a new system called the Bloodraven Form mechanic, which builds on earlier techniques. They stated that several other techniques from past games return in Ninja Gaiden 4, adjusted to be easier to use and expanded through Bloodraven Form.

Additional gameplay options include Purgatory battles, which function as optional fights similar to the Tests of Valor, as well as Challenge Missions that feature rematches against previously defeated bosses. A modifier called Death Wish removes all upgrades to increase difficulty. Master Ninja difficulty returns, and a Hero Mode option is included for players who want a more accessible experience.

Ninja Gaiden 4 was recently shown at Gamescom, where Yakumo was heavily featured, but Hirayama confirmed that Ryu Hayabusa will also feature prominently in the story.

Several recent releases expand the series ahead of Ninja Gaiden 4. Ninja Gaiden II Black launched earlier this spring, Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound released last month, and Shinobi: Art of Vengeance will release this Friday.

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