Ninja Gaiden 4 Hands-On Preview: A Bold Return at Gamescom

Ninja Gaiden 4 has finally stepped out of the shadows, and if the Gamescom demo is anything to go by, it might be the most ambitious chapter in the franchise yet. After years of silence and Team NINJA shifting focus toward Soulslike action RPGs like Nioh, many assumed Ryu Hayabusa’s saga had quietly ended.

But early 2025 brought a surprise: not only is the series alive, it’s evolving.

Following Ninja Gaiden 2 Black and the retro-styled Ninja Gaiden Ragebound, the newest entry is slated for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S this October. What makes Ninja Gaiden 4 stand out is its fusion of Team NINJA’s brutal precision with PlatinumGames’ stylish flair, echoing the kinetic brilliance of Bayonetta and Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance.

The short 30-minute demo introduced players to Yakumo, a Raven clan ninja navigating a futuristic Tokyo. His fluid movement and grappling hook opened up dynamic traversal, while combat blended slick aerial combos, weapon juggling, and devastating finishers. The highlight was a boss battle that unveiled Yakumo’s Bloodraven form – a blood-fueled technique that expands weapon movesets and demands sharp timing to counter enemy specials. Unlike many action games, combos weren’t discarded during boss encounters but carried over intact, rewarding mastery rather than forcing gimmicks.

As the fight escalated, pounding music and advanced mechanics like dodge offset raised the intensity, cementing the game’s Platinum DNA. It’s clear the developers want battles to feel like duels of creativity, not just reflex tests. While Ryu Hayabusa hasn’t yet been playable, his presence looms large, and the promise of balancing classic Gaiden brutality with new-generation spectacle is enticing.

October 21 is the date fans need circled. If the demo is any indication, Ninja Gaiden 4 could rival the finest action games of the decade, a resurrection that feels both respectful of its roots and daringly fresh.