Ninja Gaiden Ragebound Launches Across Multiple Platforms

Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, released in 2025, is a 2D side-scrolling action game developed by The Game Kitchen and published by Dotemu under Koei Tecmo’s license, serving as a side story to the original NES Ninja Gaiden trilogy. The game's narrative centers on Kenji Mozu, a protégé of Ryu Hayabusa, who defends their village from demon invasions while partnered with rival ninja Kumori in a dual-character mechanic that blends sword combat and spirit-based attacks. While some reviewers praise Ragebound for its homage to classic Ninja Gaiden aesthetics, story depth, and challenging gameplay, others criticize the combat mechanics and weapon variety as lacking meaningful depth, making it a less satisfying installment. The game’s visual style recalls the 16-bit era with smart level design and accessible options, and its campaign offers approximately 6-8 hours of action with multiple endings. Despite mixed reception on gameplay execution, Ragebound is considered a notable addition to the franchise, appealing to both longtime fans and newcomers. It is available digitally on major platforms and also in physical form for PS5 and Nintendo Switch.