At today’s Sony State of Play, Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound received a new trailer along with a July release date. While they’ve maintained a summer 2025 release window since announcement earlier this year, it’s good to see that they were able to make good on that promise. Trailer after the jump.
Despite existing primarily as a 3D game for the past 20+ years, Ninja Gaiden is getting back to its pixelated roots with this 2D-style game. Wanting to invoke a sense of nostalgia for those of us old enough to have experienced the original Ninja Gaiden, Ragebound will feature pieces from guest composers Keiji Yamagishi, Ryuichi Niita, and Kaori Nakabai who all worked on entries in the original trilogy on NES.
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound was developed by The Game Kitchen, developers of Blasphemous 1 & 2. Both games stand as exemplary examples of the metroidvania genre, a perfect developer for a new side-scrolling Ninja Gaiden game. Ragebound begins immediately after the opening moments of the original Ninja Gaiden on the NES. Players will take the role of Kenji Mozu, a fledgling ninja of the Hayabusa clan, who must slay the forces of evil.
Kenji’s destiny is intertwined with Kumori, a fearsome new kunoichi hailing from the antagonistic Black Spider Clan central to the NINJA GAIDEN series. Kenji and Kumori must overcome the generational grudges between their clans and use forbidden techniques to merge their powers and survive the battles ahead, binding their fates together to share a test of soul and skill while maximizing their talents.
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound Key Features
- A brand-new side-scrolling entry to the NINJA GAIDEN series
- From the acclaimed team behind Blasphemous
- Dive into an untold chapter of the NINJA GAIDEN saga
- Old school gameplay with a brand-new polish
- A spectacular pixel art showdown
Considering it’s been over 30 years since we’ve seen a 2D side-scrolling Ninja Gaiden game, now seems like the perfect time to get one. We’ve been inundated with incredible metroidvania titles that have pushed the boundaries of the genre for easily the last 10 years. It’s about damn time one of the kings of side-scrolling received a proper one. I can think of no better team than The Game Kitchen and no better publisher than Dotemu to bring it to us.
Do you have what it takes to become a true ninja master? Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound releases on July 31st for PC via Steam, PlayStation 4 & 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch. There is no demo currently available, but if you’d like to show your interest, make sure you add the game to your wishlist. Stay tuned to MonsterVine for more news on Dotemu, The Game Kitchen, and Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound.
