During some big flashy Game Awards in 2024—oh, the hype was real!—Koei Tecmo and Dotemu dropped a bombshell. They revealed Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, a new kid on the block in the Ninja Gaiden series. But plot twist: it’s not what everyone thought it would be. Instead of another mainline title, it’s a throwback to those old-school NES-style 2D side-scrolling action vibes. You know, the kind where you jump, slash, maybe curse a little at the screen. It’s being cooked up by The Game Kitchen, those wizards behind the Blasphemous series. They’ve got their eyes set on a 2025 release—so, mark your calendars? Or don’t. Up to you.
Now, speaking of calendars, Ragebound isn’t the only Ninja Gaiden making waves. Turns out, it was the first original in the series in over ten years. But wait—plot twist number two! It ain’t lonely anymore. Koei Tecmo also spilled the beans on two more titles: Ninja Gaiden 2 Black and Ninja Gaiden 4 during an Xbox Developer Direct. Here’s where it gets juicy: both of those were revealed as day-one Game Pass titles. Ragebound missed that first train but who knows, maybe they’ll hitch a ride later. Fingers crossed?
And, oh yeah, Ninja Gaiden 2 Black? It was shadow-dropped right there during the Xbox Dev thing—like, surprise! Ninja Gaiden 4 is slated for an October 2025 release. So, keep an eye out if you’re into that kind of ninja magic.
Jumping clumsily into another thought—Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, it’s got this vibe that’d really fit Game Pass. Sounds cheap, right? But, like, sometimes people are still hesitant? Even at twenty-five bucks, which in game money terms, is like a flea market steal. An indie team worked on this, so yeah, no blockbuster 3D stuff here. For all its budget-friendliness, some folks, especially those not knee-deep in Ninja Gaiden lore, might not let go of their hard-earned cash.
And why should they care? Well, Ninja Gaiden’s kind of a big deal in the retro gaming corner but mostly with gray hairs—sorry, no offense to the loyal fans. The series has been on a long hiatus and was, let’s face it, a bit of a niche thing anyway. Challenging combat, exclusive platforms, and those “confusing” names didn’t really help draw the crowd. Yet, to resurrect the fanbase, making the newer titles more accessible would be a savvy move for Koei Tecmo. Maybe sprinkle them all over Game Pass? It’s like giving out free samples. Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound might, well, need that extra push since it’s a pixel-art 2D platformer—not everyone’s cup of tea.
Oh, but here’s the kicker: Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, for what it’s worth, got some rave reviews. Seriously, OpenCritic ratings have it mingling with the top platformers of 2025. Imagine if it popped up on Game Pass? It could hook new fans, maybe nudge them into actually buying it or, who knows, even other Ninja Gaiden adventures. Anyway, that’s my chaotic rumble on the thing. Let the ninja frenzy begin… or continue, or whatever.
