Shinobi: Art of Vengeance Reviews
If you can get over the fact that it doesn’t play EXACTLY like its past games but can appreciate the steps in direction the game has taken to play like both a retro and modern game in 2025, you might find a candidate for Game of the Year.
Shinobi: Art of Vengeance manages to balance tradition and novelty in a convincing way. Joe Musashi's tale of revenge sets the tone for an intense journey, where agile combat and special techniques come together with well-designed levels full of secrets. The pace of the action, boss fights, and the hand-painted visual style are the standout elements, keeping the essence of the series alive while embracing modern ideas. Although it repeats enemies and stretches some stages longer than necessary, the game compensates with a variety of situations, extra modes, and a deep combat system. In the end, it's an experience that honors the Shinobi legacy and shows there’s still room for classic ninjas in today’s gaming landscape.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Shinobi: Art of Vegeance becomes yet another classic game that has been exceptionally well recreated. I had no doubts that Lizardcube would do great work, given their success with Streets of Rage 4. It retains what made the original games so memorable and becomes a well-polished experience. It’s visually stunning, combat is super satisfying, and the story is well told. There is plenty of bang for your buck here as well, depending on how much you want from the game. If you want to achieve everything on offer, then you’re easily going to push 30-40 hours of gameplay. But if you’re just after ticking through the levels and seeing out the story, then you’ll still have a reasonable 15-20 hours. They say it’s all about quality instead of quantity, but here you get both with a big green tick. This is a beautiful game and will be one of my most memorable of 2025 for sure. A must buy!
Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is the ultimate 2D ninja experience and one of the best action platformer experiences of recent memory due to its impactful combat with ample customization options and an unforgettable art style.
SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance is a fantastic first game for SEGA’s reboots. The action platforming sports solid movement mechanics, and very enjoyable combat and combo systems. The medallion and Ninpo can sometimes feel unnecessary, but there’s still some motivation to explore these due to new attacks for your moveset needing to be purchased at the store. The story does a good job setting the stage, and the artwork is just awesome to see. It also runs wonderfully on the Steam Deck. The best way to play will be at 60 FPS, but nothing else is needed otherwise. It’s a great game through and through, and one worth adding to your portable libraries.
The visuals and music are fantastic, the combat stellar and invigorating, and the platforming and exploration elements are masterfully done. Plus, you'll get access to Boss Rush and Arcade Mode upon clearing the game, adding even more replayability to a modern masterpiece. This revival hits all the marks with glittering, sharp kunai - what more can you ask for?
Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is a remarkable 2D action game. For $30, it provides substance and fun, and Lizardcube escalates difficulty just enough to make finishing a level satisfying. If you're rebooting a 2D action franchise to appeal to fans of its older games, Art of Vengeance is a perfect example of how to do it.
I can’t remember the last time I had as much fun with this sort of game as I did with Shinobi Art of Vengeance, and for fans of 2D action games, it is a must-play. Fans of ninjas continue to feast.
Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is a 10 when it comes to combat and visuals. Incredible replayability, a decent story, and a good soundtrack are let down by frustratingly imprecise platforming. Still, the other parts are so strong that I can easily recommend this game to damned near anyone.
Shinobi: Art of Vengeance features exceptional combat, compelling exploration and gorgeous visuals, and I couldn't recommend it more.
With "Shinobi: Art of Vengeance," Lizardcube has created an excellent 2D action-platformer with a great combat system and cool platforming, featuring some pretty tough scenes at times but ultimately always remaining fair.
Review in German | Read full review
Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is a fully reimagined tribute to a beloved classic. With its stunning visuals, satisfying combat, smooth controls, and thoughtful modern QoL features, it’s the complete package and might end up being one of my favorite games of the year.
SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance isn’t just a game; it’s a journey that reaches back to the golden age of gaming and pulls you in with a stunning, modern grip and is a confident return for the franchise.
So much love and attention to detail were put into Shinobi: Art of Vengeance, which, honestly, given Lizardcube did do Street of Rage 4, I shouldn’t be surprised by. But I am, and I’m thoroughly impressed by what the studio has created here. A game that pays homage to its legacy, while evolving it in every meaningful way. It’s a true love letter to the fans, capturing the spirit of the franchise in a new, modern tale that’s both faithful and perfect for newcomers to discover the legend of Joe Musashi.
Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is a masterclass is how to properly reboot a dormant gaming IP, as it honors the tenets of the iconic series, but decisively plants a flag as the new identity for the franchise moving forward. Shinobi Art of Vengeance is freight train of excellence with zero filler. The controls are precise, visuals are stunning, pacing is perfect, balance is fine tuned, soundtrack is great and best of all, it didnt need to change its identity as success was within all along. Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is a fantastic return to form, as it will easily be the best Ninja game of the year, possibly the best 2D platformer of the year, and makes a strong case to be a game of the year candidate.
Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is truly fantastic, and the type of game I had wished Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound had been. It hits all the right beats for the genre, and its combat progression keeps Joe Musashi powerful without feeling unstoppable, due to some fantastic work with its roster of enemies and bosses. As Shinobi is the first step in Sega’s big ‘Power Surge Program’, it hopefully stands as a testament of the quality to come.
Like Streets Of Rage 4 before it, Lizardcube have taken a beloved classic and made it their own. Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is a triumphant return of a classic.
Any other year, and SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance could have easily been considered as a Game of the Year contender. It's that good. From the stunning visuals to its fast-paced combo-based gameplay, the game is pure bliss and such an audiovisual treat from start to finish. It understands what makes action platformers great and executes its vision with style and precision. Despite its short runtime of about 10 hours, there's enough replayability to keep players coming back. From optional collectibles to combat and platforming challenges, all of these work toward improving Joe as he becomes a force to be reckoned with. The game can be tough, and while some challenges can be frustrating, they never seem so unfair that they feel out of reach.
Shinobi: Art of Vengeance excels with its combat system, level design, and visual art. It's packed with exciting moments, and while it suffers from a slight personality crisis due to some ill-fitting Metroidvania-esque elements and some performance issues (at least in PS5), it's well worth a try for fans of 2D action platformers.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
If you’re a fan of action-platformers, this one is a no-brainer. SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance shines in its visual presentation, showcasing incredible style and attention to detail. Combat is a standout, allowing you to feel like a master Shinobi as you bounce from foe to foe, unleashing your arsenal of attacks.