Shinobi: Art of Vengeance Reviews
Art of Vengeance is a triumphant return for the series. Leveling up the formula with excellent traversal and combat. Its richly layered, hand-drawn backgrounds are as inviting as they are detailed. Lizardcube has modernized the series while honoring its 1987 roots, forging a fresh path for Joe Musashi that respects the lessons and legacy of their peers and predecessors. Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is sharp, fluid, and pure, and a perfect blend of nostalgia and modern design.
Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is not just the return of a classic franchise. It’s an example of how to bring an icon from the past into the present, without losing its identity and without being afraid to take risks. It’s a challenging, beautiful, addictive, and heartfelt game. For veterans, it’s a gift. For newcomers, it’s a gateway to the magic that Shinobi has always represented. No exaggeration: this is already, for me, the best game of the year.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Like a ninja, Shinobi: Act of Vengeance sneakily delivers one of this year's best 2D action games. It smartly and stealthily showcases its brutal and spectacular mechanics that consistently up the stakes. While the story is the weakest aspect, the stylish action shows how promising 2D action games can be today.
SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance looks to revive the long-dormant Shinobi series after an almost fifteen-year hiatus. Developer Lizardcube brings Joe Musashi back into the limelight in one of the most stunning-looking games of the year, which is sure to make longtime fans of the series happy. Although there are a few stumbles along the way and design choices that I wish had been ironed out more, SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance is a great game that will hopefully kickstart this series back to life and work as a building block for future titles to come.
Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is a fantastic action game with remarkable depth, built on long combo chains, the tactful use of Kunai, and a wide range of Ninpo skills that offer strategic value during combat. LizardCube has expanded the series in scope, delivering the longest Shinobi game yet, with extensive exploration and challenging platforming woven into the experience. The art direction and animation quality stand well above most contemporaries, though the generic story and thin characterization hold it back.
It's a long time coming, but Sega and Lizard Cube have done the Shinobi name proud with this 2025 2D action offering. I can confidently say that the one true Shinobi is back and better than ever. You've been missed, Joe Musashi, and the video game action landscape is all the better for your comeback.
Like Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap and Streets of Rage 4 before it, Shinobi: Art of Vengeance proves once again that Lizardcube knows how to bring Sega’s most beloved properties to the modern era with its crisp, combo-driven combat and fast and fluid platforming action. Whether you grew up with Joe Musashi or are stepping into his tabi boots for the first time, Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is a spectacular evolution for the series that cuts through the competition.
Even with some frustrating platforming and okay story, the visual style and action combat in Shinobi: Art of Vengeance are hands-down some of the best we've seen this year.
If you're a fan of 2D action games, love fluid combat, and want to relive, or experience, the spirit of one of video games' most iconic ninjas, Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is undoubtedly a must-play.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
I could go on and on gushing about how much I truly love SHINOBI: Art of the Vengeance. From its stylish, quick-witted gameplay and challenging experience to its beautifully designed character portraits with maps, I scrape to uncover each secret until I reach that 100% completion. Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap was one of my first games I played on the Nintendo Switch that introduced me to this developer, and Lizardcube has done it again with this Shinobi rejuvenation’s smooth and sleek gameplay.
Whether you’re a fan of classic side-scrollers, a Shinobi veteran, or simply a player looking for a high-quality 2D action game with depth and style, Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is an essential play in 2025’s gaming lineup.