Shinobi: Art of Vengeance Reviews
From start to finish, the resurrection of the Shinobi franchise is one well deserved – with gorgeous visuals and a stellar ninja power fantasy that confidently (and silently) stands on its own two feet.
If you want a ninja themed side scroller, then put SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance at the top of your list. It is quite simply flawless.
SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance is fast, exciting, hard, satisfying, fun, beautiful and the perfect return for a franchise so legendary. It maintains the essence of the original game and also adds the perfect amount of modernity to make it stand out. It's the full package, and one the best action-adventure games of 2025.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Shinobi: Art of Vengeance once again puts us in control of the legendary Joe Musashi, and it's a genuine treat. Fast and fluid combat meets slick platforming and traversal, and when you add in the game's stunning art and excellent soundtrack, you're looking at game of the year material.
Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is a beautiful-looking game that feels like a great addition to the series. It is challenging and full of non-stop ninja action.
Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is a wonderful revival of the long-dormant franchise, and it combines excellent combat with an engaging pseudo-Metroidvania gameplay style. I had a rollicking good time from start to finish. My only real complaint comes from the somewhat finicky precision platforming, but even that is limited to some optional, late-game areas. If you're a fan of the franchise, there's a lot to like, but this latest ninja revival is good for newcomers and longtime fans alike.
Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is, honestly, the definition of a video game. It has an incredible and addictive combat system, stunning graphics, a well-executed metroidvania vibe in the levels, a cliché story that perfectly matches the theme, and challenging extra modes.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is a high-quality Metroidvania that reaffirms that the series still has a bright future ahead of it. It's a memorable experience with combat that raises my expectations for any new game coming to the genre.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
I had a blast with SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance as its modern gameplay approach, enjoyable combat, and stunning presentation really make it stand out as a worthwhile reimagining of an iconic series. Can we have more games like this, please? Thanks. 🗡️
SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance delivers exactly what you would expect from a modern ninja action game. The battles are fast, fluid and really satisfying, the Metroidvania elements provide variety and additional motivation, and the platforming passages bring crisp challenges to the game.
Review in German | Read full review
It should always be lauded when a classic series is brought back in peak form, and Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is an ideal representation of that notion. Between masterfully woven 2D platforming and action combat that leverages the extraordinary movement in place, alongside commendable optional challenges, there's no shortage of meticulous quality for platforming enthusiasts to appreciate. If Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is indicative of the caliber we can anticipate from Sega's incoming classic revivals, then I believe it's fair to say that we're in more than good hands.
Even though the “art” may be stronger than the “vengeance” in Art of Vengeance, they still come together to form an experience that’s still plenty sharp.
Shinobi: Art of Vengeance not only features incredible gameplay mechanics and an exciting storyline but also boasts some of the finest hand-drawn visuals I've ever encountered in a game.
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.