Ninja Gaiden IV.

The Gavler Review.

Ninja Gaiden IV Review: A Brutal, Relentless Comeback

Ninja Gaiden IV carries a Gavler score of 8.3, backed by a Metacritic average of 83 ("Generally Favorable"). It was tracked on Gavler's Best PS5 Games of 2026 list at points during its release window, but as an October 2025 title it has since rolled off that active ranking in favor of newer 2026 releases — this review stays live because the game itself hasn't gone anywhere, and it's still one of the best character-action games available. Team Ninja and PlatinumGames co-developed this revival, and Game Informer's Marcus Stewart, who scored it 8.75, called it "a welcome return to form for a franchise whose last mainline entry was well over a decade ago." The catch: reviewers were consistently unimpressed by the story wrapped around that combat. This review, by The Gavler Team, separates what Ninja Gaiden IV does exceptionally well from what it does as an afterthought.

What it is

Ninja Gaiden IV pairs Team Ninja's series pedigree with PlatinumGames acting as primary developer — the studio behind Bayonetta and Metal Gear Rising — for a fast, technical hack-and-slash built around instant weapon-switching and punishing precision. The story follows Yakumo, a member of the Raven Clan, on a mission to permanently end the recurring threat of the Dark Dragon, putting him at odds with series veteran Ryu Hayabusa, who's also playable for a portion of the campaign. Yakumo wields four distinct weapons plus new blood-based Bloodraven abilities that transform his moveset into more powerful variants mid-combo.

Published by Xbox Game Studios, it released October 21, 2025, on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, priced at $69.99. It carries an M rating for Mature 17+.

In use

The combat is where Ninja Gaiden IV earns its keep, and both Gavler's baseline coverage and independent reviews agree on that point. IGN's review put it simply: "The incredible combat takes the lead providing an unforgettable experience for everyone who loves a good action game." Game Informer's Marcus Stewart went deeper on specifics, praising how each of Yakumo's four weapons "fills a crucial hole" in his moveset — twin swords for mid-range work, a staff for crowd control, a projectile weapon for zoning and combo extension — with pacing that lets players acclimate to each tool before the next is introduced. He singled out the Bloodraven mechanic as a highlight: "stunning adversaries with a well-timed Bloodraven assault is always satisfying," and described the finisher system, which clears groups of weakened enemies in one motion, as "the best reward for dishing out tons of offense" he could imagine.

Where the review turns critical is everywhere the game isn't fighting. On the story: "the story is nothing to write home about, with predictable melodramatic beats and a hilariously unearned hint of a romance." On Yakumo himself as a character: "a one-dimensional, gruff edgelord of an almost comical degree." And on the game's attempt at stealth sequences: "taking down grunts or creatively designed demonic bosses is such a blast that the half-baked stealth gameplay is incredibly ill-suited. Stealth amounts to nothing more than slowly (and tediously) stepping forward and stabbing easily alerted targets; at least let me crouch if you want me to bother with sneaking." Even Ryu Hayabusa's playable missions came in for criticism as "underwhelming," largely retreading levels and bosses players had already beaten as Yakumo.

Strengths

• Weapon variety with genuine purpose. Each of Yakumo's four weapons covers a distinct combat niche rather than existing as a stat-stick reskin, and reviewers praised the pacing of how they're introduced.
• The Bloodraven system rewards skilled play. Timing empowered attacks to interrupt unblockable assaults gives skilled players a real offensive payoff, not just a flashy meter to dump.
• Tight, series-faithful controls. Reviewers consistently noted PlatinumGames nailed Ninja Gaiden's distinct feel despite being a new developer at the helm.
• A real comeback for the franchise. After "the reviled Ninja Gaiden 3," per Game Informer, this is widely described as washing away that bad taste and restoring confidence in the series' future.
• Additional movement variety. High-speed rail-grind and grapple-hook parkour sequences break up combat encounters without diluting the core loop.

The trade-offs — who should skip it

If you're coming to Ninja Gaiden IV for story, character writing, or narrative stakes, temper your expectations sharply — reviewers were unified in finding it thin, predictable, and occasionally unintentionally funny rather than compelling. The half-hearted stealth sections are a clear miss too; if you dislike padding in action games, know that this particular padding drew specific criticism for being tedious rather than tense. Ryu Hayabusa fans hoping for a meaty campaign as the classic protagonist should also adjust expectations — his missions are a smaller, mostly recycled slice of the game built around Yakumo's story.

More broadly, this is an unapologetically hard, combo-execution-focused action game in the classic Ninja Gaiden mold. Reviewers noted that longer battles can "wear out their welcome" without enough enemy variety to sustain them, and side content — challenge rooms and simple side quests — was called uninspired. Anyone who wants a character-action game with equal investment in story and combat, rather than combat carrying the whole experience, should look elsewhere.

How it compares

On Gavler's active Best PS5 Games of 2026 list, Saros at rank 4 with an 8.7 offers a useful contrast — another combat-focused action game from a studio with serious pedigree (Housemarque, the team behind Returnal), but built around roguelite bullet-hell mechanics rather than Ninja Gaiden's stage-based, story-light structure. For players who want 2026's other major action-adventure with a stronger narrative backbone, 007 First Light at rank 3 with an 8.8 leans hard into the cinematic storytelling that Ninja Gaiden IV deliberately sidesteps.

The Gavler verdict

An 8.3, and an honest reflection of a game that's exceptional at the one thing it prioritizes and indifferent to everything else. Ninja Gaiden IV's combat — fast, technical, and confidently tuned by a studio with genuine action-game pedigree — is genuinely some of the best character-action available right now, and it's the reason to buy this game. The story, stealth sections, and side content are afterthoughts by comparison, and reviewers were consistent enough about that gap that it's worth going in with the right expectations. If you want the hardest, fastest character-action game currently available and don't need much beyond that, start here.

Common Questions

Is Ninja Gaiden IV worth it in 2026?

Yes for character-action fans — it holds a Gavler score of 8.3 and a Metacritic average of 83 ('Generally Favorable'). Game Informer scored it 8.75 and called it 'a welcome return to form for a franchise whose last mainline entry was well over a decade ago.'

Should I play as Yakumo or Ryu Hayabusa in Ninja Gaiden IV?

Yakumo is the main character and gets the bulk of the campaign; Ryu Hayabusa is playable but, per Game Informer's review, only for 'a handful of underwhelming missions retracing Yakumo's steps through old levels, including re-fighting the same bosses.' Most reviewers preferred Yakumo's Bloodraven-powered moveset.

Why isn't Ninja Gaiden IV on Gavler's current Best PS5 Games of 2026 list?

It released October 21, 2025, making it a 2025 title by Gavler's list conventions — it has since rolled off the active 2026 ranking in favor of newer releases, though this review remains live for reference.