Ninjas are cool. Everything about them, including their weapons, use of stealth and acrobatics, to their overall appearance creates an exciting character perfect for all forms of media. Their portrayal in TV shows, movies, and video games has made them one of the most compelling martial arts characters of all time.
It’s fair to say that there is a certain mystique about ninjas that people find exciting. There have been some great ninjas in video games over the years and this list will celebrate some of the most iconic ninjas that fans around the world have enjoyed.
13 Saboteur
Not to be confused with the saboteurthe WWII open world game released in 2009 Saboteur follows the adventures of a lone ninja who must infiltrate a building and steal a floppy disk before he can escape. Released in 1985, Saboteur featured incredible graphics for the time.
Interestingly, the loading screen for Saboteur is taken directly from the 1983 film Revenge Of The Ninja starring Sho Kosugi. Saboteur and the sequel, Saboteur 2: Avenging Angelcan be played today on Nintendo Switch and PlayStation.
12 Armakuni – The Last Ninja
The last ninja is an isometric action game released on multiple platforms in 1987. There were two sequels in 1988 and 1991. The story follows Armakuni who must avenge his clan that was wiped out by the evil Shogun overlord Kunitoki.
Armakuni has several weapons at his disposal, including a sword, nunchaku, and shuriken. The last ninja series enjoyed considerable success, selling millions of copies. It is still fondly remembered today by fans who played these games during their initial release.
11 Joe Musashi – Shinobic
Sega made some incredible games in the 80s and 90s. Seeing their iconic logo in the arcade was enough to entice players to spend their hard-earned pocket money. One of those titles that combined Sega’s flair for creating fun addictive games and ninjas was Shinobic released in 1987.
Shinobic introduced the heroic protagonist Joe Musashi, who later starred in numerous Shinobic games, including the much-loved Sega Genesis title from 1989, Shinobi .’s Revenge. Joe Musashi is also a playable character in Sonic & All-Stars Racing transformed.
10 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
The debate has raged over the years about who is the best ninja turtle, so it would be unfair to pick one right now. The only thing fans can agree on is that the ninja turtles have appeared in some great games over the years. Their popularity shows no signs of waning, mainly thanks to the recently released Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Shredder’s Revengeand the coming Cowabunga Collection.
Interestingly, the original cartoon show has been renamed Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles in parts of Europe, including the UK. This was due to controversy over ninjas and their weapons. Michelangelo’s weapon of choice, the nunchaku, was also removed from the cartoon and big screen movie released in 1990.
9 The Ninja Warriors
Side scrolling beat ’em up The Ninja Warriors was unique for a number of reasons. First, the main characters are robots. The more they are damaged in battle, the more of their metal skeleton is revealed. Not only did this look cool, but it also gave them a look that was reminiscent of the original Terminator movie starring Arnold Schwarzenegger.
The other unique aspect of the game is the three screen arcade cabinet, which gives it an impressive ultra-wide look that made it very appealing to players. The Ninja Warriors can still be played today on the Taito Milestones collection.
8 Kid Ying & Dr. Yang – Legend of the mystical Ninja
Konami has made some excellent games for the Super Nintendo, and Legend of the Mystical Ninja is certainly one of the more interesting titles in their celebrated history. The game can be played with one or two players playing Kid Ying or Dr. control yang.
With a plot centered around ghosts and a ninja cat, Legend of the Mystical Ninja certainly wasn’t boring. A neat mix of action and RPG kept players entertained, as did the excellent graphics and music. There was also a nice dash of humor in the script. One level featured several minigames, including the opening level of another Konami game, Gradius.
7 Rikimaru & Ayame – Tenchu: Stealth Assassins
Released in 1998, Tenchu: Stealth Assassins gave players the chance to play out their ninja fantasies in a 3D sandbox environment. Taking control of Rikimaru or Ayame gave players the freedom to find and kill their target using a variety of weapons and accessories.
Gamers were rewarded for going undetected, as a stealth kill meant instant death to the enemy. Tenchu: Stealth Assassins was well received by fans and critics and was a huge success for Activision. A sequel would be released in 2000 called Tenchu 2: Birth of the Stealth Assassins.
6 Scorpion & Sub Zero – Mortal Kombat
There are many famous characters from the Mortal Kombat series, but Scorpion and Sub Zero are arguably two of the most iconic. Every character has their fans and it’s hard to choose who the favorite is. Much of their appeal comes down to their movements and fatalities. Some players will say Scorpion’s spearshot accompanied by his catchphrase “come heremakes him the best ninja.
Scorpion’s fatality in the original Mortal Kombat was also relatively easy to perform, but not necessarily as satisfying as Sub Zero ripping off his opponent’s head with their spines still attached. Either way, their appeal has remained to this day, and they’re a reason why Mortal Kombat is as popular now as it was when it was first released in 1992.
5 Strider Hiryu – Strider
At first glance, protagonist Strider Hiryu from the 1989 Capcom arcade game warrior does not have the traditional look normally associated with ninjas. He doesn’t cover his face or wear black clothes, but he does possess excellent acrobatic skills that are put to the test against a variety of enemies.
warrior received critical acclaim upon its original release, with critics and fans alike particularly impressed by its excellent graphics. warrior was rebooted in 2014 and received praise for the updated visuals and added exploration, inspired by Shadow complex.
4 Kage-Maru – Virtua Fighter
Yu Suzuki was responsible for creating some incredible games for Sega during the height of their popularity. Games like avoid and afterburner cemented their place as kings of the arcade. Always pushing boundaries, Suzuki and the AM2 team created what many consider to be the first polygon-based fighting game with Virtua Fighter.
Virtua Fighter contains many interesting characters to choose from and Kage-Maru is no exception. He has the traditional iconic look of a ninja and brings all his skills and techniques to the tournament.
3 Ryu Hayabusa – Ninja Gaiden
Ryu Hayabusa is one of the ninjas on this list that has stood the test of time and appeared in many video games over the years. Starting life in 1988 in a side-scrolling beat-’em-up Ninja Gaiden (also known as shadow warriors in Europe), Ryu would become more famous in the violent and gory Ninja Gaiden games released in 2004.
Hayabusa has also appeared as a playable character in the fighting game seriesDead or alive. Kane Kosugi (son of Sho Kosugi) played Ryu Hayabusa in the 2006 DOA: Dead or Alive movie.
2 Wolf – Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
The Japanese company FromSoftware is one of the top developers in the video game industry! They have hardly taken a step wrong and have gained legions of fans since the release of Demon Souls in 2009. Their legendary status has been confirmed with the phenomenally successful Elden Ring.
In 2019 they took their tried and tested formula into the world of Japanese history full of samurai and ninjas with Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. The player takes control of Wolf who must take revenge on the enemies who injured him and kidnapped his lord. The game is inspired by the Tenchu series where stealth plays a large part of the gameplay.
1 Jin Sakai – Ghost of Tsushima
although Ghost of Tsushima Main character Jin Sakai is primarily a samurai at the start of the game, he soon discovers that he must use the ninja arts to fight against the Mongol invaders. Stealth and distraction become a big part of the game as Jin and his small band of allies face overwhelming odds.
Ghost of Tsushima is an extremely beautiful game with some of the most advanced graphics on the PS4 and PS5. These statues were put to good use, allowing Jin to hide in realistic-looking grass while chasing his enemies.
0 Comments