Shinobi: Art of Vengeance

Sega and Lizardcube are reviving the legendary Shinobi series: Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is an action-packed 2D platform game with Metroidvania elements, aiming to take the crown of the genre.

Shinobi: Art of Vengeance marks the return of the popular ninja series from the late 1980s and 1990s. The last game in the franchise was Shinobi, released in 2002/2003, followed by Shinobi 3D for the Nintendo 3DS in 2011. Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is the latest instalment in the classic Sega series and has been developed by the French studio Lizardcube, who have already made a name for themselves with Streets of Rage 4 (together with Dotemu and Guard Crush) and Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap.

The game follows the series' long-standing protagonist, Joe Musashi, a master of the ninja arts. After returning home from a previous adventure, he finds his village burned to the ground and his clan turned to stone. Fuelled by a thirst for revenge, Joe embarks on a journey, fighting hordes of enemies and larger-than-life bosses across hand-drawn landscapes. The story may not be up to par, but the gameplay is top-notch.

Following in the footsteps of the original games, Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is an action-packed 2D platformer featuring Metroidvania elements, finely tuned pacing and fast-paced, tactical combat. Players can perform combo attacks, special abilities and executable finishers, and extensive customisation options are available. The combat system is challenging and rewards varied attack strategies, targeted combos and executions. Various assistance options are available to make the game more accessible to beginners, which is important given the complexity of the controls. Players can also equip amulets to grant additional combat bonuses. Musashi is highly agile and can double jump, dash through the air and use a grappling hook. As they progress through the game, players can spend gold to unlock new traversal tools, combat moves and upgrades.

In particular, when compared to the recently released Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, another 2D action platformer based on a classic, Shinobi: Art of Vengeance stands out thanks to its level design. These levels are less linear than before, offering different paths and areas that only become accessible with new abilities. This encourages and rewards exploration, especially since the hand-drawn worlds are incredibly atmospheric. Occasionally, a level can feel a little too stretched out. The soundtrack is good too. Tiago ‘Tee’ Lopes (Sonic Mania, Streets of Rage 4) and Yuzo Koshiro (The Revenge of Shinobi, Streets of Rage, Shenmue) scored the game.

Shinobi: Art of Vengeance released on 29 August 2025 for €29.99 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Steam and Switch. For an additional €10, players can purchase the Digital Deluxe Edition, which includes three days of Advanced Access, the Starter Pack, a digital art book and soundtrack, and the SEGA Villains Stage DLC. This DLC is due to be released in early 2026 and will feature iconic SEGA characters, including the evil genius Dr. Eggman from the Sonic the Hedgehog series. More enemies will be announced in the future.