Ninjas and samurai on PS5 in 2025 – what launched and what’s next

2025 brought a focused wave of ninja‑ and samurai‑themed releases to PlayStation 5, spanning big open‑world stealth, cinematic action adventures, and throwback side‑scrollers. The official announcements highlight core gameplay identities rather than marketing beats, pointing to stealth, precision swordplay, and high‑speed combat as the year’s common threads. Several long‑running series returned with modern spins, while classics resurfaced via remasters and 2D revivals. The year closes with a clear roadmap – free co‑op DLC and new mainline entries are already dated or windowed for next year.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows (Ubisoft Quebec) – dual paths through feudal Japan

Ubisoft’s entry leans into the series’ roots: stealthy assassinations, historical settings, and a strong emphasis on infiltration. Set in feudal Japan, Shadows features two protagonists, allowing players to alternate between a ninja‑focused approach and samurai‑style combat across a lengthy campaign. The dual structure is the headline mechanic – variety in playstyle is baked into mission design and progression.

Platform: PS5 | Publisher: Ubisoft | Developer: Ubisoft Quebec

Ghost of Yōtei (Sucker Punch) – cinematic stealth with Kurosawa flair

Sucker Punch follows its samurai lineage with “Kurosawa mode” and a stealth toolkit tailored to improvisation. Protagonist Atsu, a mercenary, mixes shinobi‑style tactics with direct dueling. Signature options include an upgraded kusarigama to snare from range, kunai for chained silent kills, and smoke bombs to break contact – encounters push clever, on‑the‑fly routing rather than single‑solution stealth.

Platform: PS5 | Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment | Developer: Sucker Punch Productions

Ninja Gaiden 4 (Team Ninja, PlatinumGames) – speed and mobility above all

The latest Ninja Gaiden prioritizes relentless pace – wall‑running, gap‑grappling, and split‑second dodges roll into combos fast enough to lock opponents down. The fantasy here is agility: position, burst damage, and continuous pressure define its combat loop, with movement options tuned for quick reads and aggressive execution.

Platform: PS5 | Publisher: Microsoft Corporation | Developers: Team Ninja, PlatinumGames

Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound (The Game Kitchen) – side‑scrolling mastery of the arena

This 2D entry echoes the series’ classic era. Many standard foes fall in a single clean hit, shifting the challenge to threat prioritization, power‑up timing, and safe routing across demon‑filled stages. The appeal is less about pure speed and more about reading the battlefield – choosing the right sequence to avoid punishing counters.

Platforms: PS5, PS4 | Publisher: Dotemu | Developer: The Game Kitchen

Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny Remastered (Capcom) – sharpened counters, horror edge

Capcom’s remaster retains its samurai core while leaning into demonic enemies and survival‑horror atmosphere. Combat rewards precise timing – Issen counters remain the standout, with a steady balance of slashes, blocks, and ripostes. The remake preserves the 2002 structure while updating the presentation.

Platforms: PS5, PS4 | Publisher: Capcom | Developer: Capcom Production Studio 2

Shinobi: Art of Vengeance (LizardCube) – 2D resurgence with multi‑assassination payoffs

Shinobi’s revival puts emphasis on weakening groups, not deleting them outright, then cashing in with blazing multi‑target assassinations. With katana, kunai, and Ninpo/Ninjutsu abilities, the toolset supports set‑ups and payoffs – players engineer screens full of near‑defeated foes to trigger a high‑speed clean‑up.

Platforms: PS5, PS4 | Publisher: Sega | Developer: LizardCube

Honorable mention – Ninja Five‑O (Hudson Soft) returns to modern consoles

The once‑scarce portable classic resurfaces as a side‑scrolling action game centered on hostage rescues and fast takedowns of armed criminals. Despite firearms in the mix, the kit remains thoroughly ninja – katana, grappling hook, and shuriken define movement and crowd control.

Platforms: PS5, PS4 | Publisher: Konami | Developer: Hudson Soft

At a glance – key releases and features

The table below summarizes the core facts announced for each title – who’s making it, where it’s available on PlayStation, and what sets the gameplay apart.

Game	Publisher	Developer	Platform(s)	Highlights
Assassin’s Creed Shadows	Ubisoft	Ubisoft Quebec	PS5	Dual protagonists – ninja and samurai playstyles; stealth focus; feudal Japan setting
Ghost of Yōtei	Sony Interactive Entertainment	Sucker Punch Productions	PS5	Kurosawa mode; stealth tools (kusarigama, kunai chains, smoke bombs); improvisational combat
Ninja Gaiden 4	Microsoft Corporation	Team Ninja, PlatinumGames	PS5	High‑speed action; wall‑runs, grapples, rapid combos; mobility‑driven offense
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound	Dotemu	The Game Kitchen	PS5, PS4	2D side‑scroller; one‑hit kills on standard foes; battlefield order and power‑up strategy
Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny Remastered	Capcom	Capcom Production Studio 2	PS5, PS4	Demon combat; Issen counters; survival‑horror elements preserved in remaster
Shinobi: Art of Vengeance	Sega	LizardCube	PS5, PS4	2D revival; weaken‑then‑assassinate flow; katana, kunai, Ninpo/Ninjutsu
Ninja Five‑O	Konami	Hudson Soft	PS5, PS4	Side‑scrolling rescue missions; katana, grappling hook, shuriken

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What’s next – dates and details for the coming year

• Ghost of Yōtei Legends – cooperative multiplayer DLC planned for next year; free for Ghost of Yōtei owners and delivered via a patch update. An internet connection and a PlayStation Network account are required; PlayStation Plus is required for online multiplayer.
• Nioh 3 – scheduled to launch on February 6 next year, combining deep samurai systems with expanded ninja skills and abilities.
• Ninja Gaiden 4 – a major expansion is slated for early 2026, adding new story content and weapons.
• Onimusha: Way of the Sword – a new mainline entry targeting a launch sometime next year.

Why it matters – a clear lane for stealth and steel on PS5

2025 crystallized a trend: stealth‑driven action and swordplay are anchoring multiple flagship releases on PS5, from open‑world epics to 2D revivals. With free co‑op DLC, a firm February 6 launch, and multiple next‑year targets already on the board, players can plan ahead – whether they prefer carefully plotted assassinations or high‑velocity duels.