In a Nintendo Direct held during February 2021, Koei Tecmo revealed theNinja Gaiden: Master Collection. Announced for PC, PS4, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox One,this package will include remastered versions ofNinja Gaiden Sigma,Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2, andNinja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge. Due to the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S’s backward compatibility, this trilogy will also run on Microsoft and Sony’s most recent systems.
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This announcement follows more thanhalf a decade of non-activity for the iconic license,a franchise that has existed in some form since 1988. While most people are presumably familiar with Team Ninja’s modern range of games,Ninja Gaiden’s resume is far more expansive (and confusing) than just those titles. In preparation for theMaster Collection, let’s take a look at all theNinja Gaidengames and on which systems they can be played.
14Ninja Gaiden (1988) – Arcade, Computer Systems, Xbox, Wii, Switch, PS4
Like so many ’80s games,Ninja Gaidenmade its debut in arcades, albeit it took on a substantially different form from the one that would define the license on consoles. This release is a side-scrolling beat-‘em-up and can practically be viewed as a completely separate entity to the rest of the franchise.
While a competent game for its time,Ninja Gaidendoes fall short of thebeat-‘em-up genre’s greatest releases. That said, it is still decent and has been ported to numerous systems over the years.
Disclaimer:Mobile games and crossovers will not be considered.
13Ninja Gaiden (1988) – NES, TurboGrafx-16, SNES, Wii, 3DS, Wii U, NES Classic, Switch
A stoic ninja named Ryu Hayabusa, a world-threatening plot featuring demons, and controller-smashing difficulty; yes, this isNinja Gaiden. Marking the proper start to the license’s legacy,Ninja Gaidenis a cinematic platformer that places a heavy emphasis on combat and story. While the latter is pretty ridiculous,Ninja Gaiden’s earnest tone and effective presentation manage to sell the plot well. While prone to instigating bouts of frustration, the gameplay is rewarding and tight.
NinjaGaiden’s blueprintwould be improved upon in subsequent releases, but this is still a classic NES title.
12Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos (1990) – NES, SNES, MS-DOS, Amiga, Wii, 3DS, Wii U
Ultimately,Ninja Gaiden IIdelivers more of the same, but it refines the formula just enough to surpass its predecessor. With a few new moves at his disposal and seven acts with multiple stages to go through, Ryu is put through the wringer once again.
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The sequel is just as difficult as the originalNinja Gaiden, but it also controls as well as the first game. By combining these two,The Dark Sword of Chaoscreates a loop where failure acts as an infinite incentive to pursue victory even more ferociously.
11Ninja Gaiden III: The Ancient Ship of Doom (1991) – NES, SNES, Atari Lynx, Wii, 3DS, Wii U
While not the most controversial third entry in the franchise,Ninja Gaiden IIIdoes struggle to reach the same heights as the previous two games. By this point,Ninja Gaidenhad become synonymous with excruciatingly tough games, a reputation thatThe Ancient Ship of Doomtries too hard to uphold.
Ninja Gaiden IIIstill plays well and looks great, but its level design is a bit messy. The North American version was also pointlessly made more difficult, a stunt that only served to lessen the game’s impact.
10Ninja Gaiden (1991) – Game Gear
Despite what its simple name might imply, thisNinja Gaidenis not a port of the 1988 original game but an entirely new release designed specifically for Sega’s Game Gear. As far as portable entries in the series are concerned,Ninja Gaidenserves as a respectable attempt at recreating the magic of the home console titles.
While a worthy addition to the Game Gear’s catalog,Ninja Gaidenis still a minor release in the license’s history.
9Ninja Gaiden Shadow (1991) – Game Boy
The Game Boy got its ownNinja Gaidengame, albeitShadowis generally believed to be based on 1990’sShadow of the Ninja. Regardless of its origin, when viewed on its own,Ninja Gaiden Shadowdoes not do much to impress.
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An early Game Boy release,Shadowprovides some entertainment as it delivers a barebones shinobi-themed adventure. The portable system has plenty of games that are superior to this throwaway release, and there is very little reason to revisit this title in the 21st century.
8Ninja Gaiden (1992) – Master System
Adding to the confusion is another release calledNinja Gaidenthat has nothing to do with the NES or Game Gear titles. Created for the Master System,Ninja Gaidenswaps out a few moves, weapons, and abilities but is largely reminiscent of the NES games.
With this package, Sega fans got an above-averageNinja Gaidenexperience, one that succeeds in being an adequate but not extraordinary alternative to the superior Nintendo releases. A beat-‘em-upNinja Gaidengame was also planned for the Genesis but it was ultimately canceled.
7Ninja Gaiden (2004) – Xbox; Black (2005) – Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
With the exception ofNinja Gaiden Xcoming out for mobile devices in Japan, Tecmo’s propertymade its full comeback with 2004’sNinja Gaiden. Originally released on the Xbox, the game was then revamped as 2005’sNinja Gaiden Black, a game that can be played on all Xbox systems.
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Generally considered to be the bestNinja Gaidengame ever,Blackstands alongsideDevil May Cryas the two most important third-person hack and slash releases ever. Team Ninja delivered a perfect action game; one that offers complex combat, challenging but fair enemies, great visuals, and fantastic sound design. Even after more than 15 years,Ninja Gaiden Blackstill plays like a dream.
6Ninja Gaiden Sigma (2007) – PS3; Sigma Plus (2012) – PS Vita
PlayStation 3 owners got their hands onNinja GaidenSigma, a remake ofBlack. This version adds Rachel as a playable character and tweaks the level so the game is squarely focused on combat, removing most of the puzzle elements. Its visuals are also far more vibrant than the original and also benefit from being created for an HD console.
While not quite as great asBlack,Ninja Gaiden Sigmais still a must-own for action fans that prefer Sony’s consoles.Ninja Gaiden Sigma Plussuffers from the limitations of being on a portable system that cannot match the PS3 version’s 60 FPS. It is the worst way to experience this game.
5Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword (2008) – DS
Dragon Swordis arguably the best portableNinja Gaidentitle, which is not saying too much. Developed by Team Ninja, this DS release does attempt to stick to the 3D presentation of the modern console games, an admirable feat consideringDragon Swordcould have easily reverted back to the side-scrolling style of the NES trilogy.
Dragon Swordmakes good use of the hardware’s stylus and controls quite well, although this does come at the cost of a short and rather easy campaign. While far from a masterpiece,Dragon Swordis solid.
