Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Ninja Gaiden 4 takes place after Ninja Gaiden 3 in a near-future Tokyo, that was plunged into chaos by the return of the Dark Dragon, a malevolent entity behind the Dark Dragon Blade from Ninja Gaiden (2004), and main antagonist of Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword (2008). Under the influence of the Underworld, the city takes in a rainy cyberpunk-like aesthetic. According to the director, these unsettling conditions add to the game's core themes and the key concept of "adversity".
A new protagonist, Yakumo, was introduced to make the game approachable to new players. He fights using "Bloodraven Form", a technique that manipulates his blood and blood of the enemies to create powerful weapons that strike down many foes at once. Ryu Hayabusa serves as a "major challenge and growth milestone" for Yakumo, while also being playable throughout the story, utilizing similar moveset and tools to his earlier appearances. Some of the series' signature moves, such as Izuna Drop and Flying Swallow, are available to both characters.
Ninja Gaiden 4 takes place after Ninja Gaiden 3 in a near-future Tokyo, that was plunged into chaos by the return of the Dark Dragon, a malevolent entity behind the Dark Dragon Blade from Ninja Gaiden (2004), and main antagonist of Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword (2008). Under the influence of the Underworld, the city takes in a rainy cyberpunk-like aesthetic. According to the director, these unsettling conditions add to the game's core themes and the key concept of "adversity".
A new protagonist, Yakumo, was introduced to make the game approachable to new players. He fights using "Bloodraven Form", a technique that manipulates his blood and blood of the enemies to create powerful weapons that strike down many foes at once. Ryu Hayabusa serves as a "major challenge and growth milestone" for Yakumo, while also being playable throughout the story, utilizing similar moveset and tools to his earlier appearances. Some of the series' signature moves, such as Izuna Drop and Flying Swallow, are available to both characters.
