86
SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance is a fast-paced action adventure that will delight fans of the genre, marking the long-awaited return of a classic SEGA series.
90
SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance doesn’t aim to reinvent the genre — instead, it focuses on perfecting what’s already there. And in that, it’s successful. The combat is sharp and stylish, the platforming offers a satisfying challenge, and the ability to revisit sections of a level adds great replay value while giving players a chance to collect anything they may have missed. Art of Vengeance is also a great nod to the old-school Shinobi titles and the franchise as a whole, which is a nice plus for longtime fans.
85
Another ninja returns from the past offering an excellent experience. Musashi is a beast, thanks to a satisfying combat system that’s deep yet accessible. Strong level design elevates the platforming, while light metroidvania elements make backtracking a joy.
9
While I’ve always been a fan of classic pixel art, Shinobi: Art of Vengeance proves that a fresh, modern art style can be just as phenomenal when done with this much care. The visuals are striking and bring a new level of energy to the franchise without losing its identity.
Best of all, having Joe Musashi back in the lead is exactly what I wanted. It feels right to step back into the shoes of the master, and the gameplay is as tight and rewarding as ever. A phenomenal experience that respects its legacy while successfully carving out a new look for the series.
10
First they nailed Streets of Rage 4, then they nailed Shinobi. After how good Ninja Gaiden Ragebound was, I didn't think this would hit as hard as it did.
4
Too difficult to enjoy. I gave up after encountering the first boss. It does not seem well balanced. Maybe it is just me, but I also want to be able to enjoy the game.
Shinobi: Art of Vengeance
Released On:
Aug 29, 2025
Metascore
Generally Favorable
87
User score
Generally Favorable
8.3
My Score
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Metascore
Generally Favorable
97% Positive
56 Reviews
56 Reviews
3% Mixed
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Sep 16, 2025
100
What can you do: SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance is an absolutely brilliant action blast, oozing with style. Gamers in their thirties and forties will certainly notice various Sega references, but on the other hand Lizardcube has found such a timeless style for the game that even complete newcomers are bound to enjoy it.
Aug 25, 2025
92
Shinobi Art of Vengeance is the next big thing for modernized 2D games. Combat, platforming and visual style are top notch, but the game also manages to capture what made the Shinobi games of yesteryear remembered until today.
User score
Generally Favorable
84% Positive
162 Ratings
162 Ratings
9% Mixed
17 Ratings
17 Ratings
7% Negative
14 Ratings
14 Ratings
Mar 4, 2026
10
First they nailed Streets of Rage 4, then they nailed Shinobi. After how good Ninja Gaiden Ragebound was, I didn't think this would hit as hard as it did.
Feb 18, 2026
10
Entre ça et Ninja Gaiden Ragebound, Sega nous gâte avec ces licences historiques. Belle DA, fluide, précis, panoplie de combo étendue, phases de plateformes exigeantes mais précises. Je n'ai pas grand chose à redire de ce jeu qui a été un plaisir à parcourir du début à la fin. Les amateurs de challenge seront également servis avec un post game à même de vous mettre à l'épreuve. Shinobi a fait partie de mes premières découvertes jeux vidéos à l'époque, et cet opus est à la fois un hommage et une modernisation réussie.
Aug 25, 2025
90
Shinobi Art of Vengeance is a sumptuous game and it reflects LizardCube's talent. Its artistic direction and its nervous and juicy gameplay offer a masterful and extremely satisfying experience, Not to mention its music which perfectly fits the deeply 90s DNA of the cult license. A successful return!
Aug 25, 2025
90
While I can't speak for this game in comparison to its 16-bit heyday, Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is a thrill that stands on its own. It's a total master class in combat depth, level design, and story moments that leave enough to the imagination without completely halting the action. It's good enough that it'll make people wonder what took so long for this franchise to come back in the first place. It'll also make people wonder, between this and Streets of Rage 4, if there's another classic franchise that could use the Lizardcube touch, because this developer is clearly very good at what it does.
Aug 25, 2025
85
Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is very much a ‘what you see is what you get’ type of game, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The core experience is incredibly fun and the optional challenges can deliver a rush of adrenaline, even if they can feel a bit over-tuned. The biggest drawback is that once it’s over, you’ll wish there was more.
Aug 26, 2025
80
A successful relaunch of the Shinobi franchise that doesn’t attempt to do anything startlingly new but instead makes do with being a very well-constructed action adventure.
Aug 25, 2025
70
If Shinobi: Art of Vengeance was more challenging and had more depth to it, it would potentially be the best game in the franchise to date. As it stands, Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is still a mostly triumphant return that will keep genre fans thoroughly entertained while it lasts, and it would be great to see a follow-up that builds on its foundation to create something even bigger and better.
Jan 19, 2026
10
GOTY hands down! This game has so much love poured into it. From the levels, to the amazing combat, and gorgeous art style. Please do not sleep on this game!
Nov 22, 2025
6
This is a tough one. It's a fun game. But I just played a game where you play as a bug that moves much better than this ninja. It is neither a good Metroidvania nor a good platformer, but tries to be both. It's an arcade that has worn out its welcome before the end. And frankly, it feels like it could be made by AI.
Jan 25, 2026
5
This game had a great start. I was loving the combat and aesthetic of the game. However, the traversal ruined the entire experience for me. Some of the worst I've ever seen. It's simply too janky for what it demands of you. I made it to the end and uninstalled.
Feb 27, 2026
4
Too difficult to enjoy. I gave up after encountering the first boss. It does not seem well balanced. Maybe it is just me, but I also want to be able to enjoy the game.
Jan 16, 2026
3
Nothing close to the original game. The art feels too busy and soulless. The game miserably fails to immerse you: when you play it for more than 10 minutes you get that feeling you play a cheap mobile game. It even looks like one.
The combat is just average at best. It feels more like a fighting game than a ninja simulator. The level design is bland. There is nothing to it. Sadly I didn't enjoy it for a second.
SummaryThe iconic SHINOBI returns in an all-new 2D action platformer with a unique hand-drawn look created by the team behind the hit brawler Streets of Rage 4. Play as the legendary Shinobi Joe Musashi, master of the ninja arts. After finding your village burned to the ground and your clan turned into stone, you must set off on a quest for ven... Read More
Rated Tfor Teen
Platforms:
- PC
- PlayStation 5
- PlayStation 4
- Nintendo Switch
- Xbox Series X
- Xbox One
Initial Release Date:Aug 29, 2025
Developer:
Publisher:
