While Ryu Hayabusa might be out of the picture, the Hayabusa legacy isn’t going anywhere. Unveiled during today’s PlayStation State of Play, NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound brings the franchise back to its 2D roots with a brand-new action platformer. Coming from publisher Dotemu (TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge, Streets of Rage 4) and developer The Game Kitchen (Blasphemous), the game launches July 31, 2025, on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC (Steam).
To celebrate the release date reveal, a new gameplay trailer has been released that you can see below.
Even better? You can dive in early when the first playable demo drops next week during Steam Next Fest, and wishlist the game now.
The reveal trailer wastes no time. Ragebound throws you into chaotic, demon-filled combat that demands quick thinking and quicker reflexes. Blink and you’re dead. It’s packed with relentless enemy waves, tight platforming, and boss fights that fill the screen with pain.
You’ll control two playable characters—Kenji Mozu, a young ninja from the Hayabusa Clan, and Kumori, a deadly kunoichi from the infamous Black Spider Clan. And yes, there’s history between their families. The game picks up right after the opening moments of the original NES Ninja Gaiden, with the world on the edge of a full-blown demonic invasion.
Despite their clans’ bad blood, Kenji and Kumori are forced to fight side-by-side, using forbidden techniques and combining their powers to survive. Think high-speed tag-team action with a healthy dose of grudging respect.
Longtime fans, this is where it gets real. The soundtrack features contributions from Ninja Gaiden legends Keiji Yamagishi, Ryuichi Niita, and Kaori Nakabai—the same composers behind the original NES trilogy. Leading the charge is Sergio de Prado, whose work on Blasphemous speaks for itself. The result? A soundtrack that hits hard, blends old-school NES vibes with dark, atmospheric energy, and perfectly complements the action.
Beyond the slicing and dicing, Ragebound offers detailed pixel art, hidden collectibles, upgradable skills, secret missions, and extra challenges to push your limits. It’s got that classic look, but under the hood, it’s all about tight, modern gameplay and replayability.
NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound launches July 31 on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC (Steam).
