Shinobi: Art of Vengeance

Shinobi: Art of Vengeance marks the triumphant return of the classic franchise, revitalized by the talent of LizardCube. The game delivers beautiful scenery and intense combat that blends the essence of Shinobi 3 with Metroidvania elements. Even with a simple story, its solid execution, responsive controls, and balanced challenges make Art of Vengeance not only a great revival, but a modern classic of the 2D action genre.

Not just Lizardcube's most visually accomplished game to date but a fantastic revival of another long dormant Sega franchise that doesn't stand to toe-to-toe with this summer's other major 2D ninja platformer but even tops it with its stylish and satisfying combo-based combat, killer finishes and Metroidvania-lite upgrades. Shinobi is truly back with a vengeance and it's never looked better.

Shinobi: Art of Vengeance features exceptional combat, compelling exploration and gorgeous visuals, and I couldn't recommend it more.

It's been too long since we had a new Shinobi game, but Art of Vengeance has been more than worth the wait. With tremendous visuals, an exceptional soundtrack and a compelling combat system that makes each fight a delight, this elevates Sega's action platformer to new heights in the same way Lizardcube previously did with Streets of Rage 4. Exceptional.

There's real depth here, and if anything I've described sparks your interest, I wholeheartedly encourage you to give it a try. Lizardcube clearly poured their heart and soul into this project, and it shows in every frame.

Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is one of the best 2D-Action games this year, with amazing visuals and an incredible combat system that rewards fast reflexes and strategy.

Shinobi Art of Vengeance brings Joe Musashi back with stunning art, a punchy soundtrack, and a clever Metroidvania-by-stages structure that rewards exploration and mastery. Combat is fluid and expressive, platforming flows with smart tools like the hook and glide, and optional Rift challenges push your skills while steady upgrades keep progression satisfying. A few map bugs and occasional level dips hold it back, but this is a triumphant return that honors the series and delivers modern momentum.

Art of Vengeance is a title capable of redefining what a 2D action platformer can offer today. Lizardcube succeeds once again, combining technique, style, and rhythm with a mastery that captivates both longtime nostalgics and those approaching the Oboro Clan for the first time. Every fight is a lethal dance, every stage an invitation to explore and improve, and every extra feature a challenge that rewards dedication and commitment. It's an intense, elegant, and ruthless experience, where every victory is earned on the field and every mistake is paid dearly. A return in which past and present collide uncompromisingly, reminding us why Joe Musashi is, and remains, a legend. And now, friends of Lizardcube, how do you feel about bringing Golden Axe out of retirement?

The game blends a linear stage structure with Metroidvania-inspired design, adding value to both replayability and exploration. Its sharp action and striking artistic direction create gameplay so engaging that players may not even notice the underlying structure. More than just the revival of the Shinobi franchise, it firmly establishes itself as a game that is simply, and purely, fun.

This is how you bring a classic back to life! Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is exactly the kind of game an iconic name like Joe Musashi deserves, and Lizardcube has delivered a masterclass in how to modernize old classics. With its action, platforming sequences, visuals, music, and gameplay details - in short, with everything - it’s an outstanding title.

After Ninja Raiden Ragebound, SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance continues to offer amazing ninja platforming. However, SHINOBI stands out with a modern, hand-drawn visual style, a more methodical battle system and longer levels. That being said, the cool part that comes from finding collectibles and secrets is still there. The action is great, and they never shy away from bringing challenging bosses.

Every element of Shinobi works in concert to make for a relentlessly gripping experience, and I think it’s legitimately fascinating how the game takes elements from so many different places to make something new. It’s like if you took Metroid, Ninja Gaiden, Hollowknight, and Street Fighter and threw them all into a blender, but the mixture actually turns out delicious...It’s been a long time since we’ve seen a Shinobi game, but by all accounts, this feels like it could be the start of a new franchise for Sega. That mix of platforming and fighting elements is intoxicating, and it feels like it’d be an actual crime to not see more of it.

While it doesn’t manage to deliver a flawless experience, with some annoying stages and the mini-map headaches I mentioned, the combat, visuals, and overall feel of the game more than paves over any minor issues I encountered. I can’t remember the last time I had as much fun with this sort of game as I did with Shinobi: Art of Vengeance, and for fans of 2D action games, it is a must-play. Fans of ninjas continue to feast.

Shinobi: Art of Vengeance manages to balance tradition and novelty in a convincing way. Joe Musashi's tale of revenge sets the tone for an intense journey, where agile combat and special techniques come together with well-designed levels full of secrets. The pace of the action, boss fights, and the hand-painted visual style are the standout elements, keeping the essence of the series alive while embracing modern ideas. Although it repeats enemies and stretches some stages longer than necessary, the game compensates with a variety of situations, extra modes, and a deep combat system. In the end, it's an experience that honors the Shinobi legacy and shows there’s still room for classic ninjas in today’s gaming landscape.

Lizardcube revitalizes Shinobi with fluid, creative combat, varied levels, and gorgeous comic-style visuals that make it fast, replayable, and full of content, though the map can be unclear, some time-trial sections frustrating, and the soundtrack less memorable than expected.

Channeling everything that made the classics great while enhancing with new mechanics, stunning visuals, and sublime controls, Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is an incredible revival and stellar action side-scroller in its own right.

Whether Shinobi: Art of Vengeance will be the reboot of the series that Sega hopes for when it goes on sale, only time will tell, but in terms of quality, it's a pure success. It's phenomenally visually designed and the combat system is great for both button-mashing noobs and precise veterans. Shinobi has never been better, it's a true victory for Lizardcube and Sega.

Joe Musashi makes a thunderous return to our screens thanks to perfectly calibrated gameplay and a devilishly effective art direction.

While it’s possible to just blow through each stage as a linear challenge, every level is its own self-contained search-action game full of secrets and obstacle courses and death-defying aerial challenges.

Shinobi: Art of Vengeance steers the series in the right direction and impresses with fun battles, rewarding exploration, and a great art style.

Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is a very good choice for anyone who wants a fast-paced action game with plenty of exploration and platforming elements. It's not perfect, but it's fun and perfectly capable of keeping you interested in for the 9-10 hours or so that it lasts.

Despite its occasional flaws and inconsistencies, as well as a story that isn’t all too deep, SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance by far remains one of the best action-packed experiences I’ve played this year, as well as one of the better side-scrollers.

If you were once hooked on the SHINOBI series or enjoy challenging side-scrolling action games focused on combat and difficult platforming, SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance delivers a nostalgic thrill that's enough to overlook its rough design.

A beautiful and exciting action platformer that will test your skill as it stuns you with its looks. Welcome back, Shinobi, welcome back.

SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance is a wonderful revival to the Shinobi series, welcoming both fans and newbies alike with its stunning visuals complemented by adrenaline-pumping and engaging action-platforming gameplay. It does have its slight weaknesses, such as its servicable narrative and finicky hitboxes, yet it doesn't entirely derail the experience from being enjoyable and immersive.

There's a few missed strokes to be found in Art of Vengeance if you're looking really close, but Lizardcube still paints an amazing canvas. Using a smart segmentation and exploring its features to shed light above the beautiful graphics, the game sits beside Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound as another great ninja-themed side-scroller released in 2025.

While the combos and the Shinobi Execution special attack may not be particularly unique, Shinobi's battle system is well crafted and delivers a strong sense of exhilaration. The consistently challenging level design and boss fights expand the classical appeal of 2D action into a modern context, offering something fresh for players tired of Soulslikes and Metroidvanias. That said, the story and worldbuilding remain stuck in the kind of B-grade sensibility often found in retro games, leaving something to be desired by the standards of contemporary videogames.

Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is a solid game of this series that heralds back to a simpler time but also adds new modern mechanics.

Colorful action and rewarding exploration make for an excellent platformer: Sega's silent ninja returns in an inspired adventure.

Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is a beautiful-looking game that feels like a great addition to the series. It is challenging and full of non-stop ninja action.

Overall, Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is a magnificent comeback for the legendary SEGA franchise. This new game is a wonderful love letter to the franchise, with a well-crafted Metroidvania twist. However, the lifespan is artificially inflated by limiting the player to the main story and adding unnecessarily frustrating phases. If you loved the original games or enjoy 2D action platformers with stunning artistic direction, we wholeheartedly recommend this sumptuous martial arts masterpiece.

Like a lovingly polished katana, Shinobi Art of Vengeance cuts hard. Pleasant to pick up and fun to play thanks to its multiple moves, it's such a robust action game that the platforming aspect seems more timid in comparison. Sure, the Metroidvania-lite aspect offers large levels to explore, but it doesn't transcend the experience. In any case, we feel the rigor of intensive training behind many gameplay mechanics, like a shinobi perfecting his art, even if all the techniques observed have already been seen elsewhere.

Lizardcube has perfected its craft of elevating retro games for the modern era. The gorgeous 2D graphics feel fresh yet oddly nostalgic, which is mirrored by the fast, fluid movement that feels like the natural progression for 2D platformers. Not everything is polished. Some parts of the level design, menus and UI don’t live up to the heights of other aspects of the game, but this doesn’t wholly retract from an experience that will delight 2D platforming fans new and old.

Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is an audiovisual marvel and feels magical to play. Sadly, it is held back by its bloated structure and repetitive fights that never quite manage to challenge you up until the very end.

I honestly did enjoy my time with it, but for every bit of praise I can offer, a complaint comes attached. The combat is fun and has a strong sense of flow, but it isn’t particularly challenging, and the complexity doesn’t scale well. The platforming tools make for enjoyable and satisfying challenges, but the game infrequently uses them to their full potential. If you’re looking for a side-scrolling action platformer, then Shinobi will absolutely scratch that itch, just don’t go into it looking for a genre revolution.

For their first solo outing, Lizardcube delivers a slick comeback for Joe Musashi, with sharp attacks and ninja techniques, somewhat brought down by inconsistent level design and a few technical issues. The studio's unbeatable visual flair beautifully enhances the adventure. A sequel would certainly improve on these excellent core features to really soar above the competition.