Ninjala

Ninjala may very well be Nintendo’s next hot online multiplayer game. It’s free-to-play and totally worth a look, and the action is so fast-paced and addictive that you’ll likely find yourself with a new ongoing game to eat up all your free time.

It’s a little early to say if Ninjala will stand up with the likes of Fortnite or Splatoon, but it’s a creative, fun, and charming game that we should be keeping an eye on.

None of Ninjala's issues are beyond fixing. A more informative tutorial can be added in a future update, as can better maps and skins. What counts is that Ninjala's core gameplay is extremely unique and fun. Players that join now just have to be willing to put in the hours to learn what the game doesn't tell them. I sincerely hope this game pops off, because I'll be sticking around for a while.

Ninjala is a well-crafted game and another fine example of free-to-play done right. You can make steady progress in the online game without spending real-world money and the only part of the game behind a paywall is the single player campaign — which is currently in its first phase. GungHo has done a great job early on at making a fun experience for players of all skill levels and still providing enough depth to sink your teeth into things when you want to. Ninjala isn’t just a great free-to-play game, it’s a great game period and one well-worth checking out on Switch.

With a single-player mode locked behind a paywall (looking at you again Fortnite) and no other offline options, Ninjala relies on Nintendo's historically terrible internet to succeed. Luckily, its servers are - at least initially - looking strong. It doesn't take long to find a match and unlike Splatoon, it's actually possible to queue with friends... you just have to reach Level 5.

Ninjala's action doesn't always deliver and the combat can feel unresponsive or slow when you're on the receiving end of attacks, but despite that, Ninjala is an excellent free to play multiplayer title that every Switch player should try out. If you like Splatoon but want something a bit different, this is a great game to play. Just don't expect the story DLC to blow you away. At least it's cheap…

One of the best arena fighters available for Switch. Vibrant battles, colorful arenas and unique weapons are its best features. A very good free to play attempt by GungHo Online Entertainment.

Ninjala is a pleasant surprise. I expected absolutely nothing from it due to its generic appearance, but I found myself playing until the wee hours of the morning, immersed in its spectacular fights. It takes lot of time to learn to play it, to read correctly the chaos that their confrontations seem to unfold, but once this obstacle is overcome, a bunch of great battles awaits us.

Ninjala is a new free to play battle royale, and it works great; it's a sort of fusion of Splatoon and Fortnite.

Ninjala has a ton of potential to become the next big multiplayer experience. While its single-player experience leaves a little to be desired, playing online with others is a ton of fun. There’s a nice balance found in the game’s premium items, but much of what it does right can be found in the free offerings. Hopefully, continued support by the developer will iron out any rough patches to make this a longlasting online experience for Switch owners.

There's not doubt that chasing the 'Ippon Master' bonus is where the most fun is to be had. [Issue#348, p.98]

Ninjala is a good-looking and impressively tactical free-to-play arena fighter. It's currently lacking in modes and maps, there are problems with how the lacklustre opening tutorial goes about onboarding new players and the rock-paper-scissors aspect of proceedings is sure to be controversial but, overall, the game is off to a pretty strong start. We can't wait to see where GungHo takes its cast of pint-sized bubblegum protagonists in the coming months.

Ninjala definitely has the look of something I should be in love with. It's bright and colorful, and the world-building happening here is genuinely fun. What's not fun are the poorly implemented mechanics that can ruin the fast and fluid combat. There is a solid template for something great here, and if GungHo can iron out all its wrinkles, it might have a genuine blockbuster on its hands.

While very far from perfect, Ninjala has a good foundation to build on, and create a truly great online experience.

Overall, Ninjala is an enjoyable game but doesn’t have a lot of meat on its bones. It’s fun to play from time to time, but not something that gives you much variety or content. At least not yet, this game is still young, and I look forward to seeing Ninjala grow.

Now it is up to GungHo to prove that his game as a service has not only an edge but also a future within the software landscape of the Nintendo hybrid console.

There isn't much to do in Ninjala, and what content is present almost requires a battle pass to be fully enjoyed. But what we have so far is a solid foundation. The battle fundamentals are well-designed and unique, and the visual flair is absolutely bursting with personality.

Ninjala at launch is thin on content, but still enjoyable. Despite a frankly skippable paid Story Package, it's the sheer variety in its weapon lineup that makes its colorful free-to-play melee action stand out. Whether you're a Splatoon fan hungry for any new content, or just curious about a game where you can swing a giant ear of corn as a bat and enwrap your foes in bubblegum, Ninjala is worth checking out.

Ninjala leaves a bitter taste of unfinished business.