Ninjas are cool. Everything about them including their weapons, use of stealth and acrobatics, to their overall look, creates an exciting character that is perfect for all forms of media. Their depiction in TV shows, movies, and video games has made them one of the most appealing martial arts characters of all time.
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It’s fair to say, there is a certain mystique about ninjas that people find exciting. There have been some awesome ninjas in video games over the years and this list will celebrate some of the most iconic which have been enjoyed by fans across the world.
13Saboteur
Not to be mistaken withThe Saboteur, the World War 2open-world gamereleased in 2009,Saboteurfollows the adventures of a lone ninja who must infiltrate a building and steal a floppy disk before making his escape. Released in 1985,Saboteurfeatured incredible graphics for the time.
Interestingly, the loading screen forSaboteurwas taken directly from the 1983 movie Revenge Of The Ninja starring Sho Kosugi.Saboteurand the sequel,Saboteur 2: Avenging Angel, can still be played today on Nintendo Switch and PlayStation.
12Armakuni - The Last Ninja
The Last Ninjais an isometric action game released across multiple platforms in 1987. There were two sequels released in 1988 and 1991. The story follows Armakuni who must avenge his clan who were wiped out by evil Shogun overlord Kunitoki.
Armakuni has several weapons at his disposal including a sword, nunchaku, and shuriken.The Last Ninjaseries enjoyed considerable success andsold millions of copies. It is still fondly remembered today by fans who played these games during their initial release.
11Joe Musashi - Shinobi
Segamade some incredible games in the 80s and 90s. Seeing their iconic logo in the arcade was enough to tempt players to spend their hard-earned pocket money. One such title which combined Sega’s flair for making fun addictive games and ninjas wasShinobireleased in 1987.
Shinobiintroduced heroic protagonist Joe Musashi who went on to star in numerousShinobigames including the much loved Sega Genesis title from 1989,The Revenge of Shinobi. Joe Musashi is also a playable character inSonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed.
10Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
The debate has raged over the years about who is the best ninja turtle, so it would be unfair to single out one of them now. The one thing fans can agree on is the ninja turtles have appeared in some awesome games over the years. Their popularity shows no signs of waning, especially thanks to the recently releasedTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Shredder’s Revenge, and the forthcomingCowabunga Collection.
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Interestingly, the original cartoon show was renamedTeenage Mutant Hero Turtlesin parts of Europe, including the UK. This was due to controversy about ninjas and their weapons. Michelangelo’s weapon of choice, the nunchaku was also removed from the cartoon and the big screen version movie released in 1990.
9The Ninja Warriors
Side-scrolling beat ‘em upThe Ninja Warriorswas unique for a couple of reasons. Firstly, the main characters are robots. The more they are damaged during battle, the more of their metallic skeleton is revealed. Not only did this look cool, but it also gave them an appearance that was reminiscent of the original Terminator movie starring Arnold Schwarzenegger.
The other unique aspect of the game is the arcade cabinet which featured three screens, giving it an impressive ultra-wide look that made it very enticing for players.The Ninja Warriorscan still be played today on the Taito Milestones collection.
8Kid Ying & Dr. Yang - Legend Of The Mystical Ninja
Konami made some excellent gamesfor the Super Nintendo, andLegend of the Mystical Ninjais certainly one of the more interesting titles in their celebrated history. The game can be played with one or two players who control either Kid Ying or Dr. Yang.
With a plot centered around ghosts and a ninja cat, Legend of the Mystical Ninja was definitely not boring. A neat mixture of action and RPG kept players entertained, as well as the excellent graphics and music. There was a nice dash of humor in the script as well. One level featured several mini-games including the opening level of another Konami game, Gradius.
7Rikimaru & Ayame - Tenchu: Stealth Assassins
Released in 1998,Tenchu: Stealth Assassinsgave players the chance to play out their ninja fantasies in a 3D sandbox environment. Taking control of either Rikimaru or Ayame, players had the freedom to find and kill their target using a variety of weapons and accessories.
Gamers were rewarded for remaining undetected, as a stealth kill meant instant death for the enemy.Tenchu: Stealth Assassinswas well received by fans and critics and was a huge success for Activision. A sequel would be released in 2000 calledTenchu 2: Birth of the Stealth Assassins.
6Scorpion & Sub Zero - Mortal Kombat
There are many famous characters from theMortal Kombatseries, but Scorpion and Sub Zero are arguably two of the most iconic. Each character has its fans, and it’s difficult to choose who is the favorite. A lot of their appeal comes down to their moves and fatalities. Some players will say Scorpion’s spear shot accompanied by his catchphrase “get over here” makes him the best ninja.
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Scorpion’s fatality in the originalMortal Kombatwas also relatively easy to execute, but not necessarily as satisfying as Sub Zero ripping off his opponent’s head with their spine still attached. Either way, their appeal has remained to this day, and they are a reason whyMortal Kombatis as popular now as when it was first released in 1992.
5Strider Hiryu - Strider
On the face of it, protagonist Strider Hiryu from the 1989Capcom arcade gameStriderdoesn’t have the traditional look normally associated with ninjas. He doesn’t cover his face or wear black clothing, but he does possess excellent acrobatic skills which are put to the test against a variety of enemies.
Striderreceived many plaudits upon its original release with critics and fans being particularly impressed with the excellent graphics.Striderwas rebooted in 2014 and received praise for its updated visuals and added exploration, which took inspiration fromShadow Complex.
4Kage-Maru - Virtua Fighter
Yu Suzuki was responsible for making someincredible games for Segaduring the height of their popularity. Games LikeOutrunandAfterburnercemented their place as kings of the arcade. Always pushing boundaries, Suzuki and the AM2 Team made what many consider to be the first polygon-based fighting game withVirtua Fighter.
Virtua Fighterfeatures many interesting characters to select and Kage-Maru is no exception. He has the traditional iconic look of a ninja and brings all of his skills and techniques to the tournament.
